diadem

****************************************************************
Are the latest developments in technology making your old 
dictionary look obsolete? Step up to our Eleventh Edition!
http://www.merriam-webster.com/cgi-bin/book.pl?c11.htm&1
****************************************************************

The Word of the Day for March 30 is: 

diadem   \DYE-uh-dem\   noun
    *1 : crown; specifically : a royal headband 
     2 : something that adorns like a crown 

Example sentence:
     The queens of ancient Greece preferred simple elegance, opting for a 
single diadem of gold or even leaves rather than more ornate crowns.

Did you know?
     The ancient rulers of Persia wore headbands of linen, silk, or wool tied 
at the back as a mark of royalty. Alexander the Great and other Greek rulers 
took a fancy to the headgear and adopted it as a symbol of their royal 
authority, naming the narrow band "diadema," which comes from the Greek "dia-," 
meaning "through, across," and "dein," meaning "to bind." Over time, diadems 
became more elaborate, shifting from cloth to precious metals, adding gems and 
ornaments, and finally expanding from a mere headband into the flashier crowns 
of medieval times.

*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence. 




You Are Subscribed As: GCLW-MW-WOD7@xxxxxxxxx
To unsubscribe, change your e-mail address or to subscribe to the html
version of Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day, featuring audio
pronunciations, please visit:

http://www.startsampling.com/sm/wod/changeofaddress.iphtml

(c) 2006 by Merriam-Webster, Incorporated

Merriam-Webster, Inc.
47 Federal Street
P.O. Box 281
Springfield, MA 01102

*mf mwt 033006 GCLW-MW-WOD7@xxxxxxxxx mf*

---
You are currently subscribed to mw-text as: GCLW-MW-WOD7@xxxxxxxxx
To unsubscribe send a blank email to 
leave-mw-text-979910Y@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx