Concinity means harmony or elegance of design, particularly in literary style where parts fit together well, originating from Latin for 'skillfully put together'.
Concinity refers to harmony or elegance of design, especially in literary style, where parts fit together well. The word comes from Latin 'concinnus', meaning 'skillfully put together'.
Word | concinnity |
---|---|
Date | February 5, 2007 |
Type | noun |
Syllables | kun-SIH-nuh-tee |
Etymology | The Romans apparently found perfect harmony in a well-mixed drink. The cocktail in question was a beverage they called "cinnus," and so agreeably concordant did they find it that its name apparently inspired the formation of "concinnare," a verb meaning "to place fitly together." "Concinnare" gave rise to "concinnus," meaning "skillfully put together," which in turn fermented into "concinnitas." English speakers added the word to our mix in the 1500s as "concinnity." |
Examples | Julia maintains that no modern play can rival the concinnity of the classical Greek tragedies. |
Definition | : harmony or elegance of design especially of literary style in adaptation of parts to a whole or to each other |
Tags: wordoftheday::noun
Learn with these flashcards. Click next, previous, or up to navigate to more flashcards for this subject.
Next card: Soviet glasnost english information policy february noun glahz-nohst
Previous card: Weight avoirdupois meaning english goods pound ounce february
Up to card list: Word of the Day