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lymphatic: msg#00026

culture.language.word-of-the-day

Subject: lymphatic

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The Word of the Day for May 27 is:

lymphatic \lim-FAT-ik\ adjective
1 a : of, relating to, or produced by lymph, lymphoid
tissue, or lymphocytes b : conveying lymph
*2 : lacking physical or mental energy : sluggish

Example sentence:
"Wrench had a wretched lymphatic wife who made a mummy of
herself indoors in a large shawl...." (George Eliot,
_Middlemarch_)

Did you know?
Lymph is a pale liquid in the body that helps maintain
fluid balance and removes bacteria from tissues. Today, we
understand that lymph plays an important role in the bodys
immune system. In the past, however, it was commonly believed
that an excess of lymph caused sluggishness -- hence
the "sluggish" meaning of "lymphatic." The word "lymph" comes
from Latin "lympha" ("water" or "water goddess"), which itself
may be a modification of the Greek word "nymphe,"
meaning "nymph." Both "lymph" and its related
adjective "lymphatic" have been used in English since the mid-
17th century.

*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.





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