Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 22, 2008 is: conscientious • \kahn-shee-EN-shus\ • adjective 1 : governed by or conforming to the dictates of conscience : scrupulous 2 : meticulous, careful Examples: Carolyn was very conscientious in her research, exploring every possible influence and outcome before preparing her final report. Did you know? According to American writer and editor H.L. Mencken, "Conscience is the inner voice which warns us someone may be looking." A person who is conscientious makes sure that if others are watching, they like what they see. "Conscience" and "conscientious" both come from the Latin verb "conscire," a word that means "to be conscious" or "to be conscious of guilt" and that traces back to a still older Latin word, "scire," meaning "to know." 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, 2008 is: restaurateur • \res-tuh-ruh-TER\ • noun : the operator or proprietor of a restaurant Examples: Fred began his career in the food-service industry as a humble busboy, but today he is a successful restaurateur who recently opened his third eating establishment. Did you know? "Restaurateur" and "restaurant" were borrowed directly from related French words, and both ultimately derive from the Latin word "restaurare" ("to restore"). "Restaurant" arrived in English in the second half of the 18th century. We acquired "restaurateur" approximately 30 years later. Of the two words, "restaurant" is significantly more common -- a fact that may have influenced the development of the variant spelling "restauranteur" for "restaurateur." "Restauranteur" first appeared in the 1920s, and some people consider it to be an error. It is, however, a standard variant, albeit one that continues to be used less frequently than "restaurateur." 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, 2008 is: sacrilegious • \sak-ruh-LIJ-us\ • adjective 1 : committing or characterized by a technical and not necessarily intrinsically outrageous violation (as improper reception of a sacrament) of what is sacred because consecrated to God 2 : grossly irreverent toward a hallowed person, place, or thing Examples: My great-grandfather was a die-hard New Dealer who considered any criticism of Franklin D. Roosevelt to be sacrilegious. Did you know? It may seem that "sacrilegious" should be spelled as "sacreligious," since the word sometimes describes an irreverent treatment of religious objects or places. However, "sacrilegious" comes to us from "sacrilege," which is ultimately derived from a combination of the Latin words "sacer" ("sacred") and "legere" ("to gather" or "to steal"). Its antecedent in Latin, "sacrilegus," meant "one who steals sacred things." There is no direct relation to "religious" (which is derived from the Latin word "religiosus," itself from "religio," meaning "supernatural constraint or religious practice"). The apparent resemblance between "sacrilegious" and "religious" is just a coincidence. 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, 2008 is: litotes • \LYE-tuh-teez\ • noun : understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of the contrary Examples: Jamie blushingly acknowledged her victory by litotes, saying that her scores were "not bad" and that she was "not displeased" with her performance. Did you know? Even if you've never heard the word "litotes," chances are you've encountered this figure of speech. If you've ever approved of a job well done by exclaiming "Not bad!" or told someone that you are "not unhappy" when you are ecstatic, you've even used it yourself. In fact, you might say that it would be "no mean feat" to avoid this common feature of our language! And litotes isn't only common; it's also "simple" -- etymologically speaking, that is. "Litotes" evolved from a Greek word meaning "simple," and perhaps ultimately from another Greek word meaning "linen cloth." 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, 2008 is: deter • \di-TER\ • verb 1 : to turn aside, discourage, or prevent from acting 2 : inhibit Examples: To deter shoplifters, the store posted signs listing the legal penalties for the crime. Did you know? The word "deter" is rooted in fear. It was borrowed into English around the mid-16th century from the Latin verb "deterrēre," which in turn was formed by combining "de-," meaning "from" or "away," with "terrēre," meaning "to frighten." "Terrēre" is also the source of "terror," "terrible," and even "terrific," which originally meant "very bad" or "frightful." These days, you may be deterred by something that frightens you or by something that simply causes you to think about the difficult or unpleasant consequences of continuing. The word can also mean "to inhibit," as in "painting to deter rust." 