Difference between revisions of "Viscera (pronunciation)"
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| − | In the word '''viscera''' and its derivatives (principally the [[adjective]] '''visceral''' and the [[verb]] 'to '''eviscerate'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>), the '-c-' is silent. They are pronounced 'VISS-err-a' ({{IPA| | + | In the word '''viscera''' and its derivatives (principally the [[adjective]] '''visceral''' and the [[verb]] 'to '''eviscerate'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>), the '-c-' is silent. They are pronounced 'VISS-err-a' ({{IPA|'vɪsərə}}), 'VISS-err-el' (/'vɪsərəl/} and 'i-VISS-err-ate' (/ɪ'vɪsəreɪt/}}). (There is a separate article in AWE on [[visceral (usage)|the usage of '''visceral''' in academic English]].) |
| − | ::The '''viscera''' are the soft internal organs of the body, usually the human body. In the past, the 'viscera' were commonly said to include all internal organs, including, for example, the heart, lungs and vagina; increasingly, the term is restricted to the organs of the alimentary canal. '''Viscera''' is a [[Latin]] word, the [[plural]] of '''viscus''', little used in current English. (In viscus, the '-c-' is [[Hard (consonant)|hard]], like a '-k-'.) Viscera was adopted into medical use in English as it was felt to be more 'delicate', or [[euphemism|euphemistic]], | + | ::The '''viscera''' are the soft internal organs of the body, usually the human body. In the past, the 'viscera' were commonly said to include all internal organs, including, for example, the heart, lungs and vagina; increasingly, the term is restricted to the organs of the alimentary canal. '''Viscera''' is a [[Latin]] word, the [[plural]] of '''viscus''', little used in current English. (In viscus, the '-c-' is [[Hard (consonant)|hard]], like a '-k-'.) Viscera was adopted into medical use in English as it was felt to be more 'delicate', or [[euphemism|euphemistic]], than less educated terms like 'guts' (now largely informal), 'bowels', now a rather archaic word, or 'offal' - a word used mostly by butchers, cooks etc, and restricted to the internal organs of animals other than humans. |
::You may also want to see AWE's article on [[Vicious - viscous|'''vicious''' and '''viscous''']]. The words share an origin, the Latin noun ''viscus'', the name for 'birdlime'. This is a sticky substance formerly spread on tree branches to ensnare birds. It was prepared from the soft squashy berries of mistletoe, whose [[Linnaean]] name is ''Viscum album'': the chemical that causes the stickiness of the berries is '''viscin'''. | ::You may also want to see AWE's article on [[Vicious - viscous|'''vicious''' and '''viscous''']]. The words share an origin, the Latin noun ''viscus'', the name for 'birdlime'. This is a sticky substance formerly spread on tree branches to ensnare birds. It was prepared from the soft squashy berries of mistletoe, whose [[Linnaean]] name is ''Viscum album'': the chemical that causes the stickiness of the berries is '''viscin'''. | ||
Revision as of 15:24, 6 January 2015
In the word viscera and its derivatives (principally the adjective visceral and the verb 'to eviscerate'), the '-c-' is silent. They are pronounced 'VISS-err-a' (IPA: /'vɪsərə/), 'VISS-err-el' (/'vɪsərəl/} and 'i-VISS-err-ate' (/ɪ'vɪsəreɪt/}}). (There is a separate article in AWE on the usage of visceral in academic English.)
- The viscera are the soft internal organs of the body, usually the human body. In the past, the 'viscera' were commonly said to include all internal organs, including, for example, the heart, lungs and vagina; increasingly, the term is restricted to the organs of the alimentary canal. Viscera is a Latin word, the plural of viscus, little used in current English. (In viscus, the '-c-' is hard, like a '-k-'.) Viscera was adopted into medical use in English as it was felt to be more 'delicate', or euphemistic, than less educated terms like 'guts' (now largely informal), 'bowels', now a rather archaic word, or 'offal' - a word used mostly by butchers, cooks etc, and restricted to the internal organs of animals other than humans.
- You may also want to see AWE's article on vicious and viscous. The words share an origin, the Latin noun viscus, the name for 'birdlime'. This is a sticky substance formerly spread on tree branches to ensnare birds. It was prepared from the soft squashy berries of mistletoe, whose Linnaean name is Viscum album: the chemical that causes the stickiness of the berries is viscin.
