Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 26, 2011 is: mosque • \MAHSK\ • noun : a building used for public worship by Muslims Examples: On the last day of Ramadan, Abdul and his family attended prayer services at a local mosque. "Last year, a Muslim congregation in Murfreesboro, Tenn., a pleasant college town of about 110,000 people southeast of Nashville, decided that the time had come to build a proper mosque." -- From an op-ed by Doyle McManus in the Los Angeles Times, May 19, 2011 Did you know? Mosques were known to the English-speaking world long before we called them "mosques." In the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries, we used many different variations of the word -- "moseak," "muskey," "moschy," "mos’keh," among others -- until we finally hit on "mosquee," emulating Middle French. The Middle French word had come by way of Italian and Old Spanish from the Arabic word for "temple," which is "masjid." In the early 1700s, we settled on the present spelling, and "mosque" thus joined other English words related to Muslim worship: "mihrab," for the special niche in a mosque that points towards Mecca; "minaret," for the tall slender tower of a mosque; and "muezzin," for the crier who, standing in the minaret, calls the hour of daily prayers. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 25, 2011 is: pigeon-livered • \PIJ-un-liv-erd\ • adjective : gentle, mild Examples: "'I find it unfathomable that the pigeon-livered Republican delegation from the suburbs is disinclined to be audacious and responsible in the city's hour of need!' trumpets House Minority Leader Bill DeWeese, a Waynesburg Democrat." -- From an article in the Pittsburgh City Paper, November 26, 2003 "Then there are the officials who often display a pigeon-livered attitude in return for some form of bribery -- mostly financial compensation to subsidise their poor salaries." -- From an article by Kevin Govender in the Independent on Saturday (South Africa), April 16, 2011 Did you know? Since at least the 16th century, the image of the harmless cooing pigeon has moved people -- somewhat unfairly to the bird -- to use its name in reference to innocents like the simpleton, the dupe, and the coward. The gentle disposition of the bird did not escape Shakespeare, either. Applying the belief of the time that the liver and large quantities of yellow bile provided a courageous temperament, the Bard used "pigeon-livered" to describe Hamlet's lack of gall to seek revenge (with the apparent logic that anyone with a pigeon's liver would be deficient in the courage-producing bile). The chicken has the dubious distinction of being the next bird dressed for similar lexical consumption; people began using "chicken-livered" for "cowardly" in the 19th century. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 24, 2011 is: vituperate • \vye-TOO-puh-rayt\ • verb 1 : to abuse or censure severely or abusively 2 : to use harsh condemnatory language Examples: During the team's recent seven-game losing streak, the coach was vituperated by many local sportswriters. "No one likes to be belittled, ignored, vituperated, or unappreciated. Everyone warms to kindness, patience, and respect." -- From Susan Smith Jones's 2011 book The Joy Factor Did you know? "Vituperate" has several close synonyms, including "berate" and "revile." "Berate" usually refers to scolding that is drawn out and abusive. "Revile" means to attack or criticize in a way prompted by anger or hatred. "Vituperate" adds to the meaning of "revile" by stressing an attack that is particularly violent in nature. It first appeared in English in the mid-16th century and can be traced back to two Latin words: the noun "vitium," meaning "fault," and the verb "parare," meaning "to make or prepare." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 23, 2011 is: shaggy-dog • \shag-ee-DAWG\ • adjective : of, relating to, or being a long-drawn-out circumstantial story concerning an inconsequential happening that impresses the teller as humorous or interesting but the hearer as boring and pointless; also : of, relating to, or being a similar humorous story whose humor lies in the pointlessness or irrelevance of the punch line Examples: The actor's next film is a shaggy-dog comedy in which he plays a burnt-out, unemployed slacker who falls for the girl next door. "The new material uses the same low-tech, movement-centric style to act out two other Carroll poems: The Phantasmagoria, a ghost story with a shaggy-dog ending, and The Hunting of the Snark (An Agony in 8 Fits), a 'Jabberwocky'-like verse-play about a clueless sailing crew searching for a nonexistent sea creature." -- From a theater review by Elaine Liner in the Dallas Observer, April 21, 2011 Did you know? The origin of the adjective "shaggy-dog" isn't truly known, but lexicographer Eric Partridge rather believably tells us that it originated with a shaggy-dog story of the amusing sort that involves -- of course! -- a shaggy dog. Today, the word sometimes refers to a rambling story that impresses the teller as humorous or interesting but the hearer as boring and pointless, but it can also refer to a similar story (or movie or TV show) that is actually humorous and whose humor lies in its very pointlessness or irrelevance. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 22, 2011 is: refection • \rih-FEK-shun\ • noun 1 : refreshment of mind, spirit, or body; especially : nourishment 2 a : the taking of refreshment b : food and drink together : repast Examples: "Miss Vavasour, so assiduous in other areas of her care of us, is capricious, not to say cavalier, in the matter not only of luncheon but of meals in general, and dinner especially at the Cedars can be an unpredictable refection." -- From John Banville's 2005 novel The Sea "The hospital, he added, had been instituted for the reception and refection of the poor and it should concentrate on those duties.…" -- From Jonathan Riley-Smith's 2008 book The Crusades, Christianity, and Islam Did you know? Whether you sit down for nourishment or sustenance, aliment or pabulum, a meal or a repast, you are unlikely to encounter a shortage of English words for food or the partaking of food. "Refection" is just such a word. It was first borrowed by Middle English (as "refeccioun") from Anglo-French "refectiun," which in turn was derived from Latin "refectio" (meaning "refreshment" or "repairing"). "Refectio" comes from the verb "reficere" ("to remake, renew, or restore"), a combination of the prefix "re-" ("again") and the verb "facere" ("to make or do"). "Refection" is not only applied to food, however. It has been used to describe many means of restoring or refreshing one's body, and of mental and spiritual sustenance as well. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 21, 2011 is: decry • \dih-KRY\ • verb 1 : to depreciate (as a coin) officially or publicly 2 : to express strong disapproval of Examples: In her article, she decries the pollution of the environment by manufacturers. "Inside the meeting, several speakers, including a teacher, two parents and two students, also decried the board action as wrongheaded or too hasty for the school of about 4,000 students." -- From an article by Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times, May 11, 2011 Did you know? "Decry," "depreciate," "disparage," and "belittle" all mean "to express a low opinion of something," but there are also some subtle differences in their use. "Decry," which is a descendant of the Old French verb "crier," meaning "to cry," implies open condemnation with intent to discredit ("he decried her defeatist attitude"). "Depreciate" implies that something is being represented as having less value than commonly believed ("critics depreciated his plays for being unabashedly sentimental"). "Disparage" implies depreciation by indirect means, such as slighting or harmful comparison ("she disparaged polo as a game for the rich"). "Belittle" usually suggests a contemptuous or envious attitude ("he belittled the achievements of others"). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 20, 2011 is: ritzy • \RIT-see\ • adjective 1 : being, characteristic of, or befitting a snob : snobbish 2 : impressively or ostentatiously fancy or stylish : fashionable, posh Examples: "That was how Martin saw himself -- as an outsider, a little guy, who was either being dragged back to his lowly roots or scorned by the 'ritzy' people." -- From Richard Bradley’s 2008 book The Greatest Game "They gathered at the ritzy Palms Place Hotel and Spa on West Flamingo Road in Las Vegas to lounge and swim." -- From an article by Michael McGuire posted June 6, 2011 at examiner.com Did you know? César Ritz (1850-1918) earned worldwide renown for the luxurious hotels bearing his name opened in London and Paris. (The Ritz-Carlton hotel company is a contemporary descendant of these enterprises.) Although they were by no means the first to cater to high-end clients, Ritz’s hotels quickly earned reputations as symbols of opulence. F. Scott Fitzgerald, a writer who often focused on the fashionably wealthy, titled one of his short stories "The Diamond as Big as the Ritz," and the phrase "to put on the ritz" means "to indulge in ostentatious display." The adjective "ritzy," describing either something fancy or stylish or the haughty attitudes of the wealthy elite, first checked into the English language in 1920. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 19, 2011 is: reprehensible • \rep-rih-HEN-suh-bul\ • adjective : worthy of or deserving blame or condemnation Examples: The suspect is accused of committing reprehensible acts of violence. "It seems as if those with an agenda only have to resort to reprehensible conduct to receive the attention they crave."-- From a letter to the editor by Mark Goldstein in USA Today, April 12, 2011 Did you know? "Reprehensible," "blameworthy," "blamable," "guilty," and "culpable" mean deserving reproach or punishment. "Reprehensible" is a strong word describing behavior that should evoke severe criticism. "Blameworthy" and "blamable" apply to any kind of act, practice, or condition considered to be wrong in any degree ("conduct adjudged blameworthy"; "an accident for which no one is blamable"). "Guilty" implies responsibility for or consciousness of crime, sin, or, at the least, grave error or misdoing ("guilty of a breach of etiquette"). "Culpable" is weaker than "guilty" and is likely to connote malfeasance or errors of ignorance, omission, or negligence ("culpable neglect"). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 18, 2011 is: temporize • \TEM-puh-ryze\ • verb 1 : to act to suit the time or occasion : yield to current or dominant opinion 2 : to draw out discussions or negotiations so as to gain time Examples: I hope city council members will take swift action at today’s meeting, but I’m worried that they are more likely to temporize. "The more the Security Council temporizes, compromises and weakens these resolutions, the more defiant and ambitious Iran becomes." -- From a staff editorial in The New York Times, February 10, 2011 Did you know? "Temporize" comes from the Medieval Latin verb "temporizare" ("to pass the time"), which itself comes from the Latin noun "tempus," meaning "time." "Tempus" is also the root of such words as "tempo," "contemporary," and "temporal." If you need to buy some time, you might resort to temporizing -- but you probably won't win admiration for doing so. "Temporize" can have a somewhat negative connotation. For instance, a political leader faced with a difficult issue might temporize by talking vaguely about possible solutions without actually doing anything. The point of such temporizing is to avoid taking definite -- and possibly unpopular -- action, in hopes that the problem will somehow go away. But the effect is often just to make matters worse. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 17, 2011 is: forebear • \FOR-bair\ • noun : ancestor, forefather; also : precursor Examples: Though several of her male forebears had graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, Tina was the first woman of the family to do so. "Our superstitious forebears used to say: Don't get up on the wrong side of the bed." -- From an article in the Telegram & Gazette (Worcester, Massachusetts), April 28, 2011 Did you know? "Forebear" (also sometimes spelled "forbear") was first used by our ancestors in the days of Middle English. "Fore-" means "coming before," just as in "forefather," and "-bear" means "one that is" (not to be confused with the "-bear" in the unrelated verb "forbear," which comes from Old English "beran," meaning "to bear or carry"). The "be-" of "-bear" is from the verb "to be" (or, more specifically, from "been," an old dialect variant of "be"). The "-ar" is a form of the suffix "-er," which we append to verbs to denote one that performs a specified action. In this case the "action" is simply existing or being -- in other words, "-bear" implies one who is a "be-er." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 16, 2011 is: efficacious • \ef-uh-KAY-shus\ • adjective : having the power to produce a desired effect Examples: Pam knew that the most efficacious remedy for her cold would be a steaming bowl of her grandmother’s famous chicken soup. "The following plan is efficacious in ridding fields not only of crows but of smaller birds and even domestic fowl: Make an imitation hawk, using a large potato and long turkey feathers…. Suspend it from a tall, bent pole. The wind will lend it realism by agitating it." -- From Jerry Mack Johnson’s 2011 book Old-Time Wisdom and Country Lore: 1000s of Skills for Simple Living Did you know? "Effective," "efficient," and "effectual" are synonyms of "efficacious," but each of these words has a slightly different connotation. "Efficacious" suggests possession of a special quality or virtue that makes it possible to achieve a result ("a detergent that is efficacious in removing grease"). "Effective" stresses the power to produce or the actual production of a particular effect ("an effective rebuttal"), while "effectual" suggests the accomplishment of a desired result, especially as viewed after the fact ("measures taken to reduce underage drinking have proved effectual"). "Efficient" implies an acting or potential for acting that avoids loss or waste of energy ("an efficient small car"). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 15, 2011 is: absinthe • \AB-sinth\ • noun : a green liqueur which is flavored with wormwood, anise, and other aromatic herbs and commercial production of which is banned in many countries for health concerns; also : a liqueur resembling absinthe Examples: "I guess they'll put her out of here, too -- she's getting to have crazy fits, from drinking absinthe." -- From Upton Sinclair's 1906 novel The Jungle "Many a writer or artist has longed to travel back in time to the sizzling Paris of the 1920s, to sip absinthe with Hemingway at Les Deux Magots or dine on choucroute garnie with Picasso at La Rotonde." -- From an article by Joseph Berger in The New York Times, May 28, 2011 Did you know? In 1797, Swiss Henri-Louis Pernod was the first to commercially produce an alcoholic drink from the bitter herb Artemisia absinthium, known commonly as wormwood. By the mid-to-late 1800s this bright green distillation, by then known in both French and English as "absinthe," had become wildly popular, especially among artists and writers, but it also had a reputation for making people a little wild. In fact, it was linked to several nasty disorders, including convulsions and foaming at the mouth. The accused culprit? A toxin in wormwood -- perhaps the very chemical that gives the plant its tapeworm-exterminating properties (and thus its name). Because of these reported side effects of wormwood, true absinthe was banned in many countries (including the U.S.) in the early 1900s, but that didn't remove the taste for the drink. Wormwood’s name was later cleared (the real culprit turned out to be the drink’s high alcohol content) and the absinthe ban was lifted in the U.S. in 2007. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 14, 2011 is: paste • \PAIST\ • verb 1 : to strike hard at 2 : to beat or defeat soundly Examples: "With two outs, two on, a 3-2 lead and a 1-2 count on light-hitting Nick Green in the seventh inning, Pavano didn't come far enough inside with a fastball and the D-Rays second baseman pasted the ball on a line toward the left-field corner." -- From a news story by Sam Borden in the New York Daily News, June 23, 2005 "Duke (32-3) traveled to Hartford on Jan. 31 and got pasted, 87-51, by the Huskies." --From an article by Arthur Staple in Newsday (Long Island, NY), March 27, 2011 Did you know? "Paste" came to be as an alteration of the word "baste," which means "to beat severely or soundly." The exact origin of "baste" is uncertain, but it probably comes from the Old Norse word "beysta," meaning "to bruise, thrash, or flog." "Baste" was first seen in the 16th century, but "paste" didn't turn up in print until 1846, and it only recently acquired its "defeat" sense. "Baste" is now less popular than "paste" (the two "baste" homographs that mean "to sew with long stitches" and "to moisten while cooking" are distinct terms not related to this "baste"), though its relative "lambaste" ("to beat" or "to censure") is prevalent. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 13, 2011 is: roué • \roo-AY\ • noun : a man devoted to a life of sensual pleasure : rake Examples: "So when maidenhood has wandered into the moil of the city, when it is brought within the circle of the 'rounder' and the roué, even though it be at the outermost rim, they can come forth and use their alluring arts." -- From Theodore Dreiser's 1900 novel Sister Carrie "Girls run off with bad boys all the time, always have and always will. But in the past, when deemed press-worthy, he was likely a notorious roué or dangerous musician, not a dropout trying to muster enough gumption for a GED." -- From an article by Bridget Foley in Women's Wear Daily, July 16, 2010 Did you know? "Roué" originated as a French word and gained momentum when it began to be used in reference to the libertine companions of Philippe II, France's regent from 1715-1723. "Roué" means "broken on the wheel" in French and ultimately derives from Latin "rota," meaning "wheel." Since the wheel being referred to was an instrument of punishment, the French were implying that such dissolute beings deserved this punishment. By the end of the 18th century, English-speakers added "roué" to its list of synonyms for a rake, libertine, debaucher, lecher, etc. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 12, 2011 is: genteel • \jen-TEEL\ • adjective 1 a : of or relating to the gentry or upper class b : elegant or graceful in manner, appearance, or shape c : free from vulgarity or rudeness : polite 2 : marked by false delicacy, prudery, or affectation Examples: Sylvia always maintains a genteel appearance, with a carefully chosen wardrobe that befits her elegant manner. "Once she settled on golf as her meal ticket, however, she was smart enough to realize that being gracious might serve her better in such a genteel, country club sport." -- From an article by Ann Levin for the Associated Press, June 1, 2011 Did you know? In Roman times, the Latin noun "gens" was used to refer to a clan, a group of related people. Its plural "gentes" was used to designate all the people of the world, particularly non-Romans. An adjective form, "gentilis," applied to both senses. Over time, the adjective was borrowed and passed through several languages. It came into Old French as "gentil," a word that then meant "high-born" (in modern French it means "nice"); that term was carried over into Anglo-French, where English speakers found and borrowed it in the 16th century. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 11, 2011 is: Cassandra • \kuh-SAN-druh\ • noun 1 : a daughter of Priam endowed with the gift of prophecy but fated never to be believed 2 : one that predicts misfortune or disaster Examples: The excitement of planning for Rachel’s graduation cookout was tempered by the pessimism of the family Cassandras, who were convinced it would rain that day. "The Cassandras were wrong: Despite dire predictions, municipal bonds haven't hurtled off a cliff." -- From an article by Ben Levisohn in the Wall Street Journal, May 20, 2011 Did you know? The story of Cassandra comes from Greek mythology and is both tragic and ironic, as such myths tend to be. Cassandra was the daughter of Priam, the king of Troy. She caught the eye of the god Apollo, who was accustomed to getting what he wanted. He was amazed and displeased when she refused his romantic advances, and he became vengeful. He cursed Cassandra with a gift of prophecy with an especially cruel twist: he guaranteed that while she would always be right, no one would ever believe her predictions. Cassandra foretold the fall of Troy and other disastrous happenings, though she was ignored. Now, the label "Cassandra" is typically reserved for those who claim to see impending doom. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 10, 2011 is: mutatis mutandis • \myoo-TAH-tis-myoo-TAHN-dis\ • adverb 1 : with the necessary changes having been made 2 : with the respective differences having been considered Examples: The points that the author of the study makes about the town's roads and bridges also apply, mutatis mutandis, to its schools and municipal buildings. "On balance, the Otago settlement can probably be called a highly successful experiment in colonisation, but for reasons which have relatively little to do with the religious convictions of its founders. The same conclusion can be reached, mutatis mutandis, for the second major religious colony to be established in the south island of New Zealand." -- From Hilary M. Carey's 2011 book God's Empire: Religion and Colonialism in the British World, c. 1801-1908 Did you know? Unlike most English terms with Latin parentage, "mutatis mutandis" (which translates literally as "things having been changed that have to be changed") maintains its Latinate aspect entirely. It doesn't look like an English phrase, which is perhaps why it remains rather uncommon despite having functioned in English since the 16th century. Although the phrase is used in the specialized fields of law, philosophy, and economics when analogous situations are discussed, it appears in other contexts, too, where analogy occurs, as this quote from Henry James' The American demonstrates: "Roderick made an admirable bust of her at the beginning of the winter, and a dozen women came rushing to him to be done, mutatis mutandis, in the same style." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 9, 2011 is: uncouth • \un-KOOTH\ • adjective 1 : strange or clumsy in shape or appearance : outlandish 2 : lacking in polish and grace : rugged 3 : awkward and uncultivated in appearance, manner, or behavior : rude Examples: Stacy realized it would be uncouth to show up to the party without a gift, so she picked up a bottle of wine on the way. "For starters, Buckingham Palace isn't a great place to be fussy about food -- the hosts have gone to a lot of trouble to prepare dinner and it would be uncouth not to sample everything that's served…." -- From an article by Jessica Allen and Patricia Treble in Maclean's, May 2, 2011 Did you know? "Uncouth" comes from the Old English word "uncŪth," which joins the prefix "un-" with "cŪth," meaning "familiar" or "known." How did a word that meant "unfamiliar" come to mean "outlandish," "rugged," or "rude"? Some examples from literature illustrate that the transition happened quite naturally. In Captain Singleton, Daniel Defoe refers to "a strange noise more uncouth than any they had ever heard." In William Shakespeare’s As You Like It, Orlando tells Adam, "If this uncouth forest yield anything savage, I will either be food for it or bring it for food to thee." In Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Ichabod Crane fears "to look over his shoulder, lest he should behold some uncouth being tramping close behind him!" So, that which is unfamiliar is often perceived as strange, wild, or unpleasant. Meanings such as "outlandish," "rugged," or "rude" naturally follow. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 8, 2011 is: reciprocate • \rih-SIP-ruh-kayt\ • verb 1 : to move backward and forward alternately 2 : to give and take mutually 3 : to make a return for something done or given Examples: It was kind of Jake to give us a ride to the airport, and we’d like to find a way to reciprocate the favor. "Reese Witherspoon invited Prince William and Kate Middleton to her wedding -- but they didn't reciprocate." -- From an article by Lindsay Powers in The Hollywood Reporter, April 19, 2011 Did you know? "Reciprocate," "retaliate," "requite," and "return" all mean "to give back," usually in kind or in quantity. "Reciprocate" implies a mutual or equivalent exchange or a paying back of what one has received ("We reciprocated their hospitality by offering to let them stay for a week"). "Retaliate" usually implies a paying back of an injury or offense in exact kind, often vengefully ("She retaliated by spreading equally nasty rumors about them"). "Requite" implies a paying back according to one's preference, and often not in an equivalent fashion ("He requited her love with cold indifference"). "Return" implies simply a paying or giving back ("returned their call" or "return good for evil"). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 7, 2011 is: secular • \SEK-yuh-ler\ • adjective 1 a : of or relating to the worldly or temporal b : not overtly or specifically religious c : not ecclesiastical or clerical 2 : not bound by monastic vows or rules; specifically : of, relating to, or forming clergy not belonging to a religious order or congregation Examples: Though I attended a Catholic high school, my education was not too different from that of my friends who came up through more secular institutions. "In response, Sergeant Griffith has recruited a star lineup of atheist musicians and speakers, including the writer Richard Dawkins, to headline a secular event, possibly for the fall." -- From an article by James Dao in The New York Times, April 27, 2011 Did you know? "Secular" comes from Anglo-French "seculer" and Late Latin "saecularis," meaning "worldly" or "pagan." In earlier Latin, however, "saecularis" meant "coming or observed once in an age"; it was derived from "saeculum" ("breed," "generation," or "age"). In contemporary English, "secular" is primarily used to distinguish something (such as an attitude, belief, or position) that is not specifically religious or sectarian in nature, but, going back to its early Latin root, the word also means "occuring once in an age or a century," "existing or continuing through ages or centuries," and "of or relating to a long term of indefinite duration." These uses of "secular" are common in the fields of science and economics -- "secular oak trees" or "secular inflation," for example. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 6, 2011 is: banshee • \BAN-shee\ • noun : a female spirit in Gaelic folklore whose appearance or wailing warns a family that one of them will soon die Examples: Barbara screamed like a banshee when she saw the spider slowly crawling up her leg. "Wednesday's audience howled like banshees." -- From a theater review by Chris Silk in Florida's Naples Daily News, April 8, 2011 Did you know? In Irish folklore, a "bean sidhe" (literally "woman of fairyland") was not a welcome guest. When she was seen combing her hair or heard wailing beneath a window, it was considered a sign that a family member was about to die. English speakers modified the mournful fairy's Irish name into the modern word "banshee" -- a term we now most often use to evoke her woeful or terrible or earsplitting cry, as in "to scream like a banshee," or attributively, "a banshee wail." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 5, 2011 is: pomaceous • \poh-MAY-shus\ • adjective 1 : of or relating to apples 2 : resembling a pome Examples: The back porch held a sweet, pomaceous aroma, and immediately Glen knew that his mother had baked an apple pie for dessert. "This Festival is devoted to the mysteries of Plant Reproduction, especially that of those wondrous trees, the Angiosperms, with special emphasis upon the Drupes and the Pomaceous Fruits." -- From Margaret Atwood's 2009 novel The Year of the Flood Did you know? "Pomaceous" was first planted in the English language by physician Edward Baynard when, in 1706, he advised, "Apples and pomaceous Juices, are the greatest Pectorals." ("Pectoral" is now a rarely used word for a food that helps digestion.) Since then, "pomaceous" has mainly been sown by botanists and poets. The word, which is ultimately derived from Late Latin "pomum" (meaning "apple"), was originally used of apples and things relating to apples, but later it was also applied to things that look like pears. (Pears, like apples, belong to the pome family.) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 4, 2011 is: mumblety-peg • \MUM-bul-tee-peg\ • noun : a game in which the players try to flip a knife from various positions so that the blade will stick into the ground Examples: When they felt they'd outgrown marbles, the boys in the neighborhood switched to mumblety-peg, which they played in the dirt parking lot behind Main Street's stores. "A boy on an idle Saturday, playing a solitary game of mumblety-peg in the shade of a cottonwood. The hunting knife in his hand is a prize possession, its four-inch blade mirror-bright and sharp enough to cleanly slice a page of his uncle's newspaper." -- From Philip Caputo's 2009 novel Crossers Did you know? The object of this game -- which dates to the 17th century -- is for each player to flip or toss a knife in a series of moves such that, after each move, the knife sticks erect in the ground. Some common moves are flipping the knife from the palm, from the back of the hand, and from between the teeth. Players perform in turns until they miss, resuming after other players miss unless one player wins by successfully performing all positions. The game's name comes from a forfeit required in the early days of the game: a small peg was driven into the ground by a prescribed number of knife blows, and if you lost you had to "mumble the peg" -- that is, pull it out with your teeth. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 3, 2011 is: nictitate • \NIK-tuh-tayt\ • verb : wink Examples: Timothy developed a tic in his eyelid that caused it to nictitate on occasion. "Their clear eyelids slowly nictitated over black orb eyes." -- From Barb and J.C. Hendee's 2011 novel Through Stone and Sea Did you know? "Nictitate" didn't just happen in the blink of an eye; it developed over time as an alteration of the older verb "nictate," which also means "to wink." Both verbs trace to the Latin word for winking, "nictare." The addition of the extra syllable was apparently influenced by Latin verbs ending in "-itare," such as "palpitare" and "agitare" (which gave us "palpitate" and "agitate," respectively). Today, "nictitate" has a special use in the animal world. Since the early 18th century, scientists have used "nictitating membrane" to describe the so-called "third eyelid": the thin, usually transparent membrane in the eyes of birds, fishes, and other vertebrates that helps keep the eyeball moist and clean. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 2, 2011 is: lambent • \LAM-bunt\ • adjective 1 : playing lightly on or over a surface : flickering 2 : softly bright or radiant 3 : marked by lightness or brilliance especially of expression Examples: The forest floor was dappled with lambent flecks of golden sunlight filtering down through the leafy branches. "In the lambent softness of all that moonlight, in that quicksilver, fragrant, lukewarm stillness, everything still seems so right in my world: the boundaries between good and evil clearly demarcated." -- From Glen Retief's 2011 book The Jack Bank: A Memoir of a South African Childhood Did you know? Fire is frequently associated with lapping or licking imagery: flames are often described as "tongues" that "lick." "Lambent," which first appeared in English in the 17th century, is a part of this tradition, coming from "lambens," the present participle of the Latin verb "lambere," meaning "to lick." In its earliest uses, "lambent" meant "playing lightly over a surface," "gliding over," or "flickering." These uses were usually applied to flames or light, and by way of that association, the term eventually came to describe things with a radiant or brilliant glow, as Alexander Pope used it in his 1717 poem "Eloisa to Abelard": "Those smiling eyes, attemp'ring ev'ry ray, Shone sweetly lambent with celestial day." