Words at the 2009 Spelling Bee
From the televised finals of the 82nd annual Scripps National Spelling Bee on May 28.
The 2009 Champion Speller… Kavya Shivashankar!
Won for correctly spelling the adjective laodicean, meaning “lukewarm or indifferent to religion or politics.”
avalement (noun)
Meaning: the technique of allowing the knees to flex and thus absorb bumps when skiing and turning at high speed so that the skis will remain in constant contact with the snow
omphaloskepsis (noun)
Meaning: the contemplation of one’s navel as an aid to meditation
Spelled correctly by Serena Skye Laine-Lobsinger. #65
pogonip (noun)
Meaning: a dense winter fog containing ice particles
Origin: Shoshone
Spelled correctly by Kyle Mou (13) of Peoria, Illinois. Dunlap Middle School.
deipnosophist (noun)
Meaning: a master of the art of dinner-table conversation
Origin: Greek
Spelled correctly by Aishwarya Pastapur (13) of Springfield, Illinois. Grade 8 at Glenwood Middle School.
scilicet (adverb)
Meaning: namely, that is
Origin: Latin
Spelled correctly by Kennyi Aouad (13) of Terre Haute, Indiana. The Tribune-Star. Grade 8 at Otter Creek Middle School. #103.
hydrargyrum (noun)
Meaning: the element mercury
Origin: Greek
Spelled correctly by Kayva Shivashankar (13) of Olathe, Kansas. Grade 8 at California Trail Junior High School. #110
Reykjavik (adjective)
Meaning: of or from the capital of Iceland
Origin: Icelandic
Spelled correctly by Sidharth Chand (13) of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Grade 8 at Detroit County Day School (private). #139
herniorrhaphy (noun)
Meaning: a surgical procedure for correcting hernia
Misspelled by Tussah Heera (13) of Las Vegas, Nevada. Grade 8. Home School. #158. She omitted an ‘r’ and spelled the word as herniorhaphy. Cute girl. Her first time in the competition. Last year of eligibility. Cried afterward…
ophelimity (noun)
Meaning: economic satisfaction
Origin: Greek -> Italian -> English
Spelled correctly by Neetu Chandak (13) of Seneca Falls, New York. Grade 7 at Seneca Falls Middle School. #170
Anasazi (adjective)
Meaning: of or belonging to the Basket Maker-Pueblo culture of the plateau area of northern Arizona, New Mexico, and adjacent areas of Colorado and Utah contemporaneous with the Hohokam to the south
Origin: Navajo
Spelled correctly by Anamika Veeramani (13) of North Royalton, Ohio. Grade 7 at Incarnate Word Academy (private). Cleveland Plain Dealer. #201
psittacosis (noun)
Meaning: an infectious disease of birds that is transmissible to humans
Origin: Greek -> Latin
Spelled correctly by Tim Ruiter (12) of Centreville, Virgina. NOVATAG – Fairfax (home). Times Community Papers. #276
geusioleptic (adjective)
Meaning: having or characterized by pleasant flavor
Origin: Greek
This word had already been previously used in the 2006 Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Usage example given: While Lena’s geusioleptic cooking wowed her boyfriend, what really melted his heart was the fact that she had once competed in the National Spelling Bee.
Spelled correctly by Ramya Auroprem (13) of San Jose, California. Grade 8. Favorite school subject: French. #19
conchyliated (adjective)
Meaning: obtained from mollusks
Origin: Greek -> Latin; plus English combining forms
Pronounced two ways
Misspelled by Serena Skye Laine-Lobsinger (13) of West Palm Beach, Florida. Grade 8. #65. Second appearance in competition. Best finish before this year: T-64th (2008). Her and my misspelling: conchiliated
Serena Skye Laine-Lobsinger places 10th this year.
avoirdupois (noun)
Meaning: a system of weights based on a pound of sixteen ounces
Origin: French
Spelled correctly by Kyle Mou (13) of Peoria, Illinois. Dunlap Middle School. Peoria Journal Star. #88. Best finish before this year: T-8th (2008).
tagliatelle (noun)
Meaning: pasta in the shape of noodles
Origin: Italian, from Latin
Spelled correctly by Aishwarya Pastapur (13) of Springfield, Illinois. Grade 8 at Glenwood Middle School. #89. Best finish before this year: T-22nd (2006).
