Skip to content

The word for today is…

demarcate (verb):

1: delimit
2: to set apart : distinguish

Source : Merriam -Webster

Etymology : It’s reasonable to assume that demarcate inspired the noun demarcation—many a noun has been formed by adding the suffix -ion to an existing verb. But in this case you’d also be wrong; demarcation came first, with the verb demarcate following as a back-formation. We can ultimately thank Spanish for both: the Spanish noun demarcación (from demarcar, “to delimit”) was used in 1493 to name a meridian dividing New World territory between Spain and Portugal. (A Spanish-born pope chose a meridian that favored Spain greatly.) Centuries later, English speakers began calling this boundary the “line of demarcation,” and eventually applied that phrase to other dividing lines as well. By the early 19th century, demarcation had been verbified to create demarcate.

If you enjoyed this BFD word of the day please consider sharing it with your friends and, especially, your children.

Latest

The Good Oil Daily Roundup

The Good Oil Daily Roundup

Just a brief note to readers who like to add their own contributions to Daily Roundup in the comments. This post is for family friendly humour ONLY thank you.

Members Public
Good Oil Backchat

Good Oil Backchat

Please read our rules before you start commenting on The Good Oil to avoid a temporary or permanent ban.

Members Public