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 1, 2011 is: iota • \eye-OH-tuh\ • noun 1 : the 9th letter of the Greek alphabet 2 : an infinitesimal amount : jot Examples: The prosecution made an aggressive case against the defendant, but they did not present even an iota of solid evidence that proved he was guilty of the murder. "At a recent consultation, we met a woman whose home was the epitome of organization. The rooms were impeccably decorated, with not an iota of clutter." -- From an article by Judy DiForte, posted March 21, 2011 at AnnArbor.com Did you know? The words "iota" and "jot" share a lot more than just a common meaning -- both ultimately derive from the same word. When Latin scholars transcribed the Greek name of the ninth letter of the Greek alphabet, they spelled it as either "iota" or "jota" (the letters "i" and "j" were simply variants of each other), and these spellings eventually passed into English as "iota" and "jot." Since the Greek letter iota is the smallest letter of its alphabet, both words eventually came to be used in reference to very small things. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 31, 2011 is: deleterious • \del-uh-TEER-ee-us\ • adjective : harmful often in a subtle or unexpected way Examples: Marguerite is convinced that violent television programs will have a deleterious effect on her children, so she carefully monitors what they watch. "Democrats and Republicans, because of their nefarious relationships with lobbyists, have turned a blind eye to the deleterious consequences of government and tax policy that is determined by special interests." -- From an opinion column by LeRoy Goldman in The Asheville Citizen-Times (North Carolina), January 27, 2011 Did you know? "Pernicious," "baneful," "noxious," and "detrimental" are the wicked synonyms of "deleterious." All five words refer to something exceedingly harmful. Of the group, "deleterious" is most often used for something that is unexpectedly harmful. "Pernicious" implies irreparable harm done by something that corrupts or undermines in an evil or insidious way ("the assertion that hateful speech has a pernicious effect on society"), while "baneful" suggests injury through poisoning or destruction ("the baneful notion that discipline destroys creativity"). "Noxious" can apply to anything that is both offensive and injurious to the health of body or mind ("noxious chemical fumes"), while "detrimental" implies an obvious harmfulness to something specified ("the detrimental effects of excessive drinking"). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 30, 2011 is: enfant terrible • \ahn-fahn-teh-REE-bluh\ • noun 1 a : a child whose inopportune remarks cause embarrassment b : a person known for shocking remarks or outrageous behavior 2 : a usually young and successful person who is strikingly unorthodox, innovative, or avant-garde Examples: John McEnroe's on-court temper tantrums earned him a reputation as the enfant terrible of tennis in the early 1980s. "Considering the horrors that some authors get put through with film adaptations of their work, literary enfant terrible Bret Easton Ellis has been fairly lucky." -- From an article posted May 16, 2011 on The Playlist blog at indiewire.com Did you know? "Enfant terrible," which literally means "terrifying child" in French, sounds like something that might be uttered by a frazzled babysitter. Indeed, when English speakers first borrowed the term in the mid-19th century, it was used in reference to children -- specifically, unpredictable children who blurted out outrageous remarks that embarrassed their elders. By the 1930s, the term had a broader application: an enfant terrible could be anyone -- young or old -- whose behavior shocked others. Now the term is also often applied to young, successful newcomers who shock or scare old-timers with their new approaches, easy successes, or disregard for tradition. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 29, 2011 is: credulous • \KREJ-uh-lus\ • adjective 1 : ready to believe especially on slight or uncertain evidence 2 : proceeding from credulity Examples: Because she is by nature credulous, Ivy didn’t question Bill’s assertion that the castle they stood in had been built in England and shipped across the English Channel to France. "Koolhoven's philosophical probing of human limitation among the good guys -- and of what that complexity might mean to a credulous lad hungry for role models -- is all but overwhelmed by his commercial instincts and undeniable skill at juggling realism with genre." -- From a movie review by Ella Taylor in The Village Voice, March 16, 2011 Did you know? It’s easier to give credit to people who adhere to their creed than to give credence to what miscreants say, or for that matter, to find recreants altogether credible. That sentence contains a half dozen words which, like today’s "credulous," are descendants of "credere," the Latin verb that means "to believe" or "to trust": "credit" ("honor," as well as "belief"); "creed" ("guiding principle"); "credence" ("acceptance as true"); "miscreant" ("a heretic" or "a criminal"); "recreant" ("coward, deserter"); and "credible" ("offering reasonable grounds for being believed"). "Credulous" is even more closely allied to the nouns "credulity" and "credulousness" (both meaning "gullibility"), and of course its antonym, "incredulous" ("skeptical," also "improbable"). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 28, 2011 is: lexicographer • \lek-suh-KAH-gruh-fer\ • noun : an author or editor of a dictionary Examples: The great lexicographer Noah Webster, who wrote the first authoritative dictionary of American English, was born on October 16, 1758. "The 18th-century lexicographer and wit-about-town Samuel Johnson claimed that patriotism is the last resort of the scoundrel." -- From an article by Peter Foster in the Financial Post, April 28, 2011 Did you know? Today, we're looking at a word that is dear to our hearts: "lexicographer." The ancient Greeks were some of the earliest makers of dictionaries; they used them mainly to catalog obsolete terms from their rich literary past. To create a word for writers of dictionaries, the Greeks sensibly attached the suffix "-graphos," meaning "writer," to "lexikon," meaning "dictionary," to form "lexikographos," the direct ancestor of the English word "lexicographer." "Lexikon," which itself descends from Greek "lexis" (meaning "word" or "speech"), also gave us "lexicon," which can mean either "dictionary" or "the vocabulary of a language, speaker, or subject." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 27, 2011 is: bombard • \bahm-BARD\ • verb 1 : to attack especially with artillery or bombers 2 : to assail vigorously or persistently (as with questions) 3 : to subject to the impact of rapidly moving particles (as electrons) Examples: Reporters bombarded the defendant’s lawyer with questions as he emerged from the courthouse. "From the first day of life and throughout the life cycle, the human body is continually bombarded by toxins, chemicals, viruses, bacteria, and other potentially damaging factors." -- From Karlyn Grimes's 2011 book The Everything Anti-Inflammation Diet Book Did you know? In the late Middle Ages, a bombard was a cannon used to hurl large stones at enemy fortifications. Its name, which first appeared in English in the 15th century, derived via Middle French and Middle English from the Latin noun "bombus" (a word referring to the same device). The verb "bombard" blasted onto the scene in English in 1686, with an original meaning of "to attack especially with artillery"; as weapons technology improved throughout the centuries, such artillery came to include things like automatic rifles and bomber aircraft. Nowadays one can be bombarded figuratively in any number of ways, such as by omnipresent advertising messages or persistent phone calls. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 26, 2011 is: prodigious • \pruh-DIJ-us\ • adjective 1 : resembling or befitting a prodigy : strange, unusual 2 : exciting amazement or wonder 3 : extraordinary in bulk, quantity, or degree : enormous Examples: Artisans have begun the prodigious task of restoring the beautiful mosaics that were damaged in the earthquake. "Today she's known for her prodigious work ethic -- although she sells some of Chicago's highest-end properties, she still accepts modest listings -- as well as her independent streak and her charity fundraising." -- From an article by Carol Mithers in Town and Country, May 2010 Did you know? "Prodigious," "monstrous," "tremendous," and "stupendous" all mean extremely impressive. "Prodigious" suggests something marvelous or extraordinary, whereas "monstrous" implies that something is not only large but also ugly or deformed. "Tremendous" and "stupendous" both imply a power, the former to terrify or awe, the latter to stun or astound. "Prodigious" and the related noun "prodigy" derive from the Latin "prodigium," meaning "omen" or "monster"; at one time, both words were used in English to refer to portents, or omens, but these senses are now considered obsolete. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 25, 2011 is: cryptography • \krip-TAH-gruh-fee\ • noun : the enciphering and deciphering of messages in secret code or cipher; also : the computerized encoding and decoding of information Examples: Effective cryptography is essential for secure exchanges of sensitive information in cyberspace. "At the same time, he was receiving extensive training in cryptography -- something he will still describe only in general terms, so as not to run afoul of the Official Secrets Act." -- From an article by Chris Wilson in Slate, May 17, 2011 Did you know? For a word having to do with secrets, "cryptography" has a surprisingly transparent etymology. The word traces back to the Greek roots "kryptos," meaning "hidden," and "graphein," meaning "to write." "Kryptos" -- which in turn traces to the Greek verb "kryptein," meaning "to hide" -- is a root shared by several English words, including "crypt," "cryptic," and "encrypt." "Krypton," the name of a colorless gaseous element used especially in some fluorescent lamps and photography flashes, also comes from "kryptos." The name was chosen because the gas is rare and hard to find. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 24, 2011 is: samara • \SAM-uh-ruh\ • noun : a dry indehiscent usually one-seeded winged fruit (as of an ash or elm tree) Examples: Pairs of samaras grew along the maple tree's branches. "The samara looks much like a tiny green round ravioli, or those dots of explosive caps for toy guns of the past. These are the fruit of the elm tree, with the seed forming a reddish bump in the middle." -- From an article by Marilyn Sallee, posted February 22nd, 2011, on the Native Plant Society of Texas web site Did you know? Not familiar with the term "samara" referring to the winged fruit of the elm, ash, maple, and sycamore, among other trees? Then how about "key," "whirlybird," "helicopter," "whirligig," or "spinning jenny"? Those nicknames are all excellent descriptors of a samara. A samara resembles a key and when it falls its unique shape enables it to spin like a helicopter's rotor and drift away from its tree. Botanists began using the term "samara" in the late 16th century. In Latin, it means literally "seed of the elm." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 23, 2011 is: assay • \a-SAY\ • verb 1 : try, attempt 2 a : to analyze (as an ore) for one or more specific components b : to prove to be of a particular nature by means of analysis 3 : to judge the worth of : estimate Examples: A certified laboratory will assay the samples of gold and silver to determine their levels of purity. "Numerous surface samples at the Fourth of July property assayed over 10 ppm gold with one sample assaying over 16 ppm gold." -- From a report in ENP Newswire, March 25, 2011 Did you know? Usage experts warn against confusing the verbs "assay" and "essay." Some confusion shouldn't be surprising, since the two words look alike and derive from the same root, the Middle French word "essai," meaning "test" or "effort" (a root that in turn comes from Late Latin "exagium," meaning "act of weighing"). At one time, the two terms were synonyms, sharing the meaning "try" or "attempt," but many modern usage commentators recommend that you differentiate the two words, using "essay" when you mean "to try or attempt" (as in "he will essay a dramatic role for the first time") and "assay" to mean "to test or evaluate" (as in "the blood was assayed to detect the presence of the antibody"). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 22, 2011 is: clew • \KLOO\ • noun 1 : a ball of thread, yarn, or cord 2 : clue 3 a : a lower corner or only the after corner of a sail b : a metal loop attached to the lower corner of a sail Examples: "They had followed immediately behind him, thinking his actions might prove a clew to my whereabouts.…" -- From Edgar Rice Burroughs' novel A Princess of Mars, 1917 "I crawled back and slacked the halyard a foot or two, dropping the sail. Out again to snap loose a couple of hanks, pull the clew in, and pack it behind the rail at the forepeak." -- From Brogan Steele's 2010 book From the Jaws of Death: Extreme True Adventures of Man Vs. Nature Did you know? The "ball of thread" meaning of "clew" (from Middle English "clewe" and ultimately from Old English "cliewen") has been with us since before the 12th century. In Greek mythology, Ariadne gave a ball of thread to Theseus so that he could use it to find his way out of her father's labyrinth. This, and similar tales, gave rise to the use of "clew" for anything that could guide a person through a difficult place. This use led in turn to the meaning "a piece of evidence that leads one toward the solution of a problem." Today, the spelling variant "clue," which appeared in the 16th century, is the more common spelling variant for the "evidence" sense, but you'll find "clew" in some famous works of literature. "Clew" is also the only choice for the sailing senses. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 21, 2011 is: ambiguous • \am-BIG-yuh-wus\ • adjective 1 a : doubtful or uncertain especially from obscurity or indistinctness b : inexplicable 2 : capable of being understood in two or more possible senses or ways Examples: Jane complained that her boss frequently gave her ambiguous instructions. "West Virginia's ambiguous law dictating how to fill a vacant U.S. Senate seat remains unchanged a year after its quirky wording set off a round of confusion and debate among state officials." -- From an article by Ry Rivard in the Charleston Daily Mail, March 30, 2011 Did you know? "Ambiguous," "obscure," "vague," "cryptic," and "equivocal" mean not clearly understandable. "Ambiguous" applies to language capable of more than one interpretation ("an ambiguous suggestion") and derives from the Latin verb "ambigere," meaning "to be undecided." "Obscure" implies a hiding or veiling of meaning through some inadequacy of expression or withholding of full knowledge ("obscure poems"). "Vague" implies a lack of clear formulation due to inadequate conception or consideration ("a vague sense of obligation"). "Cryptic" implies a deliberate attempt to confuse ("cryptic clues about the location of the buried treasure"). "Equivocal" is the best choice for language that creates a wrong or false impression, allowing for uncertainty or promoting mistaken interpretations ("the politician gave an equivocal answer"). