Word of the Day

noun plural

The film's dazzling pyrotechnics, including dynamic editing and fluid cinematography, made it a favorite at the festival.

"The council appointed Preston Hodges and Brian McDowell as co-directors of the July Fourth fireworks show. Both are certified to handle pyrotechnics." — From an article by Susan Marshall in the Peabody (Kansas) Gazette-Bulletin, June 7, 2012

The use of military fireworks in elaborate celebrations of war and peace is an ancient Chinese custom, but our term for the making and launching of fireworks is a product of the 17th and 18th centuries. "Pyrotechnics" and the earlier adjective "pyrotechnic" derive via French from the Greek nouns "pyr" ("fire") and "techne" ("art"). In "pyr" one can see such fiery relatives as "pyromania," the term for an irresistible impulse to start fires, as well as "pyrite," the mineral also known as fool's gold, which once referred to a stone used for striking fire. Like "fireworks," "pyrotechnics" also has an extended figurative usage, referring to any kind of dazzling display or performance.

Word Family Quiz: What 4-syllable descendant of "pyr" begins with "e" and means "celestial" or "sublime"? The answer is ...

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