Etymologizing the most interesting words to add to YOUR vocabulary today!

Anachronism: An anachronism is something (or someone) that is out of place in terms of time or chronology. This is most common with old-fashioned items in a modern setting, but can also occur with futuristic items in period pieces. Most anachronisms are there by mistake, especially within movies and television shows.An anachronism is derived from the Greek ἀνά (ana, "against") and χρόνος (chronos, "time"), and it refers to an object or event that is out of its proper or chronological order in relation to other events or objects.

Accismus: A form of irony in which someone feigns indifference to something he or she desires. Accismus, on the other hand, is derived from the Greek ἀκησις (akēsis, "refusal"), and it refers to the feigned refusal of something that one actually desires.

Cacophony: A cacophony is a harsh mixture of sounds. It descends from the Greek word phōnē which means sound or voice, and is joined with the Greek prefix kak-, meaning bad; creating the meaning bad sound. Cacophony comes from the Greek word kakophōnia, meaning "bad sound," from kakos, meaning "bad," and phōnē, meaning "sound."

Draconian: An adjective to describe something that is excessively harsh and severe. Derives from Draco, a 7th-century Athenian law scribe under whom small offenses had heavy punishments; prescribing death for almost every offence. Draconian is derived from the Greek word Drakōn, referring to an Ancient Greek lawmaker who instituted harsh legal codes.

Limerence: It can be defined as an involuntary state of mind resulting from a romantic attraction to another person combined with an overwhelming, obsessive need to have one’s feelings reciprocated. Limerence is derived from the French word limerance, which was coined by psychologist Dorothy Tennov in the 1970s. It is a combination of the words l'amour, meaning "love," and emerence, meaning "to yearn for" or "to desire." Limerence is a state of intense longing for a romantic partner, and is sometimes referred to as "obsessive love."

Pareidolia: A psychological phenomenon in which the mind perceives a specific image or pattern where it does not actually exist, such as seeing a face in the clouds. Pareidolia can be used to explain a host of otherwise unexplained sightings.Pareidolia is derived from the Greek words para, meaning "beside, alongside, beyond," and eidōlon, meaning "image, form, shape." Pareidolia is a psychological phenomenon in which the mind perceives a familiar pattern or image in a random or ambiguous stimulus. It is often associated with the perception of faces or other significant objects in clouds, tree bark, or other objects.

Riposte: A quick or witty retaliatory reply. In the context of the sport of fencing, a riposte means a counterattack that is made after successfully fending off one’s opponent.Riposte comes from the French word riposter, which is a combination of the words re-, meaning "again," and poster, meaning "to answer." Riposte is a quick, witty, and often ironic response to an insult or criticism.

Sanctimony: Pretend or hypocritical religious devotion or righteousness. Someone who is sanctimonious will preach about the evils of drug use whilst drinking a beer, for example. Sanctimony is derived from the Latin word sanctimonia, which is a combination of the words sanctus, meaning "holy," and -monia, meaning "disposition" or "state of mind." Sanctimony is an attitude of moral superiority or self-righteousness, often accompanied by excessive religious piety.

Serendipity: The act of finding something valuable or interesting when you are not looking for it. Coined by English author Horace Walpole in the mid-1700s, crediting it to a fairy tale he read called The Three Princes of Serendip.

Verisimilitude: Something that merely seems to be true or real. For example, including a great many details in a novel adds to its verisimilitude.