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 20, 2011 is: coiffure • \kwah-FYUR\ • noun : a style or manner of arranging the hair Examples: Linda almost didn’t recognize her daughter as Elyse came off the bus with a stylish new coiffure. "At the beginning of the tale, his character, Eddie, is a failed writer with a frizzy, unkempt hairstyle suitable for a derelict's mug shot. When he begins elevating his IQ to super-genius levels with a black-market smart pill, he graduates from the tangled, despondent look to a sleek coiffure that's at once casually windswept and impeccable from all angles." -- From a movie review by Colin Covert in The (Minneapolis) Star-Tribune, March 18, 2011 Did you know? First appearing in English in the 1630s, "coiffure" derives from the French verb "coiffer," which can mean "to arrange (hair)" or "to cover with a coif (any of various close-fitting caps, such as that worn under a veil by a nun)." The word is now used as a somewhat fancy way of saying "hairdo." Be careful not to confuse it with "coiffeur," which refers to a man who works as a hairdresser (and of which "coiffeuse" is the female equivalent). You may also encounter "coif" used to mean "hairstyle" -- in such cases, "coif" is operating as a shortened form of "coiffure." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 19, 2011 is: wistful • \WIST-ful\ • adjective 1 : full of yearning or desire tinged with melancholy; also : inspiring such yearning 2 : musingly sad : pensive Examples: Dan's gaze was wistful as he watched the movers load the furniture into the truck and thought of all the good times he'd had in the house. "'So,' said Wood, at long last, jerking Harry from a wistful fantasy about what he could be eating for breakfast at this very moment up at the castle." -- From J. K. Rowling's 1999 book Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Did you know? Are you yearning to know the history of "wistful"? If so, we can ease your melancholy a little by telling you that "wistful" comes from a combination of "wishful" and "wistly," a now obsolete word meaning "intently." We can't say with certainty where "wistly" came from, but it may have sprung from "whistly," an old term meaning "silently" or "quietly." How did the supposed transition from a word meaning "quietly" to one meaning "intently" come about? That's something to muse about, but the answer isn't known. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 18, 2011 is: acolyte • \AK-uh-lyte\ • noun 1 : one who assists a member of the clergy in a liturgical service by performing minor duties 2 : one who attends or assists : follower Examples: The lawyer arrived with one of her acolytes, an eager young attorney who looked at her with obvious admiration. "The abbess's rank is clear -- below the masters, above the acolytes -- but Housekeeper Satsuki shoulders more duties than she enjoys privileges." -- From David Mitchell's 2010 novel The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet Did you know? Follow the etymological path of "acolyte" back far enough and you'll arrive at "keleuthos," a Greek noun that means "path" and that is itself the parent of "akolouthos," an adjective that means "following." "Akolouthos" traveled from Greek, leaving offspring in Medieval Latin and Anglo-French, and its descendant, "acolyte," emerged in English in the 14th century. Originally, it was exclusively a term for a person who assisted a priest at Mass, but by the 19th century "acolyte" had acquired additional meanings, among them "attendant body, satellite" (a meaning used in astronomy) and "attendant insect" (a zoological sense), as well as the general meaning "assistant" or "sidekick." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 17, 2011 is: saguaro • \suh-WAHR-uh\ • noun : a tall columnar usually sparsely-branched cactus (Carnegiea gigantea) of dry areas of the southwestern United States and Mexico that bears white flowers and a scaly reddish edible fruit and that may attain a height of up to 50 feet (16 meters) Examples: "For a brief period in spring … the saguaro has a silly aspect, as white flowers bloom atop its columnar trunk, like a frilly little Easter hat … " -- From an article by Christine Temin in The Boston Globe, September 4, 1994 "About two weeks ago in one of the rainstorms a big saguaro fell, and shattered into five or six large pieces about ten feet from the odd knob of basalt above the Gila Monster Mine." -- From Leslie Marmon Silko's 2010 memoir The Turquoise Ledge Did you know? Venture into the Arizonan desert on a May or June morning and you may see the saguaro in bloom. For many of our readers (such as those living in Arizona and southeastern California), this sight -- and the word "saguaro" -- won't be anything new. Or perhaps you know this emblem of all things Southwestern simply as the "giant cactus." The word "saguaro" originated in Ópata, a language spoken by peoples of the Sonoran Desert region of Mexico. It came into English by way of the Spanish spoken by the Mexican settlers of the American West. The very saguaros we see today may well have been around when the word was first noted, some 150 years ago -- this amazing cactus can live for up to 200 years. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 16, 2011 is: mucilaginous • \myoo-suh-LAJ-uh-nus\ • adjective 1 : sticky, viscid 2 : of, relating to, full of, or secreting mucilage Examples: The snail leaves a mucilaginous trail as it slides along the leaves and branches. "Meanwhile, the dried inner bark of slippery elm was being used by the Iroquois nations and the Algonquins. The mucilaginous powder made from pounding the inner bark is slippery when wet and soothes mucous membranes from the lining of our gut to the throat and nose." -- From an article by Bronwyn Chester in The Montreal Gazette, April 23, 2011 Did you know? Unlike its meanings, there's nothing terribly sticky about the origin and use of "mucilaginous." Like thousands of other words in the English language, "mucilaginous" (and the noun "mucilage") oozed out of Latin during the 15th century. "Mucilage" is from Late Latin's word for "mucus," "mucilago," and is used for the gelatinous substance found in various plants, such as legumes or seaweeds. "Mucilaginous" stuck as the noun's adjective form and is used by scientists and foodies alike for sticky or mucous things. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 15, 2011 is: collaborate • \kuh-LAB-uh-rayt\ • verb 1 : to work jointly with others 2 : to cooperate with an enemy and especially an occupying force Examples: A number of reporters collaborated on the Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper series. "In a move partly aimed at strengthening ties ahead of a potential merger, the board of directors of the Lompico Water District agreed at Wednesday's meeting to collaborate with the San Lorenzo Valley Water District to replace a water line." -- From an article by Kimberly White in the Santa Cruz Sentinel, March 11, 2011 Did you know? The Latin prefix "com-," meaning "with, together, or jointly," is a bit of a chameleon -- it has a tricky habit of changing its appearance depending on what it's next to. If the word it precedes begins with "l," "com-" becomes "col-." In the case of "collaborate," "com-" teamed up with "laborare" ("to labor") to form Late Latin "collaborare" ("to labor together"). "Colleague," "collect," and "collide" are a few more examples of the "com-" to "col-" transformation. Other descendants of "laborare" in English include "elaborate," "laboratory," and "labor" itself. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 14, 2011 is: breadbasket • \BRED-bass-kut\ • noun 1 : stomach 2 : a major cereal-producing region Examples: We were playing dodgeball, and the ball hit me right in the breadbasket. "The Turks have completed their network of twenty-two dams, nineteen hydroelectric plants and a vast array of irrigation works to transform Anatolia into a breadbasket." -- From Susan George's 2010 book Whose Crisis, Whose Future? Did you know? "Breadbasket" has been used as slang in English since at least the mid-1700s. (It has been used even longer to mean literally a basket for holding bread.) It can refer to the stomach as an actual digestive organ ("his breadbasket rumbled with hunger"), but these days it's more commonly applied to the general stomach area ("rested her hands on her breadbasket"). No one is quite sure of the exact origins of the use, but it’s likely that there’s some connection between the basket used to hold bread and the "basket" where the bread ends up after a person eats it. "Breadbasket" has also come to refer to an area that supplies an important amount of grain ("the breadbasket of the country"). