Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 3, 2009 is: regimen • \REJ-uh-mun\ • noun 1 : a systematic course of treatment or training 2 : government, rule 3 : a government in power : regime Examples: Sherry’s personal trainer at the gym started her on a workout regimen of 30 minutes on the treadmill followed by 30 minutes of weight training. Did you know? We borrowed "regimen" straight from Latin, spelling and all -- but in Latin, the word simply meant "rule" or "government." In English, it usually refers to a system of rules or guidelines, often for living a healthy life or taking a regular dose of exercise. The Latin "regimen" derives from another Latin word, the verb "regere," which means "to lead straight" or "to rule." If you trace straight back from "regere," you'll find that "regimen" has plenty of lexical kin, including "correct," "erect," "region," "rule," and "surge." If you are using the "training" sense of "regimen," be careful not to confuse the word with "regiment," another "regere" descendant, which is used for a military unit. 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 November 2, 2009 is: voluble • \VAHL-yuh-bul\ • adjective 1 : easily rolling or turning : rotating 2 : characterized by ready or rapid speech : glib, fluent Examples: The young man proved to be a voluble informer who would tell stories of bookies, smugglers, and hit men to the detectives for hours. Did you know? English has many terms for gabby types, but it's important to choose the right word to get across what kind of chatterbox you mean. "Talkative" usually implies a readiness to engage in talk or a disposition to enjoy conversation. "Loquacious" generally suggests the power to express oneself fluently, articulately, or glibly, but it can also mean "talking excessively." "Garrulous" is even stronger in its suggestion of excessive talkativeness; it is most often used for tedious, rambling talkers. "Voluble" describes an individual who speaks easily and often. 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 November 1, 2009 is: disavow • \dis-uh-VOW\ • verb 1 : to deny responsibility for : repudiate 2 : to refuse to acknowledge or accept : disclaim Examples: The candidate has disavowed any knowledge of the letter -- received by thousands of voters -- in which her opponent was maligned. Did you know? If you trace the etymology of "disavow" back through Middle English to Anglo-French, you'll arrive eventually at the prefix "des-" and the verb "avouer," meaning "to avow." The prefix "des-" in turn derives from the Latin prefix "dis-," meaning "apart." That Latin prefix plays a significant role in many current English words, including "disadvantage," "disappoint," and "disagree." "Avouer" is from Latin "advocare," meaning "to summon," and is also the source of our word "advocate." 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 October 31, 2009 is: lycanthropy • \lye-KAN-thruh-pee\ • noun 1 : a delusion that one has become a wolf 2 : the assumption of the form and characteristics of a wolf held to be possible by witchcraft or magic Examples: The 1941 film The Wolf Man starred Lon Chaney, Jr., as a man cursed with lycanthropy. Did you know? If you happen to be afflicted with lycanthropy, the full moon is apt to cause you an inordinate amount of distress. "Lycanthropy" can refer to either the delusional idea that one is a wolf or to the werewolf transformations that have been the stuff of superstitions for centuries. In some cultures, similar myths involve human transformation into other equally feared animals: hyenas and leopards in Africa, for example, and tigers in Asia. The word "lycanthropy" itself, however, comes from the Greek words "lykos," meaning "wolf," and "anthropos," meaning "human being." Werewolf myths are usually associated with the phases of the moon; the animal nature of the werewolf (or "lycanthrope") is typically thought to take over when the moon is full. 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 October 30, 2009 is: pescatarian • \pess-kuh-TAIR-ee-un\ • noun : one whose diet includes fish but no meat Examples: As she savored the bite of fish taco -- a food she had dearly missed since being on her vegetarian diet -- Gwyneth thought to herself, "I'll just have to consider myself a pescatarian instead." Did you know? The word "vegetarian" sprouted up in 1839. "Fruitarian" ("a person who lives on fruit") ripened by 1893. In 1944, vegetarians who consume no animal or dairy products began calling themselves "vegans." Then, in 1993, those who eat fish but no other meat chose "pesce," the Italian word for "fish," to create the designation "pescatarian." In that same year, "meatatarian" was served up as a word for those whose diet largely includes meat; that word is rare, however, and is usually used in informal and humorous ways, making it the type of fare not included in our dictionaries. Another fairly recent dietary word that we will be chewing over when we next update our dictionary is "flexitarian," a person who follows a mostly vegetarian diet but occasionally eats meat or fish. 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 October 29, 2009 is: hobnob • \HAHB-nahb\ • verb : to associate familiarly Examples: Bill hoped his new job as a reporter would give him an opportunity to hobnob with politicians and other notables. Did you know? "Hob" and "nob" first came together in print in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, when Sir Toby Belch warned Viola (who was disguised as a man) that Sir Andrew wanted to duel. "Hob, nob is his word," said Sir Toby, using "hob nob" to mean something like "hit or miss." Sir Toby's term is probably an alteration of "habnab," a phrase that meant "to have or not have, however it may turn out." After Shakespeare's day, "hob" and "nob" became established in the phrases "to drink hob or nob" and "to drink hobnob," which were used to mean "to drink alternately to each other." Since "drinking hobnob" was generally done among friends, "hobnob" came to refer to congenial social interaction. 