Some 16th-century Italian clergymen tried to ban coffee because they believed it to be “satanic.” However, Pope Clement VII loved coffee so much that he lifted the ban and had coffee baptized in 1600.
TRANSFIX
transfix, impale, empale, spike
(verb) pierce with a sharp stake or point; “impale a shrimp on a skewer”
fascinate, transfix, grip, spellbind
(verb) to render motionless, as with a fixed stare or by arousing terror or awe; “The snake charmer fascinates the cobra”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology 1
Verb
transfix (third-person singular simple present transfixes, present participle transfixing, simple past and past participle transfixed)
(transitive) To render motionless, by arousing terror, amazement or awe.
(transitive) To pierce with a sharp pointed weapon.
(transitive) To fix or impale.
Etymology 2
Noun
transfix (plural transfixes)
(linguistics) A discontinuous affix, which occurs at more than one position in a word, typical of Semitic languages.
Source: Wiktionary
Trans*fix", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Transfixed; p. pr. & vb. n. Transfixing.] Etym: [L. transfixus, p. p. of transfigure to transfix; trans across, through + figere to fix, fasten. See Fix.]
Definition: To pierce through, as with a pointed weapon; to impale; as, to transfix one with a dart.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Word of the Day
11 January 2025
COWBERRY
(noun) low evergreen shrub of high north temperate regions of Europe and Asia and America bearing red edible berries
Coffee Trivia
