AWAD - hypogeusia
Today's word is hypogeusia, from Greek hypo- (under) + -geusia (taste). Earliest documented use: 1888.
NOTES: A complete lack of taste is ageusia (feel free to use the word metaphorically). And an extremely keen sense of taste is oxygeusia, from Greek oxy- (keen or sharp). How does the word oxygen fit in here? In 1778, Lavoisier named the newly discovered gas oxygen (literally, sharp giving) because he mistakenly believed that it was part of all acids. He was guillotined, not for misnaming of the gas we now know as oxygen, but for the charge of adulterating France's tobacco with water. He was exonerated posthumously.
Learn more about today's word at: wordsmith.org/words/hypogeusia.html
AWAD - hypogeusia
Today's word is hypogeusia, from Greek hypo- (under) + -geusia (taste). Earliest documented use: 1888.
NOTES: A complete lack of taste is ageusia (feel free to use the word metaphorically). And an extremely keen sense of taste is oxygeusia, from Greek oxy- (keen or sharp). How does the word oxygen fit in here? In 1778, Lavoisier named the newly discovered gas oxygen (literally, sharp giving) because he mistakenly believed that it was part of all acids. He was guillotined, not for misnaming of the gas we now know as oxygen, but for the charge of adulterating France's tobacco with water. He was exonerated posthumously.
Learn more about today's word at: wordsmith.org/words/hypogeusia.html