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, 2008 is: mansuetude • \MAN-swih-tood\ • noun : the quality or state of being gentle : meekness, tameness Examples: "While her voice may have an air of mansuetude, she proved that she could easily cut above the din of the boys in her band. . .." (Christopher Muther, The Boston Globe, June 24, 2004) Did you know? "Mansuetude" was first used in English in the 14th century, and it derives from the Latin verb "mansuescere," which means "to tame." "Mansuescere" itself comes from the noun "manus" (meaning "hand") and the verb "suescere" ("to accustom" or "to become accustomed"). Unlike "manus," which has many English descendants (including "manner," "emancipate," and "manicure," among others), "suescere" has only a few English progeny. One of them is a word we featured in December -- "desuetude" -- which means "disuse" and comes to us by way of Latin "desuescere" ("to become unaccustomed"). Two others are "custom" and "accustom," which derive via Anglo-French from Latin "consuescere," meaning "to accustom." 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, 2008 is: obeisance • \oh-BEE-sunss\ • noun 1 : a movement of the body made in token of respect or submission : bow 2 : acknowledgment of another's superiority or importance : homage Examples: The people paid obeisance to their god by kneeling at the shrine. Did you know? When it first appeared in English in the late 14th century, "obeisance" shared the same meaning as "obedience." This makes sense given that "obeisance" can be traced back to the Anglo-French verb "obeir," which means "to obey" and is also an ancestor of our word "obey." The other senses of "obeisance" also date from the 14th century, but they have stood the test of time whereas the obedience sense is now 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 June 15, 2008 is: jeopardize • \JEP-er-dyze\ • verb : to expose to danger or risk : imperil Examples: "I'm not willing to jeopardize my friendship with Camille by lying to her," said Luis. Did you know? It may be hard to believe that "jeopardize" was once controversial, but in 1870 a grammarian called it "a foolish and intolerable word," a view shared by many 19th-century critics. The preferred word was "jeopard," which first appeared in print in the 14th century. (The upstart "jeopardize" turned up in 1582.) In 1828, Noah Webster himself declared "jeopardize" to be "a modern word, used by respectable writers in America, but synonymous with 'jeopard,' and therefore useless." Unfortunately for the champions of "jeopard," "jeopardize" is now much more popular. In fact, it's been about a hundred years since anyone has raised any serious objections to "jeopardize." 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, 2008 is: fortitude • \FOR-tuh-tood\ • noun : strength of mind that enables a person to encounter danger or bear pain or adversity with courage Examples: Due to the hot weather, the road race was more a test of fortitude than of athletic ability. Did you know? "Fortitude" comes from the Latin word "fortis," meaning "strong," and in English it has always been used primarily to describe strength of mind. For a time, the word was also used to mean "physical strength" -- Shakespeare used that sense in The First Part of King Henry the Sixth: "Coward of France! How much he wrongs his fame Despairing of his own arm's fortitude." But despite use by the Bard, that second sense languished and is 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 June 13, 2008 is: impuissant • \im-PWISS-unt\ • adjective : weak, powerless Examples: Jonah was a relentless bully who sought to intimidate any impuissant student that he could find in the schoolyard. Did you know? Both the adjective "impuissant" and the noun "impuissance" came to English from Middle French. They are derived from the prefix "in-" (meaning "not") and the noun "puissance," which means "power" and is a word in English in its own right. "Puissance" derives from the verb "poer," meaning "to be able" or "to be powerful," and is ultimately related to the same Latin roots that gave us words such as "power" and "potent." While both "puissant" and "impuissance" first appeared in English during the 15th century, "impuissant" did not make its first appearance in our language until 1629. 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, 2008 is: exclave • \EKS-kleiv\ • noun : a portion of a country separated from the main part and constituting an enclave in respect to the surrounding territory Examples: Technically, the state of Alaska is an exclave of the United States: it borders only Canadian territory. Did you know? You probably won't be surprised to learn that the key to "exclave" is found in "enclave." "Enclave" itself ultimately derives from the Latin word for "key," which is "clavis." It was adopted in the mid-19th century from Middle French "enclaver" ("to enclose"), which in turn derives (through Vulgar Latin) from "in-" and "clavis." "Exclave" was formed about twenty years later by combining the prefix "ex-" and the "-clave" of "enclave." Other "clavis" descendants in English include "autoclave," "clavicle," "conclave," and "clavichord" ("an early keyboard instrument in use before the piano"). 