2 September 2014

morph

[mawrf]

noun

1. Linguistics. a sequence of phonemes constituting a minimal unit of grammar or syntax, and, as such, a representation, member, or contextual variant of a morpheme in a specific environment.
Compare allomorph (def 2).
2. Biology. an individual of one particular form, as a worker ant, in a species that occurs in two or more forms.
verb (used with object)
3. to transform (an image) by computer.
verb (used without object)
4. to be transformed:
morphing from a tough negotiator to Mr. Friendly.

Origin

1945-19501945-50; back formation from morpheme, or independent use of -morph
Related forms
morphic, adjective

Today’s aphorism

The wide world is all about you: you can fence yourselves in, but you cannot forever fence it out.

– J. R. R. Tolkien

On this day

2 – 5 September 1666 – Great Fire of London. It destroyed 13,200 homes, leaving 70,000 of the 80,000 inhabitants homeless, 87 churches, St Paul’s Cathedral.

2 September 1752 – last day of the Julian calendar as the British Empire adopts the Gregorian calendar. To balance the books, the next 10 days (3 – 13 September) are written off so the Gregorian commences on 14 September, which should have been 3 September in the Julian calendar.

2 September 1945 – Japan signs the ‘Instrument of Surrender’, on the USS Missouri, bringing World War II to an end.

2 September 1951 – Australia, New Zealand and United States sign the ANZUS Security Treaty, a defence pact.

2 September 1973 – death of J.R.R. Tolkien, author of ‘The Hobbit‘ and ‘Lord of the Rings‘. Born 3 January 1892.