A.Word.A.Day--weathercock

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The Magic of Words

Jun 21, 2010

This week's theme
This week's theme: Words to describe people

This week's words
weathercock

Photo: Arne Koehler

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A.Word.A.Day

with Anu Garg

The French writer and philosopher Albert Camus once said, "Nobody realizes that some people expend tremendous energy merely to be normal." Can you recognize people like that around you? This week's words will help you describe them.

weathercock

PRONUNCIATION:

(WETH-uhr kok)

MEANING:

noun:
1. A weathervane, especially one with the figure of a rooster on it.
2. One who changes readily or often.

ETYMOLOGY:

From weather + cock.

NOTES:

The words weathercock/weathervane are especially suitable for politicians who change according to prevailing winds. Quebec's legislature has gone so far as to impose a ban on their use.

USAGE:

"William was such a weathercock, how could one be sure?"
Barbara W. Tuchman; The Guns of August; Random House; 1962.

Explore "weathercock" in the Visual Thesaurus.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

All men -- whether they go by the name of Americans or Russians or Chinese or British or Malayans or Indians or Africans -- have obligations to one another that transcend their obligations to their sovereign societies. -Norman Cousins, author, editor, journalist and professor (1915-1990)

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