Thread: Etymology Game

Ser·aph

NOUN:
pl. ser·a·phim or ser·aphs

1. A celestial being having three pairs of wings.
2. seraphim Christianity The first of the nine orders of angels in medieval angelology.

ETYMOLOGY:
Back-formation from pl. seraphim, from Middle English seraphin, from Old English, from Late Latin seraphn, seraphm, from Greek serapheim, from Hebrew rpîm, pl. of rp, fiery serpent, seraph, from rap, to burn; see rp 1 in Semitic roots

Lu·ci·fer (lōō'sə-fər)

n.
The archangel cast from heaven for leading the revolt of the angels; Satan.
The planet Venus in its appearance as the morning star.
lucifer A friction match.


[Middle English, from Old English, morning star, Lucifer, from Latin Lūcifer, from lūcifer, light-bringer : lūx, lūc-, light; see leuk- in Indo-European roots + -fer, -fer.]

AL QAEDA


al-Qae·da /ælˈkeɪdə, ‑ˈkaɪdə/
–noun a radical Sunni Muslim organization dedicated to the elimination of a Western presence in Arab countries and militantly opposed to Western foreign policy: founded by Osama bin Laden in 1988.

Also, al-Qaida.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Origin: < Ar al-qa&#39;ida, lit., the base]

ter·ror·ism

–noun 1. the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, esp. for political purposes.
2. the state of fear and submission produced by terrorism or terrorization.
3. a terroristic method of governing or of resisting a government.

[Origin: 1785–95; terror + -ism]

ex·trem·ist
–noun 1. a person who goes to extremes, esp. in political matters.
2. a supporter or advocate of extreme doctrines or practices.
–adjective 3. belonging or pertaining to extremists.
[Origin: 1840–50; extreme + -ist]

Fugitive

1. someone who flees from an uncongenial situation; "fugitives from the sweatshops"
2. someone who is sought by law officers; someone trying to elude justice

Derived from the latin verb fugere- to flee

I flee= fugio

arson
One entry found for arson.


Main Entry: ar·son
Pronunciation: &#39;är-s&n
Function: noun
Etymology: Anglo-French arsoun, from ars, past participle of arder, ardre to burn, from Latin ardEre -- more at ARDOR
: the willful or malicious burning of property (as a building) especially with criminal or fraudulent intent

in·cen·di·ar·y /ɪnˈsɛndiˌɛri/

adjective, noun, plural -ar·ies.
–adjective 1. used or adapted for setting property on fire: incendiary bombs.
2. of or pertaining to the criminal setting on fire of property.
3. tending to arouse strife, sedition, etc.; inflammatory: incendiary speeches.
4. tending to inflame the senses: an incendiary extravaganza of music and dance.
–noun 5. a person who deliberately sets fire to buildings or other property, as an arsonist.
6. Military. a shell, bomb, or grenade containing napalm, thermite, or some other substance that burns with an intense heat.
7. a person who stirs up strife, sedition, etc.; an agitator.



[Origin: 1600–10; < L incendiārius, equiv. to incendi(um) a fire (incend(ere) to kindle (in- in-2 + -cendere, transit. v. from base of candére to shine, be hot; see candent, candid, candor) + -ium -ium) + -ārius -ary]

vol·ca·no (vŏl-kā&#39;nō) Pronunciation Key


n. pl. vol·ca·noes or vol·ca·nos

1.
1. An opening in the earth&#39;s crust through which molten lava, ash, and gases are ejected.
2. A similar opening on the surface of another planet.
2. A mountain formed by the materials ejected from a volcano.



[Italian, from Spanish volcán or Portuguese volcão, both probably from Latin volcānus, vulcānus, fire, flames, from Volcānus, Vulcan.]

Flames

from the latin flammae.