gyascutus (noun)
Definition: an imaginary quadruped whose legs are longer on one side than the other to facilitate walking on hillsides
Origin: Unknown
Three pronunciation variants
Had to start over, but spelled correctly by Kennyi Aouad (13) of Terre Haute, Indiana. The Tribune-Star. Grade 8 at Otter Creek Middle School. #103. (Thought I heard him misspell the antepenultimate letter as a g instead of a t, but he has a cold, so…)
blancmange (noun)
Definition: sweet almond-flavored milk pudding thickened with gelatin or cornstarch; usually shaped in a mold
Origin: French, Latin
Spelled correctly by Kayva Shivashankar (13) of Olathe, Kansas. Grade 8 at California Trail Junior High School. #110
apodyterium (noun)
Definition: a dressing room in an ancient Greek or Roman bath or gymnasium
Origin: Greek -> Latin
Misspelled by Sidharth Chand as apodeiterium. “Super Sid” received a standing ovation afterward. This year was his last chance. Placed 2nd in 2008.
derriengue (noun)
Meaning: posterior incoordination of cattle in South America
Origin: Spanish
Misspelled by Neetu Chandak (13) as deriengue. “Ding?” Third appearance. Best finish before this year: T-91st (2008). So cute. Her braces will be off by next year’s competition.
simnel (noun)
Definition: a rich fruitcake sometimes coated with almond paste and baked for mid-Lent, Easter and Christmas
Language of origin: Semitic, Latin, French -> English
Spelled correctly by Anamika Veeramani (13) of North Royalton, Ohio. Grade 7 at Incarnate Word Academy (private). First appearance in the bee this year. Career goal: Surgeon.#201
Last one in Round 8
passacaglia (noun)
Meaning: instrumental music composition consisting of variations on a ground bass in moderately slow triple time
Language of origin: Latin -> Spanish -> French
Spelled correctly by Tim Ruiter (12) of Centreville, Virginia. First appearnace in the bee this year. Favorite musicians: They Might Be Giants. #276
axolotl (noun)
Definition: salamander native to Mexico and the western United States
Language of origin: Nahuatl
Spelled correctly by Ramya Auroprem (13) of San Jose, California. Grade 8. First appearance at the bee. Favorite book: Little Women. #19
plaidoyer (noun)
Meaning: an address, plea or argument made, especially by an advocate in court
Origin: French
Spelled correctly by Kyle Mou (13) of Peoria, Illinois. Dunlap Middle School. #88. Third appearance in the bee. Would like to meet: President Barack Obama
goombay (noun)
Meaning: calypso music as developed in the Bahamas
Origin: Bantu
Two pronunciation variants
Spelled correctly by Aishwarya Pastapur (13) of Springfield, Illinois. Grade 8 at Glenwood Middle School. #89. Third appearance at the nationals.
hypallage (noun)
Definition: the interchange in syntactic relationship between two terms
Origin: Greek
Two pronunciation variants
Example of a hypallage: You had a restless night for you were restless through the night.
Ancient Greek and Latin literature.
Spelled correctly by Kennyi Aouad (13) of Terre Haute, Indiana. Grade 8 at Otter Creek Middle School. #103. Favorite movie: Akeelah and the Bee
baignoire (noun)
Definition: a box of the lowest tier in a theater
Origin: French from the Latin
Spelled correctly by Kayva Shivashankar (13) of Olathe, Kansas. Fourth appearance at the nationals. #110. Role model: Nupur Lala (1999 Bee Champion)
arrhostia (noun)
Definition: evolutionary product or trend that appears to be pathological
Language of origin: Greek
Example of usage in sentence: Martha was sick of Mike always blaming his habit of never cleaning up on an arrhostia.
Spelled correctly by Anamika Veeramani (13) of North Royalton, Ohio. First appearance in the bee this year. Favorite musician: Kelly Clarkson.#201
Last one in Round 9
byssinosis (noun)
Definition: an occupational respiratory disease caused by the long-term inhalation of cotton, flax, or hemp dust and characterized by shortness of breath, coughing, and wheezing; also called brown lung disease or mill fever
Language of origin: Greek -> Latin
Spelled correctly by Tim Ruiter (12) of Centreville, Virginia. Grade 7. First appearance in the nationals this year. Favorite food: dark chocolate. #276
iliopsoas (noun)
Definition: combination of three muscles that form the tenderloin
Language of origin: Latin, Greek
Two pronunciation variants
Spelled correctly by Ramya Auroprem (13) of San Jose, California. Grade 8 at Joaquin Miller Middle School. First appearance at the nationals. #19
oeillade (noun)
Definition: a glance of the eye, especially a coquettish glance
Origin: French
Spelled correctly by Kyle Mou (13) of Peoria, Illinois. Dunlap Middle School. #88. Third appearance in the nationals.
xebec (noun)
Definition: three-masted Mediterranean vessel with both square and lateen sails
Origin: Arabic -> French -> English
Two pronunciation variants
Spelled correctly by Aishwarya Pastapur (13) of Springfield, Illinois. Grade 8 at Glenwood Middle School. #89. Third appearance in the nationals. Has known Kavya since preschool.
grisaille (noun)
Definition: painting in shades of gray
Language of origin: French
Four pronunciation variants
Kennyi Aouad (13) of Terre Haute, Indiana. Grade 8 at Otter Creek Middle School. #103. Third appearance at the nationals.
huisache (noun)
Definition: a thorny shrub of the southern United States and tropical America with fragrant ball-shaped yellow flowers
Language of origin: Nahuatl -> Spanish
Spelled correctly by Kayva Shivashankar (13) of Olathe, Kansas. Fourth appearance at the nationals. #110.