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, 2008 is: corvée • \KOR-vay\ • noun 1 : unpaid labor (as toward constructing roads) due from a feudal vassal to his lord 2 : labor exacted in lieu of taxes by public authorities especially for highway construction or repair Examples: "He was also entitled to . . . district corvées which helped to maintain, repair, and defend royal property. . .." (Bernard F. Reilly, The Medieval Spains) Did you know? Under the Roman Empire, certain classes of people owed personal services to the state or to private proprietors. For example, labor might be requisitioned for the maintenance of the postal systems of various regions, or landed proprietors might require tenant farmers and persons freed from slavery to perform unpaid labor on their estates. The feudal system of corvée -- regular work that vassals owed their lords -- developed from this Roman tradition. We borrowed the word "corvée" from French in the 14th century, and it ultimately traces back to the Latin word "corrogata," meaning "to collect" or "to requisition." By the 18th century, "corvée" was also being used for the unpaid or partially paid labor public authorities exacted in lieu of taxes for the construction or repair of highways, bridges, or canals. 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, 2008 is: bird-dog • \BURD-dog\ • verb 1 : to watch closely 2 : to seek out : follow, detect Examples: Scores of college recruiters bird-dogged the 7-foot high school senior for their basketball programs. Did you know? People began using "bird-dog" as a verb meaning "to closely watch someone or something" or "to doggedly seek out someone or something" in the early 20th century. Both meanings reflect skills likely to be possessed by a well-trained bird dog. By the 1940s, "bird-dogging" was being used specifically as a term for stealing someone else's date. And, not long after that, it began to be used for the scouting out of customers or prospective talent. The noun "bird dog" is also used as a name for the date stealers and scouts who do the bird-dogging. 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, 2008 is: morass • \muh-RASS\ • noun 1 : marsh, swamp 2 a : a situation that traps, confuses, or impedes b : an overwhelming or confusing mass or mixture Examples: For Diane and Oscar, trying to adopt a baby meant getting lost in a morass of paperwork, but they knew it would be worth it. Did you know? We won't swamp you with details: "morass" comes from the Dutch word "moeras," which itself derives from an Old French word, "maresc," meaning "marsh." "Morass" has been part of English for centuries, and in its earliest uses it was a synonym of "swamp" or "marsh." (That was the sense Robert Louis Stevenson used when he described Long John Silver emerging from "a low white vapour that had crawled during the night out of the morass" in Treasure Island.) Imagine walking through a thick, muddy swamp -- it's easy to compare such slogging to trying to disentangle yourself from a sticky situation. By the mid-19th century, "morass" had gained a figurative sense referring to any predicament as murky, confusing, or difficult to navigate as a literal swamp or quagmire. 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, 2008 is: umpteen • \UMP-teen\ • adjective : very many : indefinitely numerous Examples: "Oh, I've been there umpteen times," drawled Melanie, when I excitedly told her about my plans to go to Europe. Did you know? "I'll go to bed and I'll not get up for umpty-eleven months." You know the feeling. The speaker here is war-weary Bill, a character in Patrick MacGill's early 20th-century novel The Great Push. His "umpty" originated as military slang around 1905 and stood for an indefinite number, generally largish. (It was probably created by analogy to actual numbers such as "twenty.") Soon, there followed "umpteen," blending "umpty" and "-teen." "Umpteen" usually describes an indefinite and large number or amount, while the related "umpteenth" is used for the latest or last in an indefinitely numerous series. We only occasionally use "umpty" these days (and even more rarely "umptieth"), but you're bound to hear or read "umpteen" and "umpteenth" any number of times. 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, 2008 is: nimiety • \nih-MYE-uh-tee\ • noun : excess, redundancy Examples: "To avoid receiving a nimiety of kitchenware," advised the bridal guide, "be sure to register for a wide range of gifts for your guests to choose from." Did you know? There's no scarcity of English words used for too much of a good thing -- words like "overkill," "plethora," "superfluity," "surfeit," "surplus," and "preponderance," to name a few. In fact, you might just feel that "nimiety" itself is a bit superfluous. And it's true -- we've never used the word excessively, though it has been part of our language for nearly 450 years. (We borrowed it from Late Latin "nimietas," a noun taken, in turn, from the Latin adjective "nimius," meaning "excessive.") Superfluous or not, "nimiety" still turns up occasionally. For example, in his 1991 book Biblioholism: The Literary Addiction, about "the habitual longing to purchase, read, store, admire and consume books in excess," author Tom Raabe blames one bookstore's "nimiety of overstuffed chairs" for exacerbating this condition. 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, 2008 is: gelid • \JELL-id\ • adjective : extremely cold : icy Examples: The rescue team braved gelid conditions as they searched the mountain for the lost climber. Did you know? "Gelid" first appeared in English late in the 16th century, coming to our language from Latin "gelidus," which ultimately derives from the noun "gelu," meaning "frost" or "cold." (Our noun "gelatin," which can refer to an edible jelly that undergoes a cooling process as part of its formation, comes from a related Latin word: "gelare," meaning "to freeze.") "Gelid" is used in English to describe anything of extremely cold temperature (as in "the gelid waters of the Arctic Ocean"), but the word can also be used figuratively to describe a person with a cold demeanor (as in "the criminal's gelid stare"). 