Thursday word: cordiform

[prettygoodword.livejournal.com]

cordiform (KAWR-duh-form) - adj., heart-shaped.


And not, as you might think, rope-shaped, nor even in the shape of a backbone -- cor being Latin for heart, which has the stem form of cordi-. Where by heart, we mean the stylized ♥ shape, rather than an actual anatomic heart. Things described as cordiform include leaves, seeds, and parts of the anatomy -- so generally a technical term, though I'd think it's be useful for other things, such as beeds or dingbats (such as our friend ♥ above) or even the irises of cartoon characters in love.

As soon as Pepe Le Pew saw the cat, his cordiform eyes popped out and he began hyperventilating.

---L.

Comments

[kryptyd.livejournal.com]

A character in a book I read had a cordiform womb. She used it for smuggling.

[prettygoodword.livejournal.com]

I ... uh ... what? That kinda creeps me out.

---L.

[med_cat]

Very interesting, didn't know there was such a word; thanks!

[prettygoodword.livejournal.com]

I didn't either, till I came across it. Not very common.

---L.

[med_cat]

I see :)