|
Home
|
Dec 23, 2010
This week's themeNo el This week's words katzenjammer quixotic divagate nyctophobia frowsty 
Photo: Tiago Ribeiro
Discuss
Feedback
RSS/XML
A.Word.A.Day
with Anu Gargnyctophobia
PRONUNCIATION:
(nik-tuh-FOH-bee-uh)
MEANING:
noun:
An abnormal fear of night or darkness.
ETYMOLOGY:
From Greek nycto (night) + -phobia (fear). Earliest documented use: 1892.
A related word is nyctalopia (night blindness).
USAGE:
"Even if you have nyctophobia you should be able to comfortably sit in
a darkened movie theater. Just think of the movie screen as a huge
night light."Duane Dudek; Be Very Afraid; Journal Sentinel (Milwaukee, Wisconsin); Jul 30, 1999 See more usage examples of nyctophobia in Vocabulary.com's dictionary. A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
It ought to be plain / how little you gain / by getting excited / and vexed. / You'll always be late / for the previous train, / and always in time / for the next. -Piet Hein, poet and scientist (1905-1996)
|
|
Subscriber Services
Awards | Stats | Links | Privacy Policy
Contribute | Advertise
Awards | Stats | Links | Privacy Policy
Contribute | Advertise
© 1994-2018 Wordsmith