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, 2008 is: feuilleton • \fuh-yuh-TOHNG (the "ng" is not pronounced, but the preceding vow\ • noun 1 : a part of a European newspaper or magazine devoted to material designed to entertain the general reader 2 : a work of fiction printed in installments 3 : a short literary composition often having a familiar tone and reminiscent content Examples: The magazine's June issue includes feuilletons from famous writers on the subject of fathers. Did you know? The feuilleton originated in French newspapers as a supplement sectioned out from the main news stories. Although found in the political section of the newspaper, the feuilleton typically included material on non-political subjects, such as art, literature, or fashion. Fiction was sometimes included as well. The word is a diminutive of the French "feuillet," meaning "sheet of paper," and ultimately derives from Latin "folium," meaning "leaf." From this source English acquired "folio" (which can refer to a page, or leaf, of a book or manuscript) and "foliage" (meaning "a mass of leaves"). 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, 2008 is: tawdry • \TAW-dree\ • adjective : cheap and gaudy in appearance or quality; also : ignoble Examples: Tom and Pam found themselves in an unfamiliar section of the city, walking by tawdry storefronts and shady bars. Did you know? In the 7th century, Etheldreda, the queen of Northumbria, renounced her husband and her royal position for the veil of a nun. She was renowned for her saintliness and is traditionally said to have died of a swelling in her throat, which she took as a judgment upon her fondness for wearing necklaces in her youth. Her shrine became a principal site of pilgrimage in England. An annual fair was held in her honor on October 17th, and her name became simplified to St. Audrey. At these fairs various kinds of cheap knickknacks were sold, along with a type of necklace called "St. Audrey's lace," which by the 17th century had become altered to "tawdry lace." Eventually, "tawdry" came to be used to describe anything cheap and gaudy that might be found at these fairs or anywhere else. 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, 2008 is: malaise • \muh-LAYZ\ • noun 1 : an indefinite feeling of debility or lack of health often indicative of or accompanying the onset of an illness 2 : a vague sense of mental or moral ill-being Examples: Though she has worked at the same company for 30 years, Jeannie shows few signs of the professional malaise common among her coworkers. Did you know? "Malaise," which ultimately traces back to Old French, has been part of English since the mid-18th century. One of its most notable uses, however, came in 1979 -- well, sort of. President Jimmy Carter never actually used the word in his July 15 televised address, but it became known as the "malaise speech" all the same. In the speech, Carter described the U.S. as a nation facing a "crisis of confidence" and rife with "paralysis and stagnation and drift." He spoke of a "national malaise" a few days later, and it's not hard to see why the "malaise" name stuck. The speech was praised by some and criticized by many others, but whatever your politics, it remains a vivid illustration of the meaning of "malaise." *Indicates the sense illustrated by the example sentence. 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, 2008 is: hors de combat • \or-duh-kohng-BAH (the "ng" is not pronounced, but the preceding \ • adjective or adverb : out of combat : disabled Examples: With their best pitcher hors de combat with a shoulder injury, the team faced a bleak season. Did you know? We picked up "hors de combat" directly from French back in the mid-18th century. Benjamin Franklin put the term to use in a 1776 letter, observing that an "arrow sticking in any part of a man puts him hors du [sic] combat till it is extracted." But you don't have to use the word as literally as Franklin did. "Combat" can refer to any fight or contest, not just fighting in a war. A politician who's out of the running in a political race could be declared "hors de combat," for example. But the adjective (or adverb) need not refer only to humans or animals: if you own a car, chances are your vehicle has been hors de combat at least once. 