Neufchatel (noun)
Definition: type of cheese
Word origin: French geographical name
Various pronunciations (~ 5)
Spelled correctly by Anamika Veeramani (13) of North Royalton, Ohio. First appearance in the nationals.
Last one in Round 10
cretonne (noun)
Definition: heavy unglazed cotton, linen, or rayon fabric, colorfully printed and used for draperies and slipcovers.
Word origin: after Creton, a village in France
Three pronunciation variations.
Spelled correctly by Tim Ruiter (12) of Centreville, Virginia. Grade 7. First appearance in the nationals
16 Straight Words Spelled Correctly
amarevole (adverb)
Definition: with bitterness (direction in music)
Language of origin: Latin -> Italian
Misspelled by Ramya Auroprem (13) of San Jose, California. San Francisco Chronicle. Favorite school subject: French. #19. Her wrong spelling: amarevile
becquerel (noun)
Definition: a unit of radioactivity equal to one disintegration per second
Word origin: from a French name
Two pronunciation variants.
Spelled correctly by Kyle Mou (13) of Peoria, Illinois. #88. Third appearance in the nationals. Best finish before this year: T-8th (2008)
Caerphilly (noun)
Definition: mild white cheese of Welsh origin; crumbles easily
Word origin: Welsh geographical name
“Has a near-homonym.” Four pronunciations given.
Spelled correctly by Aishwarya Pastapur (13) of Springfield, Illinois. #89. Third appearance in the nationals. Best finish before this year: T-22nd (2008)
palatschinken (noun)
Definition: thin egg-batter pancakes stuffed with jam
Language of origin: Latin -> Hungarian -> Romanian -> German -> English
Two pronunciation variants
Misspelled by Kennyi Aouad (13) of Terre Haute, Indiana. #103. Third appearance at the nationals. Best finish before this year: T-34th (2007). His wrong spelling: pallachinkin. Standing ovation afterward.
ecossaise (noun)
Definition: a lively dance tune in duple time
Word origin: French geographical name
Spelled correctly by Kayva Shivashankar (13) of Olathe, Kansas. Fourth appearance at the nationals. Best finish before this year: T-4th (2008). #110.
fackeltanz (noun)
Definition: a dance associated with German royal wedding celebrations; torch-light procession
Word origin: German
Misspelled by Anamika Veeramani (13) of North Royalton, Ohio. Grade 7. Career goal: surgeon. First appearance in the nationals. Her wrong spelling: facultaans
Last one in Round 11
jacqueminot (noun)
Definition: raspberry red; a moderate red but is lighter and yellower than cerise and very slightly less strong than strawberry
Word origin: from a French name
Spelled correctly by Tim Ruiter (12) of Centreville, Virginia. Grade 7. First appearance in the nationals
Round XII. Four Spellers Remaining
Two Boys, Two Girls
schizaffin (noun)
Definition: characterized by slender build and slight muscular development
Languages of origin: Greek, Latin
Misspelled by Kyle Mou (13) of Peoria, Illinois. #88. Third appearance in the nationals. Best finish before this year: T-8th (2008). His wrong spelling: schizophine. Received a standing ovation.
Wisent (noun)
Definition: European bison; called also aurochs
Language of origin: German
Spelled correctly by Aishwarya Pastapur (13) of Springfield, Illinois. #89. Third appearance in the nationals. Best finish before this year: T-22nd (2008)
diacoele (noun)
Definition: the third ventricle of the brain
Language origin: Greek (dia, across + koilos, hollow)
Spelled correctly by Kayva Shivashankar (13) of Olathe, Kansas. Fourth appearance at the nationals. Best finish before this year: T-4th (2008). #110.
Last one in Round 12
reredos (noun)
Definition: a screen or partition wall behind an altar
Language of origin: French
Three pronunciation variants
Spelled correctly by Tim Ruiter (12) of Centreville, Virginia. Grade 7. First appearance in the nationals
CHAMPIONSHIP WORDS
When two or three spellers remain at the end of a round, a 25-word list is used to determine the winner. When more than two spellers remain after that list, co-champions are declared. It’s been almost half a century since the last time co-champions were declared.
antonomasia (noun)
Definition: the making of a common noun or verb from a proper name
Language of origin: Greek
Two pronunciation variants
Championship word spelled correctly by Aishwarya Pastapur.
bouquiniste (noun)
Definition: a dealer in secondhand books
Language origin: Dutch -> French
Championship word spelled correctly by Kayva Shivashankar.
