nonagesimusseptimus

Theme for this week: Words learned through the etymology of A.Word.A.Day

So, this theme requires much more explanation than last week's theme. I also subscribe to an English word of the day, A.Word.A.Day by Wordsmith Anu Garg. In fact, it was from this word of the day that I got the idea for a theme for each week. Contained in this word of the day is an etymology section. Many of the words done come from Latin, and so I often learn cool Latin words as well as English words! So, I decided to share some of these with you.

nugax, nugacis (adj)

Definition: frivolous, trifling

Sententia: Cum ludus mox incipiat, erit finis nugacum dierum aestatis--feriae in litore, in piscina natatio, aggeres bonorum librorum legendorum, etc.

Since school soon begins, there will be an end of the frivolous days of summer--holidays on the beach, swimming in the pool (and yes, this word DOES mean "swimming pool" as well as fishpond. Though actually, some of those little kids are moderately fish-like with their love of swimming and refusal to get out of the water...), heaps of good books to be read, etc.

The English word which derives from this word is nugacity. This word itself is not found in the syllabi, but nugae, a similar word meaning "trifles," is found in Catullus 1. Other related words are nugator (silly creature, liar) and nugor -ari -atus (to talk nonsense; to cheat). So, with this set of words you can summarize some key points of the Student Rights and Responsibilities of Fairfax County public schools: Noli nugari! Noli esse nugator! Es bonus! Si nugararis, puniaris. [Don't cheat! Don't be a liar! Be good! If you should cheat, you will be punished!] (I apologize if you don't go to FCPS, and thus don't understand! But your school system probably has a similar booklet...)