WORD OF THE DAY 4/29/2003
lacuna \luh-KYOO-nuh\, noun;
plural lacunae \luh-KYOO-nee\ or lacunas:
1. A blank space; a missing part; a gap.
2. (Biology) A small opening, depression, or cavity in an
anatomical structure.
Like most other writers of his generation, he was a
profoundly apolitical being, not from any lacuna in his
education but as a matter of principle.
--Walter Laqueur, 'The Artist in Politics,' [1]New York
Times, May 15, 1983
Between the time of my first memory... and my second and
third memories, I remember nothing. The lacunae of these
years I've been able to fill sketchily from the entries in
my baby book, which notes such incidents as my first smile.
--Jaime Manrique, [2]Eminent Maricones
The exodus of wives, relatives, friends and hangers-on had
left a big howling lacuna which wrapped the homestead in
webs of glorious nostalgia.
--Moses Isegawa, [3]Abyssinian Chronicles
__________________________________________
Lacuna is from the Latin lacuna, 'a cavity, a hollow,' from
lacus, 'a hollow.'
plural lacunae \luh-KYOO-nee\ or lacunas:
1. A blank space; a missing part; a gap.
2. (Biology) A small opening, depression, or cavity in an
anatomical structure.
Like most other writers of his generation, he was a
profoundly apolitical being, not from any lacuna in his
education but as a matter of principle.
--Walter Laqueur, 'The Artist in Politics,' [1]New York
Times, May 15, 1983
Between the time of my first memory... and my second and
third memories, I remember nothing. The lacunae of these
years I've been able to fill sketchily from the entries in
my baby book, which notes such incidents as my first smile.
--Jaime Manrique, [2]Eminent Maricones
The exodus of wives, relatives, friends and hangers-on had
left a big howling lacuna which wrapped the homestead in
webs of glorious nostalgia.
--Moses Isegawa, [3]Abyssinian Chronicles
__________________________________________
Lacuna is from the Latin lacuna, 'a cavity, a hollow,' from
lacus, 'a hollow.'
