January 28, 2023

Lemma, Lexicon, Morphology, Dichotomy, and so many more related words that you didn't know were related!

29 minutes

Latter half of the episode I get into the dilemmas in the world, what I see in my students in regards to these "dilemmas" and an existential discussion to wrap up the episode. This was fun... I also talk briefly about the "Crossing of the Rubicon" (Reminded from Lexicon), which both refers to a huge historical move made by Julius Caesar, as well as an idiom referring to "the point of no return."

All words glossed in the show notes below!

1. Lemma (noun): A heading that indicates the topic of a particular section, subsection, or paragraph of a text.

Etymology: From the Greek word “lemma” meaning “proposition”.

Dilemma: A situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two or more alternatives, especially ones that are equally undesirable.

Etymology: Late 16th century: from Latin, literally ‘two premises’, from Greek di- ‘twice’ + lemma ‘premise’.

Quandary: A state of perplexity or uncertainty over what to do in a difficult situation.

Etymology: Mid 16th century: from Old French quanter ‘calculate, consider’, from Latin quaerere ‘seek, ask’.

Dichotomy: The division of something into two parts, especially when these are seen as opposites.

Etymology: Late 16th century: from Greek dikhotomia, from di- ‘twice’ + khotomia ‘a cutting in two’.

Paradox: A statement or proposition that, despite sound reasoning from acceptable premises, leads to a conclusion that seems senseless, logically unacceptable, or self-contradictory.

Etymology: Late Middle English: from Old

2. Lexicon (noun): A dictionary or encyclopedia of words or terms in a particular field of knowledge.

Etymology: From the Greek word “lexikon”, from “lexis” meaning “word”.

Lexical – Relating to the words or vocabulary of a language.

Etymology: From the Latin lexicālis, from lexis “word,” from legere “to say, read.”

Lexicographer – A person who compiles dictionaries; a student or collector of words.

Etymology: From the Late Latin lexicographus, from lexis “word,” from legere “to say, read.”

Lexicology – The study of the structure and history of words.

Etymology: From the Greek lexikon “word,” from lexis “word,” from legere “to say, read.”

Lexeme – A unit of language which has a distinct meaning.

Etymology: From the Latin lexēma, from lexis “word,” from legere “to say, read.”

3. Morphology (noun): The study of the forms of words, including inflections, derivations, and the formation of compounds.

Etymology: From the Greek word “morphē”, meaning “shape” or “form”.

Morph: A form or shape, especially that of an organic being

Etymology: From the Greek morphē “form”

Metamorphosis: A transformation, as by magic or sorcery

Etymology: From the Greek meta “change” and morphē “form”

Morphine: A narcotic drug obtained from opium

Etymology: From the Greek morphē “form”, probably in reference to the form of the opium poppy

Morphogen: A substance that initiates and regulates the development of certain form-determining structures

Etymology: From the Greek morphē “form” and -gen “producing”

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By Liam Connerly

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