vaunt

(vont)

(verb) To brag about.
(noun) A boastful remark, or a speech of effusive self-praise.

Vaunt comes from Latin vanitare, which means "to talk frivolously" -- yet another word that derives from Latin vanus, meaning "empty."

"As for the much-vaunted hot sex between Tom and Nicole, there is none."

-- An obviously disappointed Charles Taylor, writing in Salon about the many reasons he disliked the Stanley Kubrick movie, "Eyes Wide Shut."

 

 

vernal

(VURR-null)

1. Pertaining to or occurring in the spring.

2. Fresh, youthful.

Latin ver, which means "spring," inspired this word, as well as the name of the vernal equinox, which marks the beginning of spring. Incidentally, Latin prima vera, meaning "first (earliest) spring," comes the lovely English adjective primaveral, which applies to the same time of year. Latin ver also gave us pasta primavera, an Italian dish literally made "spring style" - that is, with garden-fresh veggies.

"Sir, wouldn't you think our learning experience would be greatly enhanced if we took full advantage of this lovely vernal weather by having class outside?"

 

vexillologist

(vek-suh-LOLL-uh-jist)

Someone who specializes in the study of flags.

Vexillologist is from the Latin vexillum, which means "flag."

"Vexillologists and Civil War buffs will tell you that actually, the name 'Stars and Bars' refers not to the controversial flag most people associate with the Confederacy, but to a flag with altogether different design."

 

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