Summer Solstice

Summer solstice is coming up in my hemisphere, the longest day of the year. Solstice, from the Latin, means “sun standing still” because it appears to come to a halt on that day. Fortunately, it always changes its mind and returns to its journey.

There are some interesting words through which the sun shines.

• Apricate [L. apricari] means to bask in the sun, something that my Neo does rather well.

• Helianthus [Gr. helios, sun + anthos, flower] is the botanical genus that contains the common sunflower.

• Heliosis was exposure to the sun, often leading to sunstroke.

• The chemical element helium was first discovered by studying the spectrum emitted by the sun.

• To insolate is to expose something to the sun’s rays, quite the opposite of insulate.

• Something solific [L. sol, sun] was impregnated with solar qualities; medicinal wine was exposed to the sun in measured doses to capture its healing qualities.

SIDEBAR: Sumer Is Icumen In


Now available from McFarland & Co.: Word Parts Dictionary, 2nd edition


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