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, 2008 is: postlude • \POHST-lood\ • noun 1 : a closing piece of music; especially : an organ voluntary at the end of a church service 2 : a closing phase (as of an epoch or a literary work) Examples: As the organist played the postlude, the worshipers began to file out of the church. Did you know? "Postlude" is the lesser-known counterpart to "prelude" -- and in fact, "postlude" was created based on the example of "prelude," substituting "post-" for "pre-." At the root of both terms is the Latin verb "ludere" ("to play"), and a postlude is essentially "something played afterward." Although "prelude" first appeared in print in the 16th century, "postlude" didn't turn up until 1851. "Prelude" was first used in the general sense of "something preliminary" and only later acquired its musical application, while "postlude" developed in the opposite direction, originating as a musical term before broadening to include other kinds of closings. Both words are also related to "interlude," which can refer, among other things, to a musical composition inserted between the parts of a larger whole. 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, 2008 is: impeccable • \im-PECK-uh-bul\ • adjective 1 : not capable of sinning or liable to sin 2 : free from fault or blame : flawless Examples: Although the restaurant was a bit expensive, we found its memorable cuisine, luxurious decor, and impeccable service to be well worth the price. Did you know? The word "impeccable" has been used in English since at least 1531. It derives from the Latin word "impeccabilis," a combination of the Latin prefix "in-," meaning "not," and the verb "peccare," meaning "to sin." "Peccare" has other descendents in English. There is "peccadillo," meaning "a slight offense," and "peccant," meaning "guilty of a moral offense" or simply "faulty." There is also "peccavi," which comes from Latin, where it literally means "I have sinned," and which is used in English as a noun meaning "an acknowledgment of sin." 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, 2008 is: garrulous • \GAIR-uh-lus\ • adjective 1 : pointlessly or annoyingly talkative 2 : wordy Examples: With a few judicious revisions, a good editor can often transform garrulous writing into elegant prose. Did you know? English has many adjectives that share the meaning "given to talk" or "talking." "Talkative" may imply a readiness to talk or a disposition to enjoy conversation, while "loquacious" suggests the power of expressing oneself articulately, fluently, or glibly. "Voluble" suggests a free, easy, and unending talkativeness, and "garrulous" implies talkativeness that is dull, rambling, or tedious. "Garrulous," by the way, derives from the Latin verb "garrire," which means (no surprise here) "to chatter" or "to babble." 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, 2008 is: durable • \DUR-uh-bul\ • adjective : able to exist for a long time without significant deterioration; also : designed to be durable Examples: The couch is covered in a pretty yet durable fabric, and I hope it will last for years. Did you know? Something "durable" lasts a long time, so it's no surprise that the word comes to us, via Anglo-French, from the Latin verb "durare," meaning "to last." Other descendants of "durare" in English include "during," "endure," and "durance" (which now mostly turns up in the phrase "in durance vile," a fancy way of saying "in prison"). "Durable" even has a near synonym in the much rarer "perdurable," which combines "durare" with the prefix "per-" (meaning "throughout") to create a word that can mean "lasting a very long time or indefinitely" or "eternal." 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, 2008 is: heliolatry • \hee-lee-AH-luh-tree\ • noun : sun worship Examples: The Egyptians, who personified the sun as the god Ra, were one of numerous ancient cultures that practiced heliolatry. Did you know? The first half of "heliolatry" derives from "hēlios," the Greek word for "sun." In Greek mythology, Hēlios was the god of the sun, imagined as "driving" the sun as a chariot across the sky. From "hēlios" we also get the word "helium," referring to the very light gas that is found in balloons and airships, and "heliocentric," meaning "having or relating to the sun as center," as in "a heliocentric orbit." The suffix "-latry," meaning "worship," derives via Late Latin and French from the Greek "latreia," and can be found in such words as "bardolatry" ("worship of Shakespeare") and "zoolatry" ("animal worship"). A person who worships the sun is called a heliolater. 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, 2008 is: etiolate • \EE-tee-uh-layt\ • verb 1 : to bleach and alter the natural development of (a green plant) by excluding sunlight 2 a : to make pale b : to deprive of natural vigor : make feeble Examples: The bean plants that Grace grew for her lab project became weak and etiolated when they were kept in a dark closet for a week. Did you know? When we first started using "etiolate" in the late 1700s (borrowed from the French verb "étioler"), it was in reference to purposely depriving growing celery of light. The word traces back to an Old French word for "straw" and is related to the Latin word for "straw" or "stalk," which is "stipula." Nowadays the term for growing veggies as pale as straw is now more likely to be "blanch," which can mean "to bleach (the leaves or stalks of plants) by earthing, boarding, or wrapping," among other things. "Etiolate" is more apt to refer to depriving plants in general of light; when "etiolated," they are sickly, pale, and spindly. The figurative sense of "etiolate" ("to make pallid or feeble") first appeared in the 1800s as a natural outgrowth of the original sense. 