A Word With You!
December 14th, 2009
Yes, it’s been a while and I’ve been woefully remiss, but I will do better. I promise. I have missed you and your words. So send in your sentences!
mis⋅tle⋅toe
mɪs əlˌtoʊShow Spelled Pronunciation [mis-uh l-toh]
–noun
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1. |
a European plant, Viscum album, having yellowish flowers and white berries, growing parasitically on various trees, used in Christmas decorations. |
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2. |
any of several other related, similar plants, as Phoradendron serotinum, of the U.S.: the state flower of Oklahoma. |
Origin:
bef. 1000; ME mistelto, appar. back formation from OE misteltān (mistel mistletoe, basil + tān twig), the -n being taken as pl. ending;
Mistletoe
Let’s forget the fact that it’s kind of a funny word. A funny compound word. One of those compound words where the compounded words have absolutely nothing to do with each other or the final product. And okay it’s probably not an “official” compound word but it looks like one. Kind of like the plant itself, which looks innocuous enough, but appearances can be deceiving. Anyway, we’ll just dwell on the mythology of this rather prosaic little plant.
One interesting aspect of mistletoe is that it is a parasitic plant, a common name for a group of hemi-parasitic plants in the order Santalales that grow attached to and within the branches of a tree or shrub.
Mistletoe is commonly used as a Christmas decoration, though such use was rarely alluded to until the 18th century. Viscum album is used in Europe whereas Phoradendron serotinum is used in North America. According to custom, the mistletoe must not touch the ground between its cutting and its removal as the last of Christmas greens at Candlemas; it may remain hanging through the year, often to preserve the house from lightning or fire, until it was replaced the following Christmas Eve. The tradition has spread throughout the English-speaking world but is largely unknown in the rest of Europe.
Grammar Punk Dice roll: L I 5 , Adv.
For those new to the concept, the Grammar Punk Dice roll represents one vowel, one consonant, the number die (which dictates the number of words formed with the vowel and consonant must be used in the sentence) one punctuation symbol, one part of speech and one topic. The dice words (formed with vowel and consonant rolled) are underlined and the part of speech is bolded.
Dangling the twig of mistletoe tantalizingly in front of him, Cecil trolled the office party looking for fresh meat.
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