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 October 28, 2009 is: luculent • \LOO-kyuh-lunt\ • adjective : clear in thought or expression : lucid Examples: "I have heard, for example, a luculent description of poor Allister Campbell, and another drudge of the same class, running a race after dinner for a new pair of breeches." (John G. Lockhart, Memoirs of Sir Walter Scott) Did you know? To shed light on the meaning of "luculent," one need only look at its root -- the Latin noun "lux," meaning "light." The English word first appeared in the 15th century with the meaning "brilliant" or "shining," as in "a luculent flame." By the mid-16th century, the "clear in thought or expression" sense had begun to shine, and by that century's end another sense was flickering with the meaning "illustrious" or "resplendent" (as in Ben Jonson's 1599 description of a "most debonair and luculent lady"). Both the "illustrious" and the "emitting light" sense have fallen out of use, and even the "clear" sense is now rare. (When it does appear, it is typically in humorous contexts in which the writer is intentionally choosing obscure words.) Today's writers seem to prefer another "lux" descendant with a similar meaning: "lucid." 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 October 27, 2009 is: inhere • \in-HEER\ • verb : to be inherent : to be a fixed element or attribute Examples: Competitiveness inheres in the successful athlete's nature. Did you know? You're probably familiar with "inherent," the adjective meaning "part of the constitution or natural character of something," but were you aware of its less common relative "inhere"? This verb looks like it could be a back-formation of "inherent" (a back-formation is a word created by removing a prefix or suffix from an existing word). But "inhere" is actually the older word. It first appeared in print in the 15th century, while "inherent" didn't show up until the late 16th century. Both are derived from the Latin verb "inhaerēre" ("to inhere"), which was itself formed by combining "in-" with "haerēre," a verb meaning "to adhere." 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 October 26, 2009 is: encomium • \en-KOH-mee-um\ • noun : glowing and warmly enthusiastic praise; also : an expression of this Examples: "The book is beautifully written and unquestioningly deserves the encomiums of critics who compared it to 'The Great Gatsby' for its elegiac tone." (David Milofsky, The Denver Post, August 2, 2009) Did you know? "The love of praise, howe're concealed by art / Reigns more or less, and glows in every heart." British writer Edward Young knew how much people love to hear praise -- and so did the ancient Greeks, the originators of "encomium." They formalized that particular expression of praise and named it an "enkōmion," from their terms "en," meaning "in," and "kōmos," meaning "celebration." The original encomiums were eulogies or panegyrics, often ones prepared in honor of a victor in the Olympics. The term was later broadened to refer to any laudatory ode. Since then encomiums have been written praising everyone from Julius Caesar to Elton John, although not all have been entirely serious -- one of the best known is the satirical "Moriae Encomium" ("Praise of Folly") by Erasmus. 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 October 25, 2009 is: natant • \NAY-tunt\ • adjective : swimming or floating in water Examples: "Before me natant birds hunker against the teeth of a northerly breeze." (Kevin J. Cook, Fort Collins Coloradoan, November 29, 2002) Did you know? "Natant" and the smattering of other words birthed in the waters of Latin "natare," meaning "to swim," sound unnecessarily formal in most contexts. We could say "The natant athletes who've done their time at the local natatorium are easily distinguished by their natatorial skills; their natation is markedly better than that of those who have practiced less." Most of us, however, would prefer "The swimmers who've done their time at the local indoor swimming pool are easily distinguished by their swimming skills; their swimming is markedly better than that of those who have practiced less." The common German-derived word "swimming" suits most of us just fine. Science, though, often prefers Latin, which is why you're most likely to encounter "natare" words in scientific contexts. 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 October 24, 2009 is: gruntle • \GRUN-tul\ • verb : to put in a good humor Examples: The hour wait irked us, but once we were seated, we were immediately gruntled by an amiable waiter. Did you know? The verb "disgruntle," which has been around since 1682, means "to make ill-humored or discontented." The prefix "dis-" often means "to do the opposite of," so people might naturally assume that if there is a "disgruntle," there must have first been a "gruntle" with exactly the opposite meaning. But actually, "dis-" doesn’t always work that way -- in some rare cases it functions instead as an intensifier. "Disgruntle" developed from this intensifying sense of "dis-" plus "gruntle," an old word meaning "to grumble." In the 1920s, a writer humorously used "gruntle" to mean "to make happy" -- in other words, as an antonym of "disgruntle." The use caught on. At first "gruntle" was used only in humorous ways, but people eventually began to use it seriously 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 October 23, 2009 is: rebus • \REE-bus\ • noun : a representation of syllables or words by means of pictures or symbols; also : a riddle made up of such pictures or symbols Examples: The answer to yesterday’s rebus, which showed a man on an Ark, a spider web, and a spoon stirring coffee, was "Noah Webster." Did you know? A rebus communicates its message by means of pictures or symbols whose names sound like various parts of a word, phrase, or sentence. For example, a picture of a can of tomatoes, followed by the letters UC and a picture of a well means "Can you see well?" In Latin, the word "rebus" means "by things"; "rebus" is a form of the Latin word "res," which means "thing." English speakers started using the word "rebus" for picture writing in the early 1600s. 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 October 22, 2009 is: rugose • \ROO-gohss\ • adjective 1 : full of wrinkles 2 : having the veinlets sunken and the spaces between elevated Examples: Sam has happy memories of being a child in his grandmother's lap, stroking her soft, rugose face. Did you know? "Rugose" was borrowed into English in the late 17th century from the Latin adjective "rugosus" ("wrinkled"), which itself derives from "ruga" ("wrinkle"). One descendant of "ruga" that you'll probably recognize is "corrugate," which initially meant "to form or shape into wrinkles or folds." Another, which might be more familiar to scientists, is "rugulose," meaning "finely wrinkled." In addition, there is the noun "rugosity," which can refer to either the quality or state of being full of wrinkles or an individual wrinkled place. 