Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 2 of 3 1 2 3
#164079 12/06/06 03:29 PM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Quote:

matinal ... and vespertine Named for the church services, or were the church services named for the time of day? (In other words, which came first?)






Latin was around before The Church, fwiw.

#164080 12/06/06 03:31 PM
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Quote:

denoting animals active in the morning (dawn) and evening (dusk) - conclusion: matinal is more specific for morning (of course this will not be the last word ).




of course. we should consider the poor animals which are active at both times. know any zo-ologists?

edit: "[A] well known crepuscular animal is the moose, which often comes out in early morning hours or late evening hours." - Wikipedia

Last edited by tsuwm; 12/06/06 04:01 PM.
#164081 12/06/06 04:48 PM
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Well known matinal animal is the bird and he catches the worm too.
But there are birds that are early as well as late ,like the blackbird. He always takes a second round of the garden at and right after sundown. He sings, both at dawn and nightfall.I guess there are so many animals that are active both at crepuscule and at dawn. But matinal active or the right word for that, is that decided yet?

Last edited by BranShea; 12/06/06 06:11 PM.
#164082 12/06/06 04:58 PM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
Does the Evening Star have the same sense as the Morning Star?

For what it's worth, the earlier meaning of twilight is for the period of inbetween light of both morning and evening. And what of dusk and gloaming?


Ceci n'est pas un seing.
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Quote:

And what of dusk and gloaming?




And then there's penumbra...

Maybe we should consider that English, pretty bastard that she is, might have more than one word to denote the same thing?

Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Quote:

And then there's penumbra...





A nice word too, penumbra , penombre, doesn't that rather mean half shadow?
So not directly attached to dawn or dusk ?
So at noon men and animals can hide from the sun in the penumbra , the half shadows.

#164085 12/07/06 02:41 PM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
Latin paene 'almost': peninsula, penultimate, etc.


Ceci n'est pas un seing.
#164086 12/07/06 04:55 PM
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Quick definitions (penumbra)
noun: a fringe region of partial shadow around an umbra

Etymology: New Latin, from Latin paene almost + umbra shadow -- more at UMBRAGE
1 a : a space of partial illumination (as in an eclipse) between the perfect shadow on all sides and the full light b : a shaded region surrounding the dark central portion of a sunspot


2 : a surrounding or adjoining region in which something exists in a lesser degree : FRINGE
3 : a body of rights held to be guaranteed by implication in a civil constitution
4 : something that covers, surrounds, or obscures : SHROUD <a penumbra of secrecy> <a penumbra of somber dignity has descended over his reputation -- James Atlas>
- pen·um·bral /-br&l/ adjective

Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1
A
stranger
Offline
stranger
A
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1
Does anone know a term specific to the afternoon? There are a few desert reptiles principally active after desert sun passes its peak, heat, so there's certainly a use for it.

Matitudinal also occurs as a form of matutinal.

Last edited by Amicose; 01/18/09 11:56 AM.
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
Does anone know a term specific to the afternoon?

I couldn't find one, but as matutinal < Latin matutinalis < matutinus < Matuta 'goddess of the dawn', vespertine < vesper 'evening', diurnal < diurnalis < dies 'day', nocturnal < nocturnalis < nox, noctis, 'night', crepuscular < crepusculum 'dusk, twilight' < creper 'dusky, dark'. The Latin word for afternoon is pomeridianus or postmeridianus. So, how about pomeridianalar? (Also, the Latin word for afternoon meal is merenda. Maybe that could be used.)


Ceci n'est pas un seing.
Page 2 of 3 1 2 3

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,912
Posts229,283
Members9,179
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV, Heather_Turey, Standy
9,179 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 444 guests, and 3 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
tsuwm 10,542
wofahulicodoc 10,510
LukeJavan8 9,916
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5