This Week’s Fun & Fancy Word: Abecedarian!
This Week’s Fun & Fancy Word Is:
What do you call a pre-schooler who is learning the alphabet? An abecedarian, of course. It means one who is learning the rudiments of something, specifically referring to someone learning the alphabet.[1]
Paradoxically, the word abecedarian was also attached to a short-lived radical sixteenth-century German sect. One with an absolute disdain for all forms of learning, even knowledge of the alphabet. [2] This contradictory meaning makes it a contronym, which is another one of our Fun & Fancy Words.
Etymology:
Origin Of The Word Abecedarian
Originates from abecedary “alphabet book, primer” (going back to Middle English abscedary). Which was borrowed from Medieval Latin abecedarium (also “alphabet, primer”). It is derived from the first several letters of the alphabet, a + b + c + d+ arius, which means pertaining to the alphabet.[3]
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Of Fun & Fancy Words Here.
Endnotes:
[1] Merriam-Webster Dictionary.
[2] World Wide Words.
[3] Zapatka, David. “Word of the Month: Abecedarian.” Sun Lakes Splash.
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