DEHISCENT

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Dr. Goodword
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DEHISCENT

Postby Dr. Goodword » Mon Jul 10, 2006 10:50 pm

• dehiscent •

Pronunciation: dee-hi-sênt • Hear it!

Part of Speech: Adjective

Meaning: 1. Gaping open, wide open. 2. (Botany) Bursting open at ripening to allow seeds to escape, as a plant with dehiscent pods.

Notes: Today's word is the adjective from the verb dehisce "to gape or burst open", as some seed pods, like those of the milkweed in the picture below, dehisce to release the seeds inside them. The noun is dehiscence. The trick is to remember the SC combination when spelling this word.

In Play: Although this word is used mostly in botany to describe seed pods and fruit, anything that can gape or pop open is potentially dehiscent: "The dehiscent mouth of Lydia Potts told Wendell that he probably shouldn't have told her his true age." And "anything" means anything: "Hiking to the top of Mount Upp, Lila found herself gazing into a lush, dehiscent valley below."

Word History: This word comes from the Latin verb dehiscere "to gape open" comprising de "from, out" + hiscere "to gape, yawn". Hiscere is a form of hiare "to yawn", whose past participle, hiatus, is pronounced [hai-ay-tês] in English and used in the sense of a blank space, break, or opening in a series. (Thanks and a tip of Dr. Goodword's hat to Katy Brezger, for bringing today's Good Word to his attention in the Alpha Agora, where you can suggest words, too.)
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Brazilian dude
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Postby Brazilian dude » Tue Jul 11, 2006 1:55 pm

Today's word is the adjective from the verb dehisce "to gape or burst open", as some seed pods, like those of the milkweed in the picture below,
Where :?:

Brazilian dude
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tcward
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Postby tcward » Thu Jul 13, 2006 6:06 pm

Image

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gailr
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Postby gailr » Thu Jul 13, 2006 8:35 pm

Dehissscent has a niccce sssibilanccce, quite onamatopeic.
-gailr

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Dehiscent

Postby Susan » Wed Jul 19, 2006 12:47 pm

This word and its forms are used extensively in surgery; e.g., "Mrs. Price's wound [surgical incision] has dehisced, so we'll have to take her back to the OR [operating room].[/b]

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Postby skinem » Wed Jul 19, 2006 1:19 pm

This word and its forms are used extensively in surgery; e.g., "Mrs. Price's wound [surgical incision] has dehisced, so we'll have to take her back to the OR [operating room].[/b]
...and we'll all be just fine if Tim DOESN'T post a picture of this!

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Postby Stargzer » Wed Jul 19, 2006 2:45 pm

This word and its forms are used extensively in surgery; e.g., "Mrs. Price's wound [surgical incision] has dehisced, so we'll have to take her back to the OR [operating room].[/b]
...and we'll all be just fine if Tim DOESN'T post a picture of this!
OK, so maybe Tim won't . . .

:twisted:

From Wound dehiscence (Picture provided by R P R Groenedijk, IJselland Hospital, Capille ad IJssel, Nederlands):

Click for picture
Regards//Larry

"To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them."
-- Attributed to Richard Henry Lee

skinem
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Postby skinem » Wed Jul 19, 2006 3:00 pm

I KNEW someone would!
I should have booked odds on who would!

Thank you for not posting it direct to the forum! :D

Stargzer
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Postby Stargzer » Wed Jul 19, 2006 3:11 pm

Well, I did at first, but thought better of it before hitting Submit.
Regards//Larry

"To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them."
-- Attributed to Richard Henry Lee

skinem
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Postby skinem » Wed Jul 19, 2006 3:21 pm

Actually, I was a first responder and a "jaws of life guy" for 5 years...it wouldn't have bothered me.
But, I was thinking of the chiiiildren! :lol:

Stargzer
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Postby Stargzer » Wed Jul 19, 2006 3:27 pm

Nah, I was thinking more of the adults. Children, the boys especially, would probably go looking for gross stuff. If I can get pictures of my ear from the doctor, I'll post them on my web site. I won't say much yet, but I could almost pass for a Star Trek character, but NOT a Vulcan. :roll:
Regards//Larry

"To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them."
-- Attributed to Richard Henry Lee

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Postby Bailey » Wed Jul 19, 2006 4:16 pm

Thanks Gzer, I could have gone all day and not seen that.

mark who knows there are insides and outsides but ne'er the twain should meet.

Today is the first day of the rest of your life, Make the most of it...
kb









skinem
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Postby skinem » Wed Jul 19, 2006 4:40 pm

If I can get pictures of my ear from the doctor, I'll post them on my web site. I won't say much yet, but I could almost pass for a Star Trek character, but NOT a Vulcan. :roll:
Hope you didn't take Bill's advice and literally lend an ear!
All is well?

Bailey
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Postby Bailey » Wed Jul 19, 2006 5:06 pm


Hope you didn't take Bill's advice and literally lend an ear!
All is well?
nor Vinny's.

mark

Today is the first day of the rest of your life, Make the most of it...
kb









Stargzer
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Postby Stargzer » Thu Jul 20, 2006 1:03 am

Let's say for the time being that Mike Tyson won't try THAT again! :wink:

All the gory details one of these days . . .
Regards//Larry

"To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them."
-- Attributed to Richard Henry Lee


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