morbilli, macrology, ignis, bardolatry, climacteric: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from Word Ultra set 194. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. morbilli · noun/ˈmiː.zəlz/

   a viral disease also known as measles characterized by fever and a distinctive rash

   The outbreak of morbilli in the community raised concerns about vaccination rates among school-aged children.

   Synonyms: measles, rubeola

   Origin: from Latin 'morbilli', diminutive of 'morbus' meaning 'disease'

2. macrology · noun/mækˈrɑɡrəˌlədʒi/

   excessive use of words or verbosity

   The professor's lectures were often criticized for their macrology, as he would repeatedly elaborate on trivial points instead of getting to the main topic.

   Synonyms: verbosity, wordiness, loquacity

   Origin: The word 'macrology' comes from the Greek 'makrologia', where 'makros' means 'long' and 'logia' means 'speech' or 'discourse'.

3. ignis · noun/ˈɪɡ.nɪs/

   a latin word meaning fire

   The ancient Romans revered ignis as a symbol of purity and transformation in their rituals.

   Synonyms: flame, blaze, conflagration

   Origin: Latin 'ignis', meaning 'fire'

4. bardolatry · noun/ˈbɑrdəˌlɑtri/

   excessive admiration for or worship of william shakespeare

   The incessant bardolatry displayed by certain literary critics can overshadow the true complexities of Shakespeare's works.

   Synonyms: Shakespearean admiration, Shakespeare worship, bard worship

   Origin: Coined in the 19th century, combining 'bard' (a poet, especially one who recites epic or heroic poems) and '-olatry' (from Greek 'olatros' meaning worship or adoration).

5. climacteric · noun/ˌklaɪˈmæk.tə.rɪk/

   a critical period or stage in the course of development or change

   The climacteric in her career came when she was offered a leadership position that changed her professional trajectory.

   Synonyms: crisis, turning point, watershed

   Origin: from Greek 'klimakter' meaning 'ladder' or 'critical point'