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Weird Word Wednesdays: Picosecond, yoctosecond and zeptosecond

For today’s Weird Word Wednesday, let’s look at three words related to time: Picosecond, yoctosecond and zeptosecond. Since 2021 is coming to a close and we’ll soon be counting down the seconds to midnight on New Year’s Eve, these words seem apropos.

Here’s what www.merriam-webster says about these well-timed words:

picosecond

Pronunciation: [ ˌpē-kō-ˈse-kənd, -kənt  ]

Part of speech: Noun

Definition: One trillionth of a second.

Language origin: International Scientific Vocabulary

First known use: Circa 1962.

“Picosecond.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/picosecond. Accessed 12 Dec. 2021.

yoctosecond

Pronunciation: [ ˈyäk-tə-ˌse-kənd, -kənt  ]

Part of speech: Noun

Definition: One septillionth of a second.

Language origin: International Scientific Vocabulary

First known use: 1996

“Yoctosecond.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yoctosecond. Accessed 12 Dec. 2021.

zeptosecond

Pronunciation: [ ˈzep-tə-ˌse-kənd, -kənt  ]

Part of speech: Noun

Definition: One sextillionth of a second.

Language origin: International Scientific Vocabulary

First known use: 1994

“Zeptosecond.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zeptosecond. Accessed 12 Dec. 2021.

Posted in Pamela, Weird Word Wednesdays