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 October 21, 2009 is: quash • \KWAHSH\ • verb : to nullify especially by judicial action Examples: Thanks to a loophole in the law, the defendant's lawyers were able to persuade the judge to quash the indictment against their client. Did you know? There are two "quash" verbs in English, and although their meanings are vaguely similar, they have entirely different origins. Both essentially mean to get rid of something -- you can quash a rumor, for example, or you can quash a judicial order. The legal term "quash" (defined above) comes from an Anglo-French word, "casser," meaning "to annul," and ultimately from Latin "cassus," meaning "void." The other "quash" means "to suppress or extinguish summarily and completely." It derives from the Middle English word "quashen," meaning "to smash," and ultimately from a form of the Latin verb "quatere," meaning "to shake." 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 October 20, 2009 is: handsel • \HAN-sul\ • noun 1 : a gift made as a token of good wishes or luck 2 : money given by a buyer to a seller to bind a bargain Examples: Having signed the papers and handed over the agreed-upon handsel of $200, Caroline was now the proud owner of a small sailing skiff. Did you know? According to an old custom in the British Isles, the first Monday of the new year is Handsel Monday, a day to give a small gift or good luck charm to children or to those who have served you well. As long ago as the year 1200, English speakers were using the ancestor of "handsel" for any good luck charm, especially one given at the start of some new situation or condition. By the 1500s, traders were using "handsel" for the first cash they earned in the morning -- to them, an omen of good things to follow. Nowadays, it can also be used for the first use or experience of something, especially when such a use gives a taste of things to come. 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 October 19, 2009 is: diabolical • \dye-uh-BAH-lih-kul\ • adjective : of, relating to, or characteristic of the devil : devilish Examples: The movie’s antagonist is a fairly standard supervillain, complete with the requisite incompetent minions and a diabolical scheme to destroy the world. Did you know? Like the word "devil," "diabolical" traces back to Latin "diabolus," which itself descends from Greek "diabolos," a word that literally means "slanderer." In English, "diabolical" has many nuances of meaning. It can describe the devil himself (as in "my diabolical visitor") or anything related to or characteristic of him in appearance, behavior, or thought; examples include "diabolical lore," "a diabolical grin," and "a diabolical plot." In British slang, "diabolical" can also mean "disgraceful" or "bad," as in "the food was diabolical." 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 October 18, 2009 is: ostracize • \AHS-truh-syze\ • verb : to exclude from a group by common consent Examples: Ostracized by her former friends for spreading false rumors and gossip, Christina now walks to school alone. Did you know? In ancient Greece, prominent citizens whose power or influence threatened the stability of the state could be exiled by a practice called ostracism. Voters would elect to banish another citizen by writing that citizen's name down on a potsherd (a fragment of earthenware or tile). Those receiving enough votes would then be subject to temporary exile from the state (usually for ten years). The English verb "ostracize" can mean "to exile by the ancient method of ostracism," but these days it usually refers to the general exclusion of one person from a group at the agreement of its members. "Ostracism" and "ostracize" derive from the Greek "ostrakizein" ("to banish by voting with potsherds"). Its ancestor, the Greek "ostrakon" ("shell" or "potsherd"), also helped to give English the word "oyster." 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 October 17, 2009 is: glitch • \GLITCH\ • noun 1 a : a usually minor malfunction; also : an unexpected defect, fault, flaw, or imperfection b : a minor problem that causes a temporary setback : snag 2 : a false or spurious electronic signal Examples: The festival had an excellent lineup of performers, and the few glitches with the sound system did not seriously detract from the overall quality of the entertainment. Did you know? There's a glitch in the etymology of "glitch" -- the origins of the word are not known for sure, though it may derive from the Yiddish "glitsh," meaning "slippery place." The first documented use of "glitch" in print in English is found in astronaut John Glenn's 1962 book Into Orbit. In it he wrote, "Literally, a glitch is a spike or change in voltage in an electrical circuit which takes place when the circuit suddenly has a new load put on it." Today, you don't have to be an astronaut to be familiar with the word "glitch," which can be used of any minor malfunction or snag. 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 October 16, 2009 is: blench • \BLENCH\ • verb : to draw back or turn aside from lack of courage : flinch Examples: "'Let me behold thee then in thy bodily shape, if thou be'st indeed a fiend,' replied the dying knight; 'think not that I will blench from thee.'" (Sir Walter Scott, Ivanhoe) Did you know? If a stranger approaches you in a dark alley, it might cause you to blench. Do you flinch or turn white? Actually, you could do both, and both would be considered blenching because there are two separate verbs spelled "blench" in English. The "blench" that means "flinch" derives from "blencan," an Old English word meaning "to deceive." The "blench" meaning "turn white" is an alteration of "blanch," from the French adjective "blanc" ("white"). Clues to which meaning is intended can often be found in context. The "flinch" use, for example, is strictly intransitive and often followed by "from" or "at" ("blenched from the sight of blood"; "didn’t blench at the sound of thunder"). The "whiten" use, meanwhile, can be intransitive ("his skin blenched with terror") or transitive ("the cold blenched her lips"). 