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Weird Word Wednesdays: Macabre, wyvern and prestidigitation

Halloween is just a few days away so for today’s Weird Word Wednesday, let’s take a look at three spooky words: macabre, wyvern and prestidigitation. 

macabre

Pronunciation: [mə-ˈkäb, -ˈkä-brə , -bər, -ˈkäbrᵊ]

Part of speech: Adjective

Definition: Having death as a subject; dwelling on the gruesome; tending to produce horror in a beholder.

Language origin: French, from (danse) macabre meaning dance of death, from Middle French (danse de) Macabré

wyvern

Pronunciation: [ˈwī-vərn]

Part of speech: Noun

Definition: A mythical animal usually represented as a two-legged, winged creature resembling a dragon.

Language origin: Alteration of Middle English wyvere meaning viper, from Anglo-French wivre, guivre, and from Latin vipera

prestidigitation

Pronunciation: [pre-stə-ˌdi-jə-ˈtā-shən]

Part of speech: Noun

Definition: Sleight of hand

Language origin: French, from prestidigitateur meaning prestidigitator, from preste meaning nimble or quick (from Italian presto) + Latin digitus meaning finger

Source: #Merriam-Webster.com

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Posted in Pamela, Weird Word Wednesdays