Word origins

• HermioneSynonym of Hermione Granger (“a diligent, hard-working and intelligent person, especially a young woman smarter than her peers”)
• ethosThe character or fundamental values of a person, people, culture, or movement.
• euthanasiaThe practice of intentionally killing a human being or animal in a humane way, especially in order to end suffering.
• hemoglobinThe iron-containing substance in red blood cells that transports oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body; it consists of a protein (globulin), and haem (a porphyrin ring with an atom of iron at its centre).
• PhilemonThe eighteenth book of the New Testament of the Bible, the epistle of Saint Paul to a fellow Christian called Philemon.
• NaxosAn island in the central Cyclades.
• nomeA prefecture or unit of regional government in Greece.
• somaticPart of, or relating to the body of an organism.
• phobiaAn irrational, abnormal, or obsessive fear (of something).
• tetraAny of numerous species of small freshwater fish of the South American family Characidae and West African family Alestidae, popular in home aquariums.
• cytokineAny of various small regulatory proteins that regulate the cells of the immune system.
• rheumatologyThe branch of medicine specializing in arthritis and other ailments of the joints.
• gonOne hundredth of a right angle: a gradian.
• streptococcusA spherical, gram-positive bacterium of the genus Streptococcus. Although commonly found benignly in the human mouth and gut, and though many species are non-pathogenic, other species can cause diseases including strep throat and more serious conditions.
• dynamoAn electricity generator; a dynamo-electric machine.
• demographyThe study of the characteristics of human populations, especially with regards to their makeup and fluctuations and the social causes behind these.
• iridium(uncountable) A chemical element with an atomic number of 77: a very hard, brittle, silvery-white transition metal of the platinum group.
• amorphousLacking a definite form or clear shape.
• palmyraA palm (Borassus flabellifer) with straight black upright trunk and palmate leaves, whose wood, fruit, and roots can be used for many purposes.
• orthodoxyCorrectness of doctrine and belief in regard to any doctrinal (i.e. philosophical or theological) system.
• protagonistThe main character, or one of the main characters, in any story, such as a literary work or drama.
• moabGBU-43 (originally an acronym of Massive Ordnance Air Blast).
• kaleidoscopeAn instrument consisting of a tube containing mirrors and loose, colourful beads or other objects; when the tube is looked into and rotated, a succession of symmetrical designs can be seen.
• anodeAn electrode, of a cell or other electrically polarized device, through which a positive current of electricity flows inwards (and thus, electrons flow outwards). It can have either a positive or a negative voltage with respect to cathode of the same polarized device (depending on whether the device is a load or a source, respectively).
• melatoninA hormone, related to serotonin, that is secreted by the pineal gland, and stimulates colour change in the skin of reptiles, and is involved in the sleep and wake and reproductive cycles in mammals.
• prophylaxisThe prevention of, or the protective treatment for, disease.
• deliaA garment worn by noblemen of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, similar to a coat or cloak, and worn over the żupan from the 16th until the early 18th century.
• argonThe chemical element (symbol Ar) with an atomic number of 18. The third most abundant gas in the Earth's atmosphere, it is a colourless, odourless, inert noble gas.
• morphA recurrent distinctive sound or sequence of sounds representing an indivisible morphological form; especially as representing a morpheme.
• cirrhosisA chronic disease of the liver caused by damage from toxins (including alcohol), metabolic problems, hepatitis, or nutritional deprivation, characterised by an increase in fibrous tissue and the destruction of liver cells.
• NazareneOf or pertaining to Nazareth or its people.
• PrometheusA male given name from Ancient Greek.
• diamanteAn artificial diamond used as adornment, such as a rhinestone.
• geriatricsThe branch of medicine that focuses on health promotion and the prevention and treatment of disease and disability in later life. The term itself can be distinguished from gerontology, which is the study of the aging process itself.
• TheaA female given name from Ancient Greek (rather rare in English).
• hologramA three-dimensional image of an object created by holography.
• psychosisA severe mental disorder, sometimes with physical damage to the brain, marked by a deranged personality and a distorted view of reality.
• epistemologyThe branch of philosophy dealing with the study of knowledge; the theory of knowledge, asking such questions as "What is knowledge?", "How is knowledge acquired?", "What do people know?", "How do we know what we know?", "How do we know it is true?", and so on.
• agnosticDoubtful or uncertain about the existence or demonstrability of God or other deity.
• osmosisThe net movement of solvent molecules, usually water, from a region of lower solute concentration to a region of higher solute concentration through a partially permeable membrane.
• chiropractorA health-care practitioner who specializes in chiropractic.
• EuniceA female given name from Ancient Greek.
• PoseidonThe god of the sea and other waters, earthquakes and horses; corresponds to the Roman god Neptune.