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 October 15, 2009 is: oracular • \aw-RAK-yuh-ler\ • adjective 1 : resembling an oracle (as in solemnity of delivery) 2 : of, relating to, or being an oracle Examples: A knowledgeable wine drinker herself, Roberta refuses to assign oracular status to professional wine critics; she drinks what she likes, not what has been well-reviewed. Did you know? When the ancient Greeks had questions or problems that were worrying them, they would often turn to one of their gods for answers by consulting an oracle. The word "oracle" has several meanings. It can refer to the god's answer, to the shrine the worshippers went to when seeking advice, or to a person through whom the god communicated, usually in the form of cryptic verse. (The words "oracular" and "oracle" trace back to the Latin verb "orare," which means "to speak.") Today, "oracle" can simply mean an authoritative pronouncement or a person who makes such pronouncements ("a designer who is an oracle of fashion"). The related adjective "oracular" is used in similar contexts ("a designer who is the oracular voice of fashion"). 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 October 14, 2009 is: wiki • \WIK-ee\ • noun : a Web site that allows visitors to make changes, contributions, or corrections Examples: The corporation has designed a wiki to make communication and collaboration simpler and more efficient among its employees worldwide. Did you know? Today, wikis are common stops on the information superhighway; however, they only date to 1995, after computer programmer Ward Cunningham introduced his software WikiWikiWeb to the world. The software, whose name is based on a Hawaiian term for "quick," allows Web site visitors to contribute content to its pages and comment on and make changes to information posted by others. A site using the software is referred to as a "wiki." 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 October 13, 2009 is: limn • \LIM\ • verb 1 : to draw or paint on a surface 2 : to outline in clear sharp detail : delineate 3 : describe Examples: In her novel, Deborah limns a vivid picture of life in the rural America of the 1950s. Did you know? Allow us to shed some light on the history of "limn," a word with lustrous origins. "Limn" traces to the Middle French verb "enluminer" and ultimately to the Latin "illuminare," which means "to illuminate." Its use as an English verb dates from the days of Middle English; at first, "limn" referred to the action of illuminating (that is, decorating) medieval manuscripts with gold, silver, or brilliant colors. William Shakespeare extended the term to painting in his poem Venus and Adonis: "Look when a painter would surpass the life / In limning out a well-proportioned steed . . . ." 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 October 12, 2009 is: MacGuffin • \muh-GUFF-in\ • noun : an object, event, or character in a film or story that serves to set and keep the plot in motion despite usually lacking intrinsic importance Examples: The missing document is the MacGuffin that sends the two spies off on an action-packed race around the world, but the real story centers on tension between the main characters. Did you know? The first person to use "MacGuffin" as a word for a plot device was Alfred Hitchcock. He borrowed it from an old shaggy-dog story in which some passengers on a train interrogate a fellow passenger carrying a large, strange-looking package. The fellow says the package contains a "MacGuffin," which, he explains, is used to catch tigers in the Scottish Highlands. When the group protests that there are no tigers in the Highlands, the passenger replies, "Well, then, this must not be a MacGuffin." Hitchcock apparently appreciated the way the mysterious package holds the audience’s attention and builds suspense. He recognized that an audience anticipating a solution to a mystery will continue to follow the story even if the initial interest-grabber turns out to be irrelevant. 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 October 11, 2009 is: crural • \KRUR-ul\ • adjective : of or relating to the thigh or leg; specifically : femoral Examples: During his first game of the season, the team's new quarterback was injured and sidelined with a dislocated patella and anterior crural nerve damage. Did you know? "Crural" is a word that you are most likely to encounter in a medical context, where you might, for example, come across a reference to a "crural artery" or "crural nerve." "Crural" comes from Latin "cruralis," a combination of "crur-" or "crus" ("leg") and the adjectival suffix "-alis" (which, like the English suffix "-al," means "of, relating to, or characterized by"). In the mid-18th century, about 150 years after "crural" entered the English language, English borrowed "crus" itself. "Crus" -- pluralized, as in Latin, as "crura" -- is used of the leg or hind limb, and specifically of the shank, the part of the leg between the ankle and the thigh. "Crus" is also used more broadly of any anatomical part that resembles a leg or a pair of legs. 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 October 10, 2009 is: vitiate • \VISH-ee-ayt\ • verb 1 : to make faulty or defective : impair 2 : to debase in moral or aesthetic status 3 : to make ineffective Examples: Some feared that the superintendent’s decision to reinstate the students would vitiate the authority of the principal who suspended them in the first place. Did you know? Here's one for word puzzle lovers -- and anyone else allured by alliteration. The sentence "Vivian vituperated the vicious villain for valuing vice over virtue" contains three words that derive from the same Latin source as "vitiate." Can you identify all three? If you picked "vituperate" (a verb meaning "to scold"), "vicious," and "vice," your puzzle prowess is beyond reproach. Like "vitiate," all three descend from the Latin noun "vitium," meaning "fault" or "vice." 