Palladium

Today's Word.A.Day was "palladium".
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A.Word.A.Day

with Anu Garg

palladium

PRONUNCIATION:

(puh-LAY-dee-uhm) 

MEANING:

noun:
1. A safeguard.
2. A rare, silvery-white metal.

ETYMOLOGY:

For 1: After Athena (also known as Pallas Athena), a goddess in Greek mythology. She was the daughter of Zeus and was born fully-grown from his forehead. Palladium was a statue of Athena that was believed to protect Troy.
Earliest documented use: before 1393.
For 2: Palladium was discovered by chemist and physicist William Hyde Wollaston in 1803. He named it after the asteroid Pallas which had been discovered the year before. The asteroid was named after Pallas Athena. Earliest documented use: 1803.

USAGE:

"Mr. Fawehinmi secured the release of Mr. Ayodeji after successfully invoking that great palladium of civil liberty, the writ of habeas corpus."
Dr. G. Olu Onagoruwa; The Man Gani; Vanguard (Apapa, Nigeria); Sep 7, 2009.

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This definition is notable because today is the third anniversary of our wedding and Kyle's wedding ring is made out of palladium! So, Anu Garg got it right today. We've had fun over the past couple days reminiscing about our big days in Winthrop three years ago. We have such warm memories of the gathering, being surrounded by all of our people and feeling such love for each other and for our families and friends. If you're reading this and you were there on Feb 15th, 2009, thanks for making the trek out to the middle of Washington for us. It meant the world to us and we'll remember you as a part of it forever.