Sep 16, 2008

a cure for the common rhino

Today, illustrating how seemingly disparate words can be joined at the root, I employed "carat" and "rhinoceros." Each derives from the Greek keras, for "horn." "Rhino," I explained, means "nose." "For example, a rhinovirus is the common cold, right?"

Right, said students.

I'm not much for magical thinking, but I may have cursed myself.

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