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Want to get published? Here's your chance to get recognized. Click to learn more! Sponsored by Penguin Putnam Publishing. http://www.insidesessions.com/promos/promowriting.asp?rid=680 *************************************************************** The Word of the Day for December 29 is: forfend \for-FEND\ (verb) *1 : to ward off : prevent 2 : protect : preserve Example sentence: My roommate claims the best way to forfend a nasty cold is to chew garlic. Did you know? "You certainly won't find me running a marathon, paddling the Volga, or, heaven forfend, singing opera," wrote _Boston Globe_ staff writer Scot Lehigh in the February 25, 2001 edition of that paper, using an old meaning of "forfend" in the process. English speakers have been using "forfend" with the meanings "to forbid" or "to prevent" since the late 14th century, but these days we only use the "forbid" sense when we use it, as Lehigh did, in the phrase "heaven forfend." "Forfend" comes from "for-" (an old prefix meaning "so as to involve prohibition, exclusion, omission, failure, neglect, or refusal") and Middle English "fenden" (a shorter variant of "defenden," meaning "to defend"). *Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence. ---------------- Brought to you by Merriam-Webster, Inc. http://www.Merriam-Webster.com ---------------- *************************************************************** Resolve to introduce your family to the world of Word Central this coming year -- the language site for kids and parents. http://www.wordcentral.com *************************************************************** Subscribe or unsubscribe to Word of the Day via the Web at: http://www.Merriam-Webster.com/service/subinst.htm To join the list via e-mail, send a blank e-mail to: mw-wod-subscribe-request@listserv.webster.m-w.com To leave the list via e-mail, send a blank e-mail to: mw-wod-signoff-request@listserv.webster.m-w.com Questions about your subscription? Write to: mw-wod-request@listserv.webster.m-w.com Questions or comments about the Word of the Day? Write to: word@Merriam-Webster.com © 2001 by Merriam-Webster, Incorporated
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