Don't ask me why, but when reading I often come across words that I know the general gist of but do not know the actual definition of or I come across words that I know the meaning of but am curious about the history of. These are a few of said words.
apostasy - 'to stand apart' - means to defect or revolt - to renounce or abandon AND criticize one's former religion.
heresy -'choose' - proposing an unorthodox change that conflicts with orthodoxy
blasphemy - 'I injure reputation' - reference to one or more gods that is considered objectionable by religious authority
euphemism - 'good speech' - antonym of blaspheme
dysphemism/malphemism/cacophemism - 'bad speech' - usage of an intentionally harsh word or expression instead of a polite one. dys/mal are either humorously or intentionally offensive, while cacophemism is deliberate. rough antonym of euphemism.
holocaust - 'holokauston' - a whole burnt offering to a god - violent deaths of a large number of people - genocide - many Jews prefer the term Shoah ('calamity') because 'holocaust' is related to a Greek pagan custom.
iatrogenesis - adverse effects or complications caused by or resulting from medical treatment or advice
And now for something completely different!
It's Bi Day! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celebrate_Bisexuality_Day
Rhubarb seems to be a period vegetable for Mongol and Near Eastern personae.
Idiot, imbecile, and moron were, at one time, politically neutral terms for adults of toddler, preschool, and grade school mental ages, respectively.
"They called me mad, and I called them mad, and damn them, they outvoted me." Nathanial Lee
Schizophrenia is NOT Multiple Personality Disorder.
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