oriflamme (noun)
Definition: a banner inspiring lively devotion
Language of origin: Latin -> French -> English
Championship word spelled correctly by Tim Ruiter.
guayabera (noun)
Definition: short-sleeved sport shirt designed to be worn untucked
Language of origin: American Spanish
Championship word spelled correctly by Aishwarya Pastapur.
isagoge (noun)
Definition: a scholarly introduction to a subject
Language origin: Greek to Latin
Championship word spelled correctly by Kayva Shivashankar.
sophrosyne (noun)
Definition: temperance, moral sanity
Language of origin: Greek
Championship word spelled correctly by Tim Ruiter (12) of Centreville, Virginia. Grade 7. First appearance in the nationals
menhir (noun)
Definition: a standing stone
Language of origin: Breton, French
Championship word spelled incorrectly by Aishwarya Pastapur. Misspelled as mynheer
phoresy (noun)
Definition: a symbiotic relationship, especially among arthropods and some fishes, in which one organism transports another organism of a different species
Language of origin: Greek -> Latin
Championship word spelled correctly by Kayva Shivashankar.
maecenas (noun)
Definition: a cultural benefactor
Championship word spelled incorrectly by Tim Ruiter (12), the only non-teenager among the finalists. Misspelled as Mycenus
*Kavya Shivashankar won the 2009 Scripps National Spelling Bee by correctly spelling the championship word LAODICEAN.
laodicean (adjective)
Definition: lukewarm or indifferent to religion or politics
Word origin: geographical name
Prizes for the 2009 Spelling Bee Champion
$30,000 and engraved trophy from Scripps
$2,500 US savings bond and reference library from Merriam Webster
$5,000 from Sigma Phi Epsilon Educational Foundation
Over $3,500 worth of reference works from Encyclopedia Britannica
Bee Location: Grand Hyatt, Washington, District of Columbia
Primary TV Host: Tom Bergeron. Televised on ABC
Interviews by Erin Andrews in sleeveless green dress
Dr. Jill Biden (Vice President Joe’s wife) in attendance.
*She’s a sixth-grade spelling champion herself.
Pronouncer: Dr. Jacques A. Bailly, who won the bee as a 14-year-old in 1980
Head Judge: Mary Brooks. Teacher of guest Shawn Johnson, the latest and youngest Dancing with the Stars champion and 2008 Olympic gold medalist in the balance beam
11 finalists featured in the live telecast on ABC in HD. Earlier rounds on ESPN.
Explained by commentator Paul Loeffler: The spellers can ask for word’s alternate pronunciations, definition, part of speech, language of origin and example of usage in a sentence. No time to give all possible definitions.
Bergeron plugging ABC show Wipeout and Nuggets vs Lakers NBA playoffs
Grey’s Anatomy broadcast in its entirety after the Bee goes beyond two hours.
CONTESTANT BIOS:
Kavya Shavishankar (13) from Olathe, Kansas. #110
Word that best describes her: lickerish (“fond of good food”)
Plays the violin. Just learned a Vivaldi concerto
Inspired to spell and play the violin by girl in Spellbound
Father: Mirle Shavashankar
Doesn’t ask for sentence example, just the etymology and part of speech.
Sister Vanya is cute and goofy.
Szczecin (shchĕ’tsēn) , German Stettin, city (1994 est. pop. 414,900), capital of Zachodniopomorskie prov., NW Poland, historical capital of the Prussian province of Pomerania, on the Oder near its influx into the Zalew Szczeciński (Ger. Stettiner Haff).
Aishwarya Pastapur (13) of Springfield, Illinois. Grade 8 at Glenwood Middle School. #89
Role Model: Amelia Earhart
Grandmother in US from India to watch Aishwarya compete
Kennyi Aouad (13) of Terre Haute, Indiana. The Tribune-Star. Grade 8 at Otter Creek Middle School. #103.
Family originally from Ghana. Word to describe himself: jovial.
Name Kennyi means “wisdom” in the Gonja language of northern Ghana.
Mom: Salamatu Adama. Always a happy child. Class clown.
Brother: Emmanuel. Took bus to get to DC
Funniest word ever seen: sardoodledom.
Interests: sports like basketball and running. Champien [sic] on shirt.
Serena Skye Laine-Lobsinger
Favorite word is zyzzogeton (a green leaf-hopper, and the very last word in the Webster Collegiate Dictionary).
Word to describe herself: effervescent.
Brother: “You can always flunk a grade and come back next year.”
Kyle Mou
A word that describes him: laid back (two words?)
Likes being on stage, the spelling itself no
“I put a spell on you…”
Quiz 88
iOS developers are the programmers who write the code for the application. They are proficient in Swift or Objective-C and are responsible for implementing the app’s functionality.
