Thursday, April 28, 2011

Words & things I've learned from MTG

I would've never thought that Magic: The Gathering was an educational game. Yet I've learned quite a few words & other things, mostly from card names or subtypes. I thought these were all just made up when I first saw them. The words all link to the definition/article on Mirriam-Webster or wikipedia:

Homunculus
a miniature adult that in the theory of preformation is held to inhabit the germ cell and to produce a mature individual merely by an increase in size

Autochthon
indigenous, native
formed or originating in the place where found

Vis
Force, power

Ornithopter
an aircraft designed to derive its chief support and propulsion from flapping wings

Fulgent
dazzlingly bright

Abjure
1
a : to renounce upon oath
b : to reject solemnly
2 to abstain from


Cenobite
a member of a religious group living together in a monastic community



Artificer
a skilled or artistic worker or craftsman


Aurochs
an extinct large long-horned wild ox (Bos primigenius) of Europe that is the ancestor of domestic cattle


Cockatrice
a legendary serpent that is hatched by a reptile from a cock's egg and that has a deadly glance


Selkie
Selkies (also known as silkies or selchies) are mythological shapeshifting creatures that are found in Faroese, Icelandic, Irish, and Scottish folklore.


Shinen (This links to a really interesting article that will help you understand Kamigawa!)
The term shinen is a combination of shin ("spirit") and en ("flame"). This should not be confused with the word for "thought" (shi + nen).

Augury
divination from auspices or omens


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