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Oct 6, 2010
This week's themeWords about relations This week's words nepotism cozen avuncular cater-cousin Dutch uncle Missed a word? Check the archives chronological alphabetical plaintext or search the site Discuss Feedback RSS/XML A.Word.A.Day
with Anu Gargavuncular
PRONUNCIATION:
(uh-VUNG-kyuh-luhr)
MEANING:
adjective:
In the manner of an uncle, in benevolence, affection, or good humor.
ETYMOLOGY:
From Latin avunculus (maternal uncle), diminutive of avus (grandfather).
Ultimately from the Indo-European root awo- (an adult male relative), which
is also the source of atavism, uncle, and ayah.
NOTES:
Originally the term referred to a mother's brother, from avunculus
meaning maternal uncle (paternal uncle was patruus). What's fascinating is
how it describes an uncle: avunculus, meaning a little grandfather. The word
uncle is slang for a pawnbroker, so the word avuncular could also mean like
a pawnbroker.The female counterpart of the word is materteral, meaning auntlike. USAGE:
"Daphne Merkin wrote that Madoff, with his avuncular charm, gave individual
investors the sense of being part of an extended family."Clark Hoyt; Behind a Byline, Family Ties; The New York Times; Apr 11, 2009. See more usage examples of avuncular in Vocabulary.com's dictionary. A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
One will rarely err if extreme actions be ascribed to vanity, ordinary actions to habit, and mean actions to fear. -Friedrich Nietzsche, philosopher (1844-1900)
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