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Oct 4, 2010
This week's themeWords about relations
This week's words
nepotism
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with Anu GargMany words in the English language make use of words about relations metaphorically. To father is to be the originator of something. There are motherboards and daughterboards in electronics. To husband something is to be thrifty with it. To say (or cry) uncle is to concede defeat.
This week we feature a few words that allude to uncles and cousins. Enrich your verbal clan with the figurative use of these words.
nepotism
PRONUNCIATION:
(NEP-uh-tiz-uhm) 
MEANING:
noun: Favoritism shown to relatives and friends, especially in business or political appointments. ETYMOLOGY:
From Italian nepotismo, from Latin nepos (grandson, nephew). Ultimately from the Indo-European root nepot- (grandson, nephew) that is also the source of the words nephew and niece. NOTES:
The word originated from the practice of popes in the Roman Catholic Church to confer important positions to their sons. Since a pope had taken the vow of chastity, his son was euphemistically called a nephew. USAGE:
"What is not siphoned off in corruption is wasted, due to the ineptitude of those appointed on the basis of nepotism and cronyism."Mahreen Aziz Khan; Demo-crassy Rules; The Express Tribune (Karachi, Pakistan); Sep 25, 2010.
Explore "nepotism" in the Visual Thesaurus.
A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
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