Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP
In the early 17th century, clerics began wearing long cloaks known as "pluvials" for protection against the rain during processions. The name of the cloak is based on the Latin word for "rain": "pluvia." By the mid-17th century, "pluvial" was also being used as an adjective meaning "of or relating to rain," as in "pluvial water." Later, in the 19th century, it made a splash in the geologic field as a word describing epochs having relatively high average rainfall and things caused or formed by rain, like "pluvial erosion" or "pluvial lakes."
First Known Use: 1651
in the meaning defined at sense 1a
See Words from the same year1929
What made you want to look up pluvial? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Obscure Shapes
Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZ
Surprisingly specific words for shapes.
Take the quiz
Take this quiz and discover 12 words for things you didn't know had words.
Take the quiz
Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!
Take the quiz
SCRABBLE® fans, sharpen your skills!
Play the game
