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Jan 7, 2009

This week's theme
Miscellaneous words

This week's words
liminal
avenaceous
span-new
etesian
ecumenical

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A.Word.A.Day

with Anu Garg

span-new

PRONUNCIATION:

(span-noo, -nyoo)

MEANING:

adjective: Brand-new.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Middle English spannewe, from Old Norse spannyr, from spann (chip of wood) + nyr (new). Ultimately from the Indo-European root newo- (new) that also gave us new, neo-, neon, novice, novel, novelty, innovate, and renovate.
The same term appears in the phrase spick-and-span-new which was later shortened into spick-and-span. A spick is a spike; a spick-and-span-new ship referred to a brand new ship, one that is made up of new nails and new wood.

USAGE:

"Nita Patton: 'I had fun last time and I'd have fun again, especially as Columbus now boasts a bran, span-new hotel."
Stanley P. Hirshson; General Patton; HarperCollins; 2003.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

Society is like a stew. If you don't keep it stirred up you get a lot of scum on the top. -Edward Abbey, naturalist and author (1927-1989)

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