Posted on 03/06/2014 4:53:16 AM PST by secret garden
In order that we might all raise the level of discourse and expand our language abilities, here is the daily post of "Word for the Day".
zeitgeber \TSYTE-gay-ber\ noun
an environmental agent or event that provides the stimulus setting or resetting a biological clock of an organism.
Example sentences:
"Food availability seems to be a weaker zeitgeber than light. Although food is more essential than light for an animal's survival, light exerts a finer control than food availability over the activity rhythm."
— From Roberto Refinetti's 2006 book Circadian Physiology, Second Edition
"Night-shift workers also struggle, he says, because they don't get the environmental and social cues that help adjust the circadian clock. The most important of these cues, called zeitgebers … is sunlight. But a zeitgeber could also be a scrambled-egg breakfast or children coming home from school in the afternoon."
— From an article by Tara Parker-Pope in New York Times Magazine, November 20, 2011
Etymology:
Zeitgebers are nature's alarm clocks—both biologically and etymologically. The word "zeitgeber" derives from a combination of two German terms, "Zeit," which means "time," and "Geber," which means "giver"—so a "zeitgeber" is literally a "time giver." In nature, zeitgebers tend to be cyclic or recurring patterns that help keep the body's circadian rhythms operating in an orderly way. For plants and animals, the daily pattern of light and darkness and the warmer and colder temperatures between day and night serve as zeitgebers, cues that keep organisms functioning on a regular schedule. For humans, societally imposed cycles, such as the schedule of the work or school day and regular mealtimes, can become zeitgebers as well.
The sentence must, in some way, relate to the news of the day. The Review threads are linked for your edification. ;-)
Practice makes perfect.....post on....
Review Thread One: Word For The Day, Thursday 11/14/02: Raffish
Review Thread Two: Word For The Day, Tuesday 1/14/03: Roister
Review Thread Three: Word For The Day, Tuesday 1/28/03: Obdurate
WFB's attempt to emulate us ; ) No pushing at the door please!
It can be a cunning field of study
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A+ for you.
Ich bin ein confused. A+ for you. My team has struggled mightily lately, playing the best teams in the league. They are being competitive but falling short.
He’s a Master of Many Tongues..
Now she eases gently,
From her Austin to her Bentley.
Suddenly she feels so young....
P.s. Thanks for the early morning earworm....
Nancy and Lucy. So British.
Ha-ha!! Most excellent
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