ANACHRONISM

[Dr. Goodword]

• anachronism •

Pronunciation: ê-næ-krê-niz-êm • Hear it!

Part of Speech: Noun

Meaning: 1. An error in fixing the time of something, as an anachronism in a calendar or a schedule of events. 2. Something out of date, outside the appropriate time span, as a horse and buggy is an anachronism on today's modern highways.

Notes: Please do not confuse today's Good Word with achronism "timelessness or a lack of time", often heard in the phrase, "an achronism". See the problem? Today's word offers two adjectives to choose from, anachronistic [ê-næ-krê-nis-tik] and anachronous [ê-næ-krê-nês].

In Play: This word most often refers people and things that are behind the times: "Andy Bellamy is an anachronism who still wears spats and a top hat to formal affairs." However, it can indicate any misplacement in time, including to the future: "Leonardo da Vinci was a futuristic anachronism in his day."

Word History: Today's word comes to us from the Greek anachronismos "anachronism" made up of the negative prefix ana- + chronos "time" + izm-os, a nominal suffix. The Greek word for "time" comes from Chronos the god of time, one of the Titans who emerged from the primordial Chaos out of which the universe emerged. He is often confused with the leader of the Titans, Cronus. While the names might possibly be related, we have no idea where the name Cronus comes from, either.

[gailr]

My favorite anachronism. (Just watch out for the raw green mead!)
-gailr

[Perry]

Hey. And what about the Flat Earth Society?

[Bailey]

and more behind-the-time enthusiasts here

mark
apologies to all the red shirters out there.