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 October 9, 2009 is: baroque • \buh-ROHK\ • adjective, often capitalized 1 : of or relating to a style of art and music marked by complex forms and bold ornamentation 2 : characterized by grotesqueness, extravagance, complexity, or flamboyance 3 : irregularly shaped Examples: She’s an immensely talented writer, but her baroque prose style is too grandiose for my taste. Did you know? "Baroque" came to English from a French word meaning "irregularly shaped." At first, the word in French was used mostly to refer to pearls. Eventually, it came to describe an extravagant style of art characterized by curving lines, gilt, and gold. This type of art, which was prevalent especially in the 17th century, was sometimes considered to be excessively decorated and overly complicated. It makes sense, therefore, that the meaning of the word "baroque" has broadened to include anything that seems excessively ornate or elaborate. 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 October 8, 2009 is: polemic • \puh-LEM-ik\ • noun 1 a : an aggressive attack on or refutation of the opinions or principles of another b : the art or practice of disputation 2 : disputant Examples: "He isn't striving for objectivity; this book is part history, part polemic." (Carmela Ciuraru, Christian Science Monitor, June 16, 2009) Did you know? When "polemic" was borrowed into English from French "polemique" in the mid-17th century, it referred (as it still can) to a type of hostile attack on someone's ideas. The word traces back to Greek "polemikos," which means "warlike" or "hostile" and in turn comes from the Greek noun "polemos," meaning "war." Other, considerably less common descendants of "polemos" in English include "polemarch" ("a chieftain or military commander in ancient Greece"), "polemoscope" (a kind of binoculars with an oblique mirror), and "polemology" ("the study of war"). 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 October 7, 2009 is: stanch • \STAUNCH\ • verb 1 : to check or stop the flowing of; also : to stop the flow of blood from (a wound) 2 a : to stop or check in its course b : to make watertight : stop up Examples: The company's CEO gave the keynote address at the convention, stanching rumors that he was not recovering well from his surgery. Did you know? The verb "stanch" has a lot in common with the adjective "staunch," meaning "steadfast." Not only do both words derive from the Anglo-French word "estancher" (which has the same meaning as "stanch"), but the spelling "s-t-a-n-c-h" is sometimes used for the adjective, and the spelling "s-t-a-u-n-c-h" is sometimes used for the verb. Although both spelling variants have been in reputable use for centuries and both are perfectly standard for either the verb or adjective, "stanch" is the form used most often for the verb and "staunch" is the most common variant for the adjective. 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 October 6, 2009 is: spindrift • \SPIN-drift\ • noun 1 : sea spray; especially : spray blown from waves during a gale 2 : fine wind-borne snow or sand Examples: "The winds around the mountain were fierce and a long white plume of spindrift trailed from the summit." (Michael Palin, [London] Sunday Times, September 26, 2004) Did you know? "Spindrift" first set sail in the mid-18th century under Scottish command. During its first voyage, it was known by the Scottish moniker "speendrift." "Speen" meant "to drive before a strong wind," so a "speendrift" was a drift of spray during such action. In 1823, English speakers recruited the word, but signed it up as "spindrift." At that time, its sole duty was to describe the driving sprays at sea. However, English speakers soon realized that "spindrift" had potential to serve on land as well, and the word was sent ashore to describe driving snow and sand. Today, "spindrift" still serves us commendably at sea and on land. 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 October 5, 2009 is: avuncular • \uh-VUNK-yuh-ler\ • adjective 1 : of or relating to an uncle 2 : suggestive of an uncle especially in kindliness or geniality Examples: The avuncular orthodontist joked with his young patient, attempting to set her mind at ease about getting fitted for braces. Did you know? Not all uncles are likeable fellows (Hamlet's murderous Uncle Claudius, for example, isn't exactly Mr. Nice Guy in Shakespeare's tragedy), but "avuncular" reveals that, as a group, uncles are generally seen as affable and benevolent, if at times a bit patronizing. "Avuncular" derives from the Latin noun "avunculus," which translates as "maternal uncle," but since at least the 1830s English speakers have used "avuncular" to refer to uncles from either side of the family or even to individuals who are simply uncle-like in character or behavior. And in case you were wondering, "avunculus" is also an ancestor of the word "uncle" 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 October 4, 2009 is: terreplein • \TAIR-uh-playn\ • noun : the level space behind a parapet of a rampart where guns are mounted Examples: Children love to climb on the defunct cannons that sit at each of the old fort's terrepleins, creating a perfect photo op for parents. Did you know? Like "parapet" and "rampart," "terreplein" dates back to the 16th century. "Rampart" is the oldest of this trio; earliest evidence of the word in English is from 1536. From the Middle French word "ramparer," meaning "to fortify," it refers specifically to the broad embankment that forms the main part of a fort. The word for the protective wall on top of the rampart, "parapet," dates to 1590 and comes from Italian "parare" ("to shield") and "petto" ("chest"). The earliest evidence for today's word, "terreplein," is from only a year later. It comes (by way of Middle French) from Old Italian "terrapieno," which traces to Medieval Latin "terra plenus," meaning "filled with earth." 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 October 3, 2009 is: delate • \dih-LAYT\ • verb 1 : accuse, denounce 2 : report, relate Examples: "In that year Archbishop Blackadder of Glasgow delated some thirty heretics to James IV who let the matter go with a jest." (J.D. Mackie, A History of Scotland) Did you know? To "delate" someone is to "hand down" that person to a court of law. In Latin, "delatus" is the unlikely-looking past participle of "deferre," meaning "to bring down, report, or accuse," which in turn comes from "ferre," meaning "to carry." Not surprisingly, our word "defer," meaning "to yield to the opinion or wishes of another," can also be traced back to "deferre." At one time, in fact, "defer" and "delate" had parallel meanings (both could mean "to carry down or away" or "to offer for acceptance"), but those senses are now obsolete. Today, you are most likely to encounter "delate" or its relatives "delation" and "delator" in the context of medieval tribunals, although the words can also relate to modern ecclesiastical tribunals. 