Final Jeopardy: Word Origins (10-12-23)

Today’s Final Jeopardy question (10/12/2023) in the category “Word Origins” was:

Though it meant “seasickness” in Latin, this 6-letter word now refers to a more general feeling of sickness

It’s the last quarter-final match of the Champions Wild Card tournament. Today’s match features these three champs: Steve Clarke, a lawyer from Chesapeake, VA, Valerie Castelo, a legal training & development manager from San Leandro, CA, and Josh Saak, a traffic engineer from Boise, ID.

Round 1 Categories: Spooky Literature – Let’s Play Sportsball – Words from 2 Letters – Aaron Burr – Got Milk? – The Jeopardy! World Orchestra

Steve found the first Daily Double in “Let’s Play Sportsball” under the $600 clue on the 4th pick of the round. He was in the lead with $800, $400 more than Josh in second place. Steve bet $1,000 and said badminton. That was WRONG.

The guy who invented this sport in 1895 called it mintonette, but the over-the-net exchanges soon got it a new name show

WHAT IS VOLLEYBALL?

Steve finished in the lead with $5,400. Josh was in second with $5,200. Valerie was last with negative $400. All clues were shown.

Round 2 Categories: Presidents’ Executive Orders – Happier Movie Endings – “L” on Earth – Geometry – Rank-Ly Speaking – You Need to Clear that up

Valerie found the first Daily Double in “Geometry” under the $1,200 clue on the 6th pick of the round. She was in last place with $400, $7,800 less than Steve’s lead. Valerie bet $2,000 and said 350. That was WRONG.

Between 2 & 2:50 P.M., the minute hand on your watch covers this many degrees show

WHAT IS 300?

Steve got the last Daily Double in “Presidents’ Executive Orders” under the $2,000 clue with 9 clues left after it. He was in the lead with $12,600, $200 more than Josh in second place. Steve bet $2,500 and he was RIGHT.

”Providing assistance for the removal of an obstruction of justice within the state of Arkansas” show

WHO IS EISENHOWER?

Steve finished in the lead with $19,100. Josh was second with $16,400 and Valerie was last with $5,200. All clues were shown.

TWO of the contestants got Final Jeopardy! right.

WHAT IS NAUSEA?

Etymology Online traces nausea back to Ionic Greek for “ship-sickness”, then evolving to Latin for “seasickness”: “Despite its etymology, the word in English seems never to have been restricted to seasickness. The 16c. canting slang had nase, or nasy ‘hopelessly drunk.'”

Per J-Archive, this is the first time “nausea” has been a correct Final Jeopardy! response. There have been a few clues on the word’s origin but the novel “Nausea”, by Jean-Paul Sartre, seems to turn up the most. I wouldn’t be surprised to see that novel turn up in FJ!

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Valerie got it right. She stood pat on her $5,200.

Josh also got it right. He bet $2,705 and finished with $19,105.

Steve went with malaise, one letter too many. He lost $13,701 for a $5,399 finish. So Josh Saak came out on top and he is the last semi-finalist. Tune into tomorrow for the first match of the semis.

A triple stumper from each round:

LET’S PLAY SPORTSBALL ($800) Red leather is traditional for the cork-filled balls used in this sport

HAPPIER MOVIE ENDINGS ($1200) “Forget it, Jake, it’s… hold on–Evelyn’s okay. The bullets missed her in the car. She’s fine & the cops are letting her go”

More clues on Page 2

2 years ago: Only ONE of the players got this FJ in “Winter Olympic Sports”

The official Olympic website says this event “has its roots in survival skills” practiced in the snowy forests of Scandinavia show

WHAT IS BIATHLON?

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