transpicuous

****************************************************************
Introducing WORD SWEEP!, the first board game to feature Merriam-Webster=
 definitions! Enjoy hours of challenging fun. Try it at:
http://www.wordsweep.com=20
****************************************************************

The Word of the Day for November 13 is:=20

transpicuous   \tran-SPIK-yuh-wus\   adjective
          : clearly seen through or understood=20

Example sentence:
     Although the reporter claimed to be merely curious, her motives wer=
e quite transpicuous; it was clear that she was hunting a story.

Did you know?
          "Transpicuous" is derived from the Latin word "transpicere," m=
eaning "to look through." "Transpicere," in turn, is a formation that co=
mbines "trans-," meaning "through," and "specere," a verb meaning "to lo=
ok" or "to see." If you guessed that "transpicuous" is related to "consp=
icuous," you're correct. It's also possible to see a number of other "sp=
ecere" descendants in English, including "aspect," "circumspect," "expec=
t," "inspect," "perspective," and "suspect." Another descendant of "spec=
ere," and a close synonym of "transpicuous," is "perspicuous," which mea=
ns "clear and easy to understand," as in "a perspicuous argument." (=E2=80=
=9CPer-,=E2=80=9D like =E2=80=9Ctrans-,=E2=80=9D means =E2=80=9Cthrough.=
=E2=80=9D) There=E2=80=99s also "perspicacious," meaning "keen and obser=
vant." (You might say that "perspicuous" and =E2=80=9Ctranspicuous=E2=80=
=9D mean "able to be seen through," whereas "perspicacious" means "able =
to see through.")





You Are Subscribed As: [email protected]

To unsubscribe, please click here:
http://www.drhinternet.net/mw/u/966408/568f14b4ab4f050b/N238L6

To change your e-mail address or to subscribe to the html
version of Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day, featuring audio
pronunciations, please visit:
http://mw.drhinternet.net/sm/wod/changeofaddress.iphtml

(c) 2007 by Merriam-Webster, Incorporated

Merriam-Webster, Inc.
47 Federal Street
P.O. Box 281
Springfield, MA 01102