Mind over matter is a term that goes back approximately 150 years, though the meaning has changed over time. We will look at the meaning of mind over matter, how that meaning has changed and some examples of the phrase’s use in sentences. Mind over matter means the ability to overcome physical challenges through the use determination and willpower. The phrase mind over matter was first used in the 1860s, when Sir Charles Lyell wrote The Geological Evidence of the …
“Misery loves company” is a well-known proverbial phrase we use in the English language. It is usually meant to describe situations where unhappy people want to share their misery with others. It’s been around for centuries, and we still actively use it today. But are we using it, right? I’ll explain the history behind the phrase and how you should work it into everyday conversations and writing. Misery Loves Company Meaning Have you ever been in a rotten mood, and …
Mr., Mrs., Ms., and Miss are abbreviations of formal titles you place before the proper name of a person to show them respect. Abbreviations are shortened forms of words or phrases that are more recognizable and accepted in their redacted form compared to their original spelling. The full forms of Mr., Mrs., Ms., and Miss are mister, missus, no full form for Ms., and miss, respectively. While mister indicates a male, whether married or unmarried, missus is for married women. …
Aggravate and mitigate are antonyms, which are words that have opposite meanings to each other. We will look at the definitions of the words aggravate and mitigate, where these words come from and some examples of their use in sentences. Aggravate means to make a situation, problem or injury worse, to render something more severe or serious. The word aggravate may be used in an informal manner to mean to exasperate someone, to annoy someone. The word aggravate is derived …
The terms muckamuck, mucky-muck and muckety-muck are different variations of the same term. We will look at the words muckamuck, mucky-muck and muckety-muck, their definition and where they come from. We will also look at a few examples of their use in sentences. Muckamuck, mucky-muck and muckety-muck describe someone important, especially someone who is self-important. The term is most often modified with the word high, as in high muckamuck, high mucky-muck and high muckety-muck. Mostly a North American term, it …
Magical realism is a literary term that has its roots in German art. We will look at the meaning of the term magical realism, its characteristics, where the term comes from and some examples of its use in sentences. Magical realism is a literary term that describes stories in which magical or fantastic elements are woven into everyday life and accepted as a normal occurrence. In general, the characteristics of a literary work in the magical realism genre include a …
Mojo is an American word by way of Africa, it has a literal and a figurative meaning. We’ll discuss the meanings of the word mojo, where the word comes from, and look at its use in a few sentences. Mojo may mean a magic talisman or charm or the power derived from that magic talisman or charm. Often, this mojo is carried in a pouch around one’s neck. Figuratively, mojo refers to someone’s personal power, his ability to influence others, …
A soliloquy and a monologue are both spoken by one person, but there is a difference between the two. We’ll look at the meaning of soliloquy and monologue, where the words come from and examples of their use in sentences. A soliloquy is a speech performed by a single character, usually in a play. In a soliloquy the character speaks his thoughts out loud, to himself. This literary device allows the audience to know what the character is thinking, though …
The words sarcophagus and mausoleum are often used interchangeably, but in reality, there is a difference between the two terms. We will explain the similarities and differences between the words sarcophagus and mausoleum, explain the origins of these two terms, and show a few examples. A sarcophagus is a tomb composed of stone or marble, it is above ground. A sarcophagus is usually inscribed or decorated. Many tombs in Ancient Egypt, Rome and Greece included a sarcophagus. Today, a sarcophagus …
Morbid and moribund are two words that are very close in pronunciation and spelling, but mean two different things. We will look at the difference between the words morbid and moribund, and look at their common roots. In addition, we will provide examples to show the difference in their use. Morbid is an adjective which describes someone who has an abnormally intense interest in unpleasant or gruesome subjects such as suffering, disease and death. Being morbid may be a lifelong …