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 October 2, 2009 is: neologism • \nee-AH-luh-jiz-um\ • noun 1 : a new word, usage, or expression 2 : a meaningless word coined by a psychotic Examples: The novelist’s latest book is peppered with numerous slang words and neologisms that might not be familiar to some readers. Did you know? The English language is constantly picking up neologisms. Recently, for example, computer technology has added a number of new terms to the language. "Webinar," "malware," "netroots," and "blogosphere" are just a few examples of modern-day neologisms that have been integrated into American English. The word "neologism" was itself a brand-new coinage at the beginning of the 19th century, when English speakers first borrowed it from the French "nèologisme." Its roots, however, are quite old. Ultimately, "neologism" comes from Greek "neos" (meaning "new") and "logos" (meaning "word"). 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 October 1, 2009 is: pukka • \PUCK-uh\ • adjective : genuine, authentic; also : first-class Examples: Ellingsworth stood framed in the door of his club, the picture of a pukka gentleman, immaculately groomed, upper lip appropriately stiff, perfectly genteel. Did you know? "Pukka" tends to evoke the height of 18th- and 19th-century British imperialism in India, and, indeed, it was first used in English at the 1775 trial of Maha Rajah Nundocomar, who was accused of forgery and tried by a British court in Bengal. The word is borrowed from Hindi and Urdu "pakkā," which means "solid." The English speakers who borrowed it applied the "sound and reliable" sense of "solid" and thus the word came to mean "genuine." As the British Raj waned, "pukka" was occasionally appended to "sahib" (an Anglo-Indian word for a European of some social or official status). That expression is sometimes used as a compliment for an elegant and refined gentleman, but it can also imply that someone is overbearing and pretentious. These days, "pukka" is also used as a British slang word meaning "excellent" or "cool." 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 September 30, 2009 is: pabulum • \PAB-yuh-lum\ • noun 1 : food; especially : a suspension or solution of nutrients in a state suitable for absorption 2 : intellectual sustenance 3 : something (as writing or speech) that is insipid, simplistic, or bland Examples: The discovery provides pabulum for the scientific community to ruminate on for decades to come. Did you know? "Pabulum" derives from the Latin term for "food" or "fodder" and was first used in English in the 18th century for anything taken in by plants or animals to maintain life and growth. Within 30 years of its first appearance in English texts, it was also being used to refer to things so intellectually stimulating or nourishing that they could be considered food for thought. But the word took on a whole new flavor in the 1930s when a team of Canadian doctors formulated a highly nutritious (but bland) baby cereal and named their product "Pablum" (based on the Latin word). As a result, the similar-looking "pabulum" did a linguistic about-face and is now often used for things that are bland and unstimulating as well as for things that are intellectually sustaining. 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 September 29, 2009 is: glaucous • \GLAW-kus\ • adjective 1 a : of a pale yellow-green color b : of a light bluish-gray or bluish-white color 2 : having a powdery or waxy coating that gives a frosted appearance and tends to rub off Examples: In the early mornings, the lush river valley is often shrouded in a glaucous mist. Did you know? "Glaucous" came to English, by way of Latin "glaucus," from Greek "glaukos," meaning "gleaming" or "gray." It has been used for a range of pale colors from a yellow-green to a bluish-gray. The word has often been used to describe the pale color of the leaves of various plants as well as the powdery bloom that can be found on some fruits and leaves. The stem "glauc-" appears in some other English words, the most familiar of which is probably "glaucoma," referring to a disease of the eye that can result in gradual loss of vision. "Glauc-" also appears in the not-so-familiar "glaucope," a word used to describe someone with fair hair and blue eyes (and a companion to "cyanope," the term for someone with fair hair and brown eyes). 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 September 28, 2009 is: deke • \DEEK\ • verb : to fake (an opponent) out of position (as in ice hockey) Examples: With a quick move to the left and then right, the forward deked the remaining defenseman and was left one-on-one with the goalie. Did you know? "Deke" originated as a shortened form of "decoy." Ernest Hemingway used "deke" as a noun referring to hunting decoys in his 1950 novel Across the River and into the Trees ("I offered to put the dekes out with him"). About a decade later, "deke" began appearing in ice-hockey contexts in Canadian print sources as both a verb and a noun ("the act of faking an opponent out of position"). Today, "deke" has scored in many other sports, including baseball, basketball, and football. It has also checked its way into more general usage to refer to deceptive or evasive moves or actions. However, this general application of "deke" has never made it past the defenders. It occurs too rarely in English to merit its own sense in the dictionary. 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 September 27, 2009 is: plumply • \PLUMP-lee\ • adverb : in a wholehearted manner and without hesitation or circumlocution : forthrightly Examples: Having taken offense at the remark, Sir Jeffrey plumply asked the man if his insult was intentional. Did you know? In the 14th century, the word "plump" was used for a sound like that of something dropping into water (as we use "plop" today). Middle English speakers turned the "plump" sound into a verb meaning "to drop." The verb spawned a noun meaning "a sudden drop or fall," which in turn generated an adverb "plump" meaning "directly, without qualification." English novelist Fanny Burney (1752-1840) used the adverbial "plump" in one of her letters when she wrote of "coming plump against the question." But she didn’t stop there. The adverb "plump" gave rise to "plumply," and Fanny Burney was one of the first to use the new form, this time in her diary: "The offer was plumply accepted." 