This document provides definitions and etymologies for winning words from the National Spelling Bee competition from 1925 to 2010. It includes the winning words such as "vivisepulture" in 1996, "euonym" in 1997, and "chiaroscurist" in 1998. For each word, it lists the definition and origin of the word from Latin, Greek, Italian or other languages. In total, it summarizes the winning words and their meanings for 16 years of the National Spelling Bee competition.
8. “chiaroscurist”
• Definition: the artistic distribution of light and
dark masses in a picture
• Etymology: Italian, from chiaro clear + oscuro
obscure
12. "demarche"
• Definition: an action or gesture by a diplomat,
esp. a formal appeal, protest, or the like.
• Etymology: French 15th c., from demarché,
“walk, step.”
14. "succedaneum"
• Definition: something that is used as a
substitute, especially a medical drug or agent.
• Etymology: from Latin succēdāneus following
after, from succēdere to succeed
22. "appoggiatura"
• Definition: musical term; a note of
embellishment preceding another note and
taking a portion of its time.
• Etymology: 1745–55; from Italian, literally: a
propping, from appoggiare to prop, support.
24. "ursprache"
• Definition: a hypothetically reconstructed
parent language, as Proto-Germanic, the
ancestor of the Germanic languages.
• Etymology: from ur- primeval, original +
Sprache (language).
28. "guerdon"
• Definition: a reward or payment.
• Etymology: from Old French gueredon, of
Germanic origin; final element influenced by
Latin dōnum (gift).
30. "laodicean"
• Definition: a person who is lukewarm or
indifferent, esp. in religion.
• Etymology: 1605–15; referring to the early
Christians of Laodicea.