20 March 2013

antipodes

[an-tip-uh-deez]

plural noun

1. places diametrically opposite each other on the globe. Usually Australia/New Zealand (often used by Britons).
2. those who dwell there.
3. things which are the exact opposite of each other.

Example sentence:

1. Captain James Cook set sail from England in 1768, on his first voyage to explore the antipodes.

2. The newly married couple epitomised the saying that opposites attract, as they were the antipodes of each other.

Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin < Greek ( hoi ) antípodes literally, (those) with the feet opposite (plural of antípous ), equivalent to anti- anti- + -podes, nominative plural of poûs foot

Related forms
an·tip·o·de·an [an-tip-uh-dee-uhn] Show IPA , adjective, noun

Today’s aphorism

Never ignore someone who cares for you, because someday you’ll realise you’ve lost a diamond while you were busy collecting stones.

– Unknown

On this day

20 March 1969 – John Lennon marries Yoko Ono in Gibraltar.

20 March 1995 – Sarin gas, a nerve agent, is released in a Tokyo subway, killing 12 people and injuring 5,500. A doomsday cult known as Aum Shinrikyo is responsible.