In the 18th century, the Swedish government made coffee and its paraphernalia (including cups and dishes) illegal for its supposed ties to rebellious sentiment.
ATROPHY
atrophy, withering
(noun) any weakening or degeneration (especially through lack of use)
atrophy, wasting, wasting away
(noun) a decrease in size of an organ caused by disease or disuse
atrophy
(verb) undergo atrophy; “Muscles that are not used will atrophy”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
atrophy (countable and uncountable, plural atrophies)
(pathology) A reduction in the functionality of an organ caused by disease, injury or lack of use. [from early 17th c.]
Verb
atrophy (third-person singular simple present atrophies, present participle atrophying, simple past and past participle atrophied)
(intransitive) To wither or waste away. [from early 18th c.]
(transitive) To cause to waste away or become abortive; to starve or weaken.
Antonyms
• hypertrophy
• strengthen
Source: Wiktionary
At"ro*phy, n. Etym: [L. atrophia, Gr. atrophie.]
Definition: A wasting away from want of nourishment; diminution in bulk or slow emaciation of the body or of any part. Milton.
At"ro*phy, v. t. [p. p. Atrophied.]
Definition: To cause to waste away or become abortive; to starve or weaken.
At"ro*phy, v. i.
Definition: To waste away; to dwindle.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
26 December 2024
CHATTEL
(noun) personal as opposed to real property; any tangible movable property (furniture or domestic animals or a car etc)
Coffee Trivia
