Word: Dichotomy

You Pronounce It: [dahy-kot-uh-mee]

Definition: 

noun, plural dichotomies.
1. division into two parts, kinds, etc.; subdivision into halves or pairs.
2. division into two mutually exclusive, opposed, or contradictory groups:
“a dichotomy between thought and action.”
3. Botany. a mode of branching by constant forking, as in some stems, in veins of leaves, etc.
4. Astronomy. the phase of the moon or of an inferior planet when half of its disk is visible.

Origin:

1600-10; < Greek dichotomía.

I heard it:

In class discussion as the professor discussed Cloud Atlas.

What a word!  It has meaning in all beautiful things i.e. astronomy, botany and in the English language.

Works Cited:

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/dichotomy