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, 2008 is: decorous • \DECK-er-us\ • adjective : marked by propriety and good taste : correct Examples: Nina and Mark had hoped to have a casual beach wedding, but her parents insisted on a formal, highly decorous ceremony in their church. Did you know? The current meaning of "decorous" dates from the mid-17th century. One of the word's earliest recorded uses appeared in a book titled The Rules of Civility (1673): "It is not decorous to look in the Glass, to comb, brush, or do any thing of that nature to ourselves, whilst the said person be in the Room." (There is also a slightly older sense of "decorous" that means "fitting, appropriate," but that sense is now obsolete.) "Decorous" derives from the Latin word "decorus," an adjective created from the noun "decor," meaning "beauty" or "grace." "Decor" is akin to the Latin verb "decēre" ("to be fitting"), which is the source of our adjective "decent." It is only fitting, then, that "decent" can be a synonym of "decorous." 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, 2008 is: buttress • \BUTT-russ\ • noun 1 : a projecting structure of masonry or wood for supporting or giving stability to a wall or building 2 : something that resembles a buttress 3 : something that supports or strengthens Examples: This is a good essay, but it needs a few more facts as a buttress to the conclusions. Did you know? A buttress is an exterior support projecting from a wall that is used to resist the sideways force, also called thrust, created by the load on an arch or roof. Its name was first adopted into English as "butres" in the 14th century. It came to us from the Anglo-French "(arche) boteraz," meaning "thrusting (arch)," and ultimately derives from the verb "buter," "to thrust." "Buter" is also the source of our verb "butt," meaning "to thrust, push, or strike with the head or horns." Relatively soon, "buttress" came to be used figuratively for anything that supports or strengthens something else. In addition, it was also in the 14th century that "buttress" was first used as a verb meaning "to support or strengthen," literally and figuratively. 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, 2008 is: penury • \PEN-yuh-ree\ • noun 1 : a cramping and oppressive lack of resources (as money); especially : severe poverty 2 : extreme frugality Examples: As a young man Uncle Leonard endured great penury, and though he later became a successful business owner, he never forgot the hardships of his youth. Did you know? The exact meaning of "penury" (from Latin "penuria," meaning "want") can vary a bit from context to context. It sometimes has had a broad sense of "lack" or "scarcity," as when one character remarks on another's "penury of conversation" in Jane Austen's Emma. It can also mean "frugality," as in Edith Wharton's description of an excessively thrifty hostess in The Age of Innocence: "Her relatives considered that the penury of her table discredited the Mingott name, which had always been associated with good living." The most common sense of "penury," however, is simply "poverty," as in Shakespeare's As You Like It: "Shall I keep your hogs, and eat husks with them? What prodigal portion have I spent that I should come to such penury?" 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, 2008 is: arriviste • \a-rih-VEEST\ • noun : one that is a new and uncertain arrival (as in social position or artistic endeavor) Examples: The young entrepreneur was viewed as an arriviste in the business community, and many old-timers were leery of his ideas. Did you know? An "arriviste" is someone who is just beginning to "arrive," in the sense of achieving success or making a name for oneself. Often the word can have slightly negative connotations, indicating a person who is highly aggressive or perhaps unscrupulous in his or her climb to the top. Like its synonym "parvenu," "arriviste" can also indicate a lack of certainty or confidence in one's newfound position. "Arriviste" is something of a new arrival itself, relatively speaking. English speakers borrowed the term from French in the early 20th 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 22, 2008 is: subreption • \sub-REP-shun\ • noun : a deliberate misrepresentation; also : an inference drawn from it Examples: Shareholders have filed a class action lawsuit against the company for its subreption of earnings and losses. Did you know? In canon law and Scots law, subreption is the obtainment of a dispensation or gift by concealment of the truth, whereas obreption is the obtainment of a dispensation or gift by fraud. Both terms are from Latin nouns: respectively, "subreptio," meaning "the act of stealing," and "obreptio," meaning "the act of stealing upon." The derivation of "subreption" also traces to the Latin verb "surripere," meaning "to take away secretly," which is the base of the Anglicized term "surreptitious," a synonym of "stealthy." "Obreption" shares an ancestor with the word "reptile": Latin "repere," meaning "to creep." 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, 2008 is: opine • \oh-PYNE\ • verb : to state as an opinion Examples: In his review, Malcolm opined that it was good to see the band returning to the formula that