• BerniceA female given name from Ancient Greek.
• stephaneAn Ancient Greek headdress like a coronet.
• parabolicOf, or pertaining to, or in the shape of a parabola or paraboloid.
• upsilonThe twentieth letter of Classical and Modern Greek; the twenty-second letter of Old and Ancient Greek.
• prognosticOf, pertaining to or characterized by prognosis or prediction.
• decryptTo convert (an encrypted or coded message) back into plain text.
• catalysisThe increase of the rate of a chemical reaction, induced by a catalyst.
• phageA virus that is parasitic on bacteria.
• prosthesisAn artificial replacement for a body part, either internal or external.
• PaphosA city in Cyprus, known in antiquity as the birthplace of Aphrodite.
• dendriticHaving a branching structure similar to a tree.
• periodontalsurrounding a tooth
• automatonA machine or robot designed to follow a precise sequence of instructions.
• hegemonyDomination, influence, or authority over another, especially by one political group over a society or by one nation over others.
• pharosAn ancient lighthouse or beacon to guide sailors.
• bedlamA place or situation of chaotic uproar, and where confusion prevails.
• parenthesisA clause, phrase, or word which is inserted into a grammatically complete passage of text for explanation or as an aside, and usually marked off with brackets, commas, or dashes.
• phytoplanktonPlankton, especially those small in size, that obtain energy by photosynthesis.
• creatinineA heterocyclic amine, 2-amino-1-methyl-5H-imidazol-4-one, formed by the metabolism of creatine.
• BronteOne of the Cyclops, who forged Zeus's thunderbolts.
• analgesicA drug used to reduce and manage pain, especially without inducing a loss of other sensation.
• corinnecocaine
• MoiraThe personification of fate, especially as Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos.
• phenomenologyThe study of structures of consciousness as experienced from the first-person point of view.
• sapphicRelating to the Greek poetess Sappho from Lesbos or her poetry.
• leucineAn essential amino acid, C₆H₁₃NO₂, isomeric with isoleucine, found in most animal proteins; it is essential for growth in children.
• isotropicHaving properties that are identical in all directions; exhibiting isotropy
• sepsisA serious medical condition in which the whole body is inflamed, causing injury to its own tissues and organs as a response to infection.
• cholineA hydroxy quaternary ammonium compound with formula (CH₃)₃N⁺CH₂CH₂OHX⁻. It is an essential nutrient for cardiovascular and brain health and for cell membrane formation.
• eidosForm; essence; type; species.
• myosinAny of a large family of motor proteins found in eukaryotic tissues, allowing mobility in muscles.
• CalabriaA peninsula and administrative region of southern Italy.
• decryptionThe process reversing an encryption; the process which converts encrypted data into its original form.
• pyroA pyromaniac.
• solonA wise legislator or lawgiver.
• hypocriticalCharacterized by hypocrisy or being a hypocrite.
• dichotomyA separation or division into two; a distinction that results in such a division.
• kaleAn edible plant, similar to cabbage, with curled leaves that do not form a dense head (Brassica oleracea var. acephala)
• MaiaDaughter of Atlas and mother of Hermes.
• thermosA bottle, flask or similar vessel having a vacuum between its inner and outer silvered walls; designed to maintain the temperature of its contents
• thermA unit of heat equal to 100,000 British thermal units, often used in the context of natural gas.
• simaThe upturned edge of a roof which acts as a gutter; a cyma.
• metronomeA device, containing an inverted pendulum, used to mark time by means of regular ticks at adjustable intervals; an electronic equivalent that emits flashes.
• AesopAn Ancient Greek author, famous for the fables ascribed to him.
• HerodThe name of any of a number of members of the Herodian dynasty who ruled in the Roman province of Judea, most notably Herod the Great, who ordered the Massacre of the Innocents, or Herod Antipas, his son, who met Jesus during his Passion.
• ChironAn old, wise centaur who served as Achilles' mentor and teacher.
• AtticaA periphery where Athens, the capital of Greece, is located.
• magdaleneA reformed prostitute.
• PleistoceneOf a geologic epoch within the Quaternary period from about 2,588,000 to 11,700 years ago (earlier definition 1.7 million to 11,000 years ago); marked by the evolution of man, and the extinction of the large mammals.
• metraThe uterus.
• odeonAn ancient Greek or Roman building used for performances of music and poetry.
• AstraZenecaThe COVID-19 vaccine made by the AstraZeneca company.
• EvangelineA female given name originating as a coinage.
• RhodaA female given name from Ancient Greek.
• AdonisA beautiful man.
• MedeaAn enchantress who helped Jason obtain the Golden Fleece.
• homeostasisThe ability of a system or living organism to adjust its internal environment to maintain a state of dynamic constancy; such as the ability of warm-blooded animals to maintain a stable temperature.