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Oct 24, 2012
This week's theme
Words that aren't what they appear to be

This week's words
predial
hibernian
histrionics
blousy
redoubtable

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A.Word.A.Day
with Anu Garg

histrionics

PRONUNCIATION:
(his-tree-ON-iks)

MEANING:
noun:
1. Melodramatic or hysterical behavior calculated for effect.
2. Theatrical performances.

ETYMOLOGY:
From Latin histrio (actor). Earliest documented use: 1824.

USAGE:
"The notion that men can face adversity with stoicism while women are more likely to respond with histrionics is just one example of the gender stereotypes that permeate our culture."
Kayt Sukel; Pink Brains, Blue Brains, Purple People; New Scientist (London, UK); May 26, 2012.

See more usage examples of histrionics in Vocabulary.com's dictionary.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
Death destroys the body, as the scaffolding is destroyed after the building is up and finished. And he whose building is up rejoices at the destruction of the scaffolding and of the body. -Leo Tolstoy, novelist and philosopher (1828-1910)

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