The word 'catalyst' started off in the world of chemistry and is a substance which, while remaining unchanged itself, increases the rate of a chemical reaction. In day-to-day terms, the term could be applied to the cat which casually strolls in front of the neighbour's French doors inducing the dogs inside to become frenzied.
2. Waterfall
Answer: Cataract
Two very different meanings for the word 'cataract' are: (a) a large waterfall or (b) a cloudy area of the lens of an eye which impairs vision. In cat terms, this might describe the liquid spilling from a tetra Pak on a kitchen table that a cat has casually rubbed against and knocked over.
3. Mucous membrane inflammation
Answer: Catarrh
The word 'catarrh' comes from the Latin 'catarrhus' and the Ancient Greek 'katarrhein' (kata- meaning 'down', rhein meaning 'to flow'). The inflamed mucous membranes are usually those found in the throat and sinuses. And, yes, cats can have catarrh. This usually shows itself as a runny nose often combined with sneezing.
4. Purification of emotions
Answer: Catharsis
From the Ancient Greek language comes 'katharsis'. Aristotle saw this as a purification and purging of emotions and thoughts brought on by watching tragic drama. It was originally used in a medical sense, meaning the physical purging of bodily waste, perhaps brought on with a cathartic or laxative.
In the cat world, perhaps grass eating as an emetic performs this role, although this is more to induce vomiting.
5. Cheap thrills
Answer: Catchpenny
No Ancient Greek origins here. The term 'catchpenny' can trace its roots to the late 18th century England and is similar in effect to clickbait, namely pamphlets or books of little value designed to appeal to popular taste for a quick sale ... in other words, designed to catch a penny. Buying a catchpenny and crumpling it into a ball might achieve the same thing for a cat.
6. Twin-hulled boat
Answer: Catamaran
The Tamil word 'kattumaram' is the source of the name 'catamaran'. Although both refer to watercraft, the kattumaram means 'logs bound together' and is a raft typically of three to seven logs lashed together. In contrast, the modern catamaran is more likely derived from outrigger canoes used by Austronesian peoples. Similarly the trimaran may have come from the double-outrigger canoe. Cats do go sailing. Mrs Chippy was a male tiger-striped tabby who was the ship's cat on Endurance, Ernest Shackleton's vessel on his 1914-1917 expedition.
A bronze statue of the cat was erected in 2004 in Wellington, New Zealand.
7. Phenomena of reflected light
Answer: Catoptrics
Ever wondered why a cat stares into a mirror? Perhaps the cat is pondering the science of catoptrics. Typically involved in the design of telescopes, Isaac Newton built the first practical catoptric telescope although the Ancient Greeks are credited with writing on the theory.
These days the telescope is more likely to be catadioptric optical system where refraction and reflection are combined in the design.
8. Underground cemetery
Answer: Catacombs
For a story about cat politics and catacombs, there is the 2010 science-fiction novel "Catacombs: A Tale of the Barque Cats" by Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Ann Scarborough, which concerns highly intelligent space-faring cats. If you would prefer to visit catacombs in the flesh, tickets can be bought to visit the Catacombs of Paris where there are the remains some six million people in the underground ossuaries.
9. Medium-sized wild cat
Answer: Catamount
This is not a domestic cat having a tantrum. The catamount is typically a wild medium-sized member of the genus Felidae such as a cougar, puma or lynx. The name is a 17th century contraction of 'cat of the mountain'.
10. Book of Christian instruction
Answer: Catechism
From the Ancient Greek 'katekhismos' meaning 'to teach orally', these days it is usually a book set out in the form of questions and answers to teach the basic religious doctrine of the Christian church. This form of instruction has found its way into secular fields such as politics, science and technology (such as the Heillmeier Catechism). Do cats have one for managing their human pets?
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor looney_tunes before going online.
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