MooT Question Icon
Etymology-wise, it means "to uncover" but in English it has come to label a violent ending. What word is it?



Etymology, Etymology, and more Etymology
as well as grammar, usage, euphemism, slang, jargon, semantics (meaning), linguistics, neologism, idiom, word origin, syntax, dialect, lexicon (vocabulary), diction, pidgin, synonym, antonym, homonym, cant, argot, lingo, and redundancy.

A picture of a moot game

The critically-acclaimed board game MooT consists of tough questions about the nuances of the English language.
To join our mailing list and get free brain-twisting MooT questions sent to you irregularly, enter your email address and then press submit.

E-Mail address:



Back to home page


Answer: apocalypse

The word apocalypse derives from the Church Latin apocalypsis, revelation, which in turn derives from Greek apokalyptein, uncover - from Greek apo, off, and kalyptein, to cover.

Note thatJohn of Patmos' book of Revelation was called Apokalypsis in the Septuagint. This was initially translated into English as "Apocalypse" in the early 13th century, but was changed to "Revelations" in Wyclif's Bible 50 years later.


Please note that these are draft questions for the board game MooT.
If you spot an error or disagree with anything I've said here,
please let me know and I'll fix it.
(the Mootguy)

Copyright 1998-2008 Blair Arts Ltd. All rights reserved.