Handley_Page
Draco interdum Vincit
- Joined
- Aug 18, 2007
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Effluvium, caldera and meridian.
Welcome, raythaysoos, that is an interesting grouping of words. I prefer the posters on this thread to supply the definition along with the entry, but I am not a stickler for details.
Permit me, Madam:
effluvium [L, f. effluere, f. EF- + fluere to flow: see -IUM.]
1 A flowing out. M17-E18.
2 Chiefly Hist. An outflow or stream of imperceptible particles, esp. as supposedly transmitting electrical or magnetic influence etc. M17.
3 An (esp. unpleasant) exhalation affecting the lungs or the sense of smell.
caldera /klder, -dr/ n. L17. [Sp. f. late L caldaria pot for boiling.]
A volcanic crater of great size; spec. one whose breadth greatly exceeds that of the vent(s) within it.
meridian /mrdn/ n. LME.
1 Midday, noon. Long rare. LME.
2 a A midday rest, a siesta. obs. exc. Hist. LME.
b A midday drink. Sc. obs. exc. Hist. L18.
3 The point at which the sun or a star attains its highest altitude; the zenith. arch. LME.
b fig. The point or period of highest development or perfection; full splendour; one's prime of life.
4 The south. LME-E17.
5 Astron. & Geogr. A great circle of the celestial sphere which passes through the celestial poles and the zenith of a given place on the earth's surface, or the great circle of the earth which lies in the same plane; that half of the latter circle which extends from pole to pole through a place, corresponding to a line of longitude. Also, a line (on a map, globe, etc.) representing one of these. LME.
b A graduated ring or half-ring within which an artificial globe is suspended. M17.
c Geom. Any great circle of a sphere that passes through the poles; any line on a surface of revolution that is in a plane with its axis. E18.
6 transf. & fig. A distinctive locality, situation, or character; the tastes, habits, capacities, etc., of a particular set of people etc. L16.
7 Acupuncture. Any of the pathways in the body along which energy is said to flow, esp. each of a set of twelve associated with specific organs.
PS. I seem to recall that Yellowstone is on a Caldera.
All from the Oxford.