1:27:00 PM EDT
Feeling Happy
Daily Buzzword : Hubbub
What is the Daily Buzzword for September 26?
hubbub \HUB-ub\ noun
What does it mean?
: uproar, turmoil
How do you use it?
"All was now bustle and hubbub in the late quiet schoolroom. The scholars were hurried through their lessons without stopping at trifles." (Washington Irving, _The Legend of Sleepy Hollow_)
Are you a word wiz?
Etymologists think that "hubbub" may have developed from
the Scottish Gaelic words "ub! ub!" What do you think
"ub! ub!" was used for?
A. to express happiness
B. to express contempt
C. to hush crying children
D. to root for a soccer team
E. to describe normal life at the Ridiman household
Answer:
If you chose B & E, you're right! When "hubbub" first came into English in the mid-1500s, it meant an uproar, and was often used in the phrase "Irish hubbub." It is probably Irish in origin and may come from the ancient Irish battle cry "abu!" but no one knows for sure. There is evidence, though, that "hubbub" is linked to the Scottish Gaelic interjection
"ub! ub!" which expressed contempt (similar to our
interjection "boo!" which expresses contempt or disapproval). Whether it is Irish or Scottish in origin, "hubbub" has been used in English for over four centuries to mean a noisy commotion. Hubbub is particularly appropriate if you homeschool three of the noisiest children in the world while trying to let their father, who sleeps all day, rest. Add greyhounds, cats, gerbils, fish, and a wounded bird to the mix, and you have the definition of the word "hubbub"
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(c) 2004 by Merriam-Webster, Incorporated (altered slightly by a tired homeschooling mamma
I love this! It is an easy way to add to your vocabulary. I read them outloud to the kids. It is fun....easy...useful.
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