Word of the Day: EPIPHENOMENON
Side effect or symptom
epiphenomenon (noun) - a secondary outcome, occurrence, or byproduct; something caused by or in parallel to a thing without causing it (plural: epiphenomena) [ep-uh-fuh-nom-uh-non]
BREAKDOWN: EPI- (upon) + PHAN- (to appear) + -OMENON (that which)
epiphenomenal means existing and able to be perceived at the same time as another thing but not related to it; of secondary consequence
epiphenomenalism is the view that mental events are caused by physical events in the brain, but have no effects upon any physical events
See also: epiphany, Ghost Words
“An epiphenomenon is a collective and unitary-seeming outcome of many small, often invisible or unperceived, quite possibly utterly unsuspected, events. In other words, an epiphenomenon could be said to be a large-scale illusion created by the collusion of many small and indisputably non-illusory events.” —Douglas R. Hofstadter
[Fun Word Friday introduces more advanced or technical words that are based on word roots. Yes, these words may still be tested on standardized exams. Try to use this word in a sentence today!]