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 13, 2011 is: tin-pot • \TIN-PAHT\ • adjective : cheap or trivial of its kind : petty, small-time, two-bit Examples: Petty despots and tin-pot tyrants often pay lip service to democratic ideals to give their regimes an aura of legitimacy. "Despots throughout history have been attracted to colossal buildings, from Nicolae Ceausescu's Palace of the People in Bucharest to tin-pot dictator Félix Houphouët-Boigny's vast (and ridiculous) basilica in the jungles of Ivory Coast." -- From Toby A. H. Wilkinson's 2011 book The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt Did you know? Tin has never commanded as much respect as some other metals. As a reflection of this, its name has long been used in terms denoting the tawdry or petty. "Tin-pot" has been used for minor or insignificant things or people since the early 1800s. "Tinhorn" has named fakes or frauds (especially gamblers) since the 1880s, and "tin lizzie" has been a nickname for an inexpensive car since Ford introduced the Model T. Another example is "tin pan" (as in "Tin Pan Alley"), which referred to the tinny sound of pianos pounded furiously by musicians plugging tunes to producers. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 12, 2011 is: palooka • \puh-LOO-kuh\ • noun 1 : an inexperienced or incompetent boxer 2 : oaf, lout Examples: "The boxing audiences loved him…. Though often reckless, Mickey was never a palooka and learned from every opponent he faced." -- From Tom Fox’s 2011 book Hidden History of the Irish of New Jersey "I said I had watched girls who had tried Arizona or Florida, after marrying some North Country palooka, but then crept back with their self-esteem lamed and moved in with their parents again…." -- From Edward Hoagland’s 2011 book Sex and the River Styx Did you know? The origin of "palooka" is unknown, though various theories have been put forth. (Some sources credit the baseball player and sportswriter Jack Conway with the coinage, for example.) "Palooka" first appeared in print in 1924 and may have been popularized by a comic strip titled "Joe Palooka" (by Ham Fisher), which debuted a few years later. The probable connection between Fisher's comic and "palooka" only adds to the mystery surrounding this term, however. Joe Palooka was a boxer who was neither incompetent nor clumsy and oafish, and yet the word "palooka" came to have these negative meanings. In addition, limited evidence shows that "palooka" is occasionally used as a general synonym for "rookie" and also as a term describing horses with very little chance of winning. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 11, 2011 is: pursy • \PER-see\ • adjective 1 : having a puckered appearance 2 : purse-proud Examples: "There was a picture of a pale gent with a narrow face and a woman with dark eyes and a pursy mouth." -- From Stephen King's 1987 novel Misery "Colleagues exchange amused looks at the way Byrd kept circling the chamber, a little scrawny fellow with … a pursy mouth…." -- From Burton Hersh's 2010 book Edward Kennedy: An Intimate Biography Did you know? There are two adjectives spelled "pursy," each with its own etymology. The one we've featured above dates from the mid-16th century and has its source in the noun "purse" ("a receptacle for carrying money and other small objects"); a drawstring purse's puckered appearance is the inspiration. The other "pursy" (pronounced PUH-see or PER-see) dates from the 15th century and, like the first, has two meanings: "short-winded especially because of corpulence" and "fat." This "pursy" comes from the Old French word "pousser," meaning "to exert pressure" or "to breathe heavily" -- the same word, etymologists believe, behind the word "push." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 10, 2011 is: factoid • \FAK-toyd\ • noun 1 : an invented fact believed to be true because of its appearance in print 2 : a briefly stated and usually trivial fact Examples: Printed on the back of each baseball card in Mikey’s collection was a chart showing the player’s statistics along with one or two interesting factoids about his career. "Here's an interesting factoid: 'Mary Poppins' is the only Broadway show that debuted in the 2006-2007 theatrical season still in performance." -- From an Orlando Sentinel blog posting by Matt Palm, April 18, 2011 Did you know? We can thank Norman Mailer for the word "factoid"; he coined the term in his 1973 book Marilyn, about Marilyn Monroe. In the book, Mailer explains that factoids are "facts which have no existence before appearing in a magazine or newspaper, creations which are not so much lies as a product to manipulate emotion in the Silent Majority." In creating his coinage, Mailer relied on "-oid," a suffix that traces back to the ancient Greek word "eidos," meaning "appearance" or "form." Mailer followed in a long tradition when he chose "-oid"; English speakers have been making words from "-oid" since at least the late 16th century. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 9, 2011 is: venal • \VEE-nul\ • adjective 1 : capable of being bought or obtained for money or other valuable consideration; especially : open to corrupt influence and especially bribery 2 : originating in, characterized by, or associated with corrupt bribery Examples: The crusading journalist attempted to fight corruption in government by casting light on venal lawmakers and the special interests that whispered in their ears. "Kate Winslet gives an amazing performance in Todd Haynes’ Mildred Pierce as a woman who uses her mind, indulges her sexual desires, yet can’t begin to cope with her venal, betraying daughter." -- From a blog post by Caryn James on IndieWire, March 27, 2011 Did you know? If you are given the choice between acts that are "venal" and those that are "venial," go for the venial. Although the two words look and sound alike, they have very different meanings and histories. "Venal" demonstrates the adage that anything can be had if the price is high enough and the morals are low enough. That word originated with the Latin "venum," which simply referred to something that was sold or for sale. Some of those transactions must have been rather shady, because by the mid-1600s, "venal" had gained the sense of corruption it carries today. "Venial" sins, on the other hand, are pardonable, the kind that show that everyone makes mistakes sometimes. That forgiving term descends from "venia," Latin for "favor," "indulgence," or "pardon." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 8, 2011 is: applesauce • \AP-ul-sawss\ • noun 1 : a relish or dessert made of apples stewed to a pulp and sweetened 2 : bunkum, nonsense Examples: "All I ever have handed me is a lot of applesauce from the numerous friends who drink my drinks and eat my provender." -- Theodor Geisel, in a letter, circa 1927 "I suppose that the disdain is for Hornby's vernacular style (conversational, casual, and thoughtful but not 'written'), his unashamed populism, and his sweet but flawed characters. To this attitude I say: applesauce." -- From a review by Adam Woog in The Seattle Times, October 2, 2009 Did you know? English offers a smorgasbord of words for "nonsense," some of which are better known as words for food. We have "baloney," "spinach," "rhubarb," and "toffee," not to mention "full of beans." And if none of those offerings are to your taste, you can say "that's pure banana oil!" Seemingly innocuous "applesauce" was first introduced to this menu back in the early 20th century. Back then, there may have been some bias against the real stuff. Poet Wallace Stevens’s turn-of-the-century description of a meal consisting of "some unnameable smathering of greasy fritters . . . and of course the inevictable applesauce" shows a lack of respect that must have been shared by others. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.