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 September 26, 2009 is: tenderloin • \TEN-der-loyn\ • noun 1 : a strip of tender meat consisting of a large internal muscle of the loin on each side of the vertebral column 2 : a district of a city largely devoted to vice Examples: "Unlike old Saigon, a raucous wartime tenderloin of bars and nightclubs, Orange County is quiet -- except on Saturday nights…." (Stanley Karnow, Smithsonian, August 1992) Did you know? A tenderloin, of course, is a juicy and tasty cut of meat. In the late 19th century, however, "Tenderloin" saw use as a nickname for the neighborhood of midtown Manhattan, west of Broadway and below 42nd Street. This district, which contained numerous bordellos, gambling houses, and watering holes, alongside theaters and hotels, became a hotbed of corruption -- and, it was alleged by some, blackmail by police. The notion of dishonest law enforcers being able to afford a nice meal off activity in this district is believed to have given the Tenderloin its name. Soon the term was applied to similarly seedy districts in other cities. 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 September 25, 2009 is: utile • \YOO-tul\ • adjective : useful Examples: Shaker crafts are simple, meticulously constructed, pleasing to the eye, and eminently utile, all at the same time. Did you know? For over a hundred years before "useful" entered our language, "utile" served us well on its own. We borrowed "utile" from Middle French in the 15th century. The French derived it from Latin "utilis," meaning "useful," which in turn comes from "uti," meaning "to use." "Uti" (the past participle of which is "usus") is also the source of our "use" and "useful." We've been using "use" since at least the 13th century, but we didn't acquire "useful" until the late 16th century, when William Shakespeare inserted it into King John. Needless to say, we've come to prefer "useful" over "utile" since then, though "utile" functions as a very usable synonym. Other handy terms derived from "uti" include "utilize," "usury," "abuse" and "utensil." 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 September 24, 2009 is: cogent • \KOH-junt\ • adjective 1 : having power to compel or constrain 2 a : appealing forcibly to the mind or reason : convincing b : pertinent, relevant Examples: At the town meeting, citizens presented many cogent arguments in support of building a new high school. Did you know? "Trained, knowledgeable agents make cogent suggestions . . . that make sense to customers." It makes sense for us to include that comment from the president of a direct marketing consulting company because it provides such a nice opportunity to point out the etymological relationship between the words "cogent" and "agent." "Agent" derives from the Latin verb "agere," which means "to drive," "to lead," or "to act." Adding the prefix "co-" to "agere" gave Latin "cogere," a word that literally means "to drive together"; that ancient term ultimately gave English "cogent." Something that is cogent figuratively pulls together thoughts and ideas, and the cogency of an argument depends on the driving intellectual force behind it. 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 September 23, 2009 is: popinjay • \PAH-pin-jay\ • noun : a strutting supercilious person Examples: Shopping was going fine until, in one of the boutiques, a popinjay of a sales clerk clearly snubbed us. Did you know? Popinjays and parrots are birds of a feather. "Popinjay," from the Middle French word "papegai," is the original name for a parrot in English. (The French word in turn came from the Arabic word for the bird, "babghā." "Parrot," which English speakers adopted later, probably comes from Middle French "perroquet.") In the days of Middle English, parrots were rare and exotic, and it was quite a compliment to be called a "popinjay" after such a beautiful bird. But by the 1500s, parrots had become more commonplace, and their gaudy plumage and vulgar mimicry helped "popinjay" develop the pejorative sense we use today. 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 September 22, 2009 is: enhance • \in-HANS\ • verb : heighten, increase; especially : to increase or improve in value, quality, desirability, or attractiveness Examples: The newspaper company hopes that including more full-color illustrations and adding extra news features will enhance their product and reverse the decline in circulation. Did you know? When "enhance" was borrowed into English in the 13th century, it literally meant to raise something higher. That sense, though now obsolete, provides a clue about the origins of the word. "Enhance," which was spelled "enhauncen" in Middle English, comes to us from Anglo-French "enhaucer" or "enhauncer" ("to raise"), which can be traced back to the Vulgar Latin verb "inaltiare." "Inaltiare," in turn, was formed by combining the prefix "in-" with Latin "altus," meaning "high." Although "enhance" initially applied only to physically making things higher, it developed an additional and less literal sense of "to exalt especially in rank or spirit," and quickly acquired extended figurative senses for "raising" the value or attractiveness of something or someone. 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 September 21, 2009 is: Laodicean • \lay-ah-duh-SEE-un\ • adjective : lukewarm or indifferent in religion or politics Examples: Evan lamented the Laodicean attitude of his fellow citizens, as evidenced by the low voter turnout on Election Day. Did you know? English speakers owe the word "Laodicean" to Chapter 3, verses 15 and 16 of the Book of Revelation, in which the church of Laodicea is admonished for being "neither cold nor hot, . . . neither one nor the other, but just lukewarm" in its devotion. By 1633, the name of that tepid biblical church had become a general term for any half-hearted or irresolute follower of a religious faith. Since then, the word’s use has broadened to cover flimsy political devotion as well. For example, in comparing U.S. presidents, journalist Samuel Hopkins Adams compared "the fiery and aggressive [Theodore] Roosevelt" to "the timorous Laodicean [Warren] Harding." 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 September 20, 2009 is: sockdolager • \sock-DAH-lih-jer\ • noun 1 : something that settles a matter : a decisive blow or answer : finisher 2 : something outstanding or exceptional Examples: For a while I was completely stumped, but then, all of a sudden, I got a sockdolager of an idea. Did you know? The verb "sock" ("to punch") and the noun "doxology" ("a hymn of praise to God") may seem like an odd pairing, but it is a match that has been promoted by a few word mavens when discussing the origins of the Americanism "sockdolager." Don't be too quick to believe the hype, however. When a word's origin is simply unknown, as is the case with "sockdolager," there's a tendency for folks to fill in the gap with an interesting story, whether or not it can be verified. In the case of "sockdolager," the "sock" part is plausible but unproven, and the "doxology" to "dolager" suggestion is highly questionable. The theory continues to have many fans, but it can't deliver the knockout punch. 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 September 19, 2009 is: fatuous • \FATCH-oo-us\ • adjective : complacently or inanely foolish : silly Examples: "Fatuous and condescending" is how one reviewer described two of the best-selling self-help books. Did you know? "I am two fools, I know, / For loving, and for saying so / In whining Poetry," wrote John Donne, simultaneously confessing to both infatuation and fatuousness. As any love-struck fool can attest, infatuation can make buffoons of the best of us. So it should come as no surprise that the words "fatuous" and "infatuation" derive from the same Latin root, "fatuus," which means "foolish." Both terms have been part of English since the 17th century. "Infatuation" followed the earlier verb "infatuate," a "fatuus" descendant that once meant "to make foolish" but that now usually means "to inspire with a foolish love or admiration." "Fatuous" came directly from "fatuus." It's been used in English to describe the foolish and inane since at least 1633. 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 September 18, 2009 is: quodlibet • \KWAHD-luh-bet\ • noun 1 : a philosophical or theological point proposed for disputation; also : a disputation on such a point 2 : a whimsical combination of familiar melodies or texts Examples: "'The Past & the Future' … is an operatic quodlibet, summarizing themes from previous movements, with some classical surprises." (Donald Rosenberg, Cleveland Plain Dealer, April 8, 2007) Did you know? "Whatever." Try to get philosophical nowadays and that may be the response you hear. We don't know if someone quibbling over a minor philosophical or theological point 500 years ago might have gotten a similar reaction, but we do know that Latin "quodlibet," meaning "any whatever," was the name given to such academic debates. "Quodlibet" is a form of "quilibet," from "qui," meaning "what," and "libet," meaning "it pleases." We can't say with certainty how "quodlibet" went from disputations to musical conglomerations, but English speakers have been using "quodlibet" for light musical mélanges since the early 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 September 17, 2009 is: ab ovo • \ab-OH-voh\ • adverb : from the beginning Examples: The documentary presented the history of the city ab ovo, beginning with its inception as a frontier trading post in the 1800s and running through the present. Did you know? "Ab ovo usque ad mala." That phrase translates as "from the egg to the apples," and it was penned by the Roman poet Horace. He was alluding to the Roman tradition of starting a meal with eggs and finishing it with apples. Horace also applied "ab ovo" in an account of the Trojan War that begins with the mythical egg of Leda from which Helen (whose beauty sparked the war) was born. In both cases, Horace used "ab ovo" in its literal sense, "from the egg," but by the 16th century Sir Philip Sidney had adapted it to its modern English sense, "from the beginning": "If [the dramatic poets] wil represent an history, they must not (as Horace saith) beginne Ab ouo: but they must come to the principall poynt of that one action." 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 September 16, 2009 is: pink • \PINK\ • verb 1 a : to perforate in an ornamental pattern b : to cut a saw-toothed edge on 2 a : pierce, stab b : to wound by irony, criticism, or ridicule Examples: "The sleek curtain requires no sewing; we pinked the edges to add a bit of detail." (Jennie Voorhees, Martha Stewart Living, April 2002) Did you know? Our unabridged dictionary, Webster's Third New International, includes 13 distinct entries for "pink," whereas our abridged volume, Merriam-Webster's Collegiate, satisfies itself with the five most common. (Words get distinct entries in our dictionaries when they have different etymologies or different parts of speech.) Today's "pink," the only verb of the five, is from a Middle English word meaning "to thrust." Of the remaining four, the only "pink" older than the verb (which dates to 1503) is a 15th century noun referring to a kind of ship. The next-oldest noun has since 1573 referred to a genus of herbs. The noun referring to the color pink and its related adjective date to 1678 and 1720, respectively. Evidence suggests that a new verb "pink" -- a synonym of the verb "pink-slip" -- is also emerging. 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 September 15, 2009 is: sternutation • \ster-nyuh-TAY-shun\ • noun : the act, fact, or noise of sneezing Examples: Julie knew that she had put on too much perfume when she entered the car and immediately heard a chorus of sternutation from the passengers. Did you know? "Sternutation" comes from Latin and is a descendant of the verb "sternuere," meaning "to sneeze." One of the earliest known English uses occurred in a 16th-century edition of a book on midwifery, in a passage about infants suffering from frequent "sternutation and sneesynge." The term has long been used in serious medical contexts, but also on occasion for humorous effect. In 1850, for example, author Grace Greenwood observed that U.S. senators from opposing political parties would often come together to share snuff: "And all three forget their sectional differences in a delightful concert of sternutation. No business is too grave, no speaker too eloquent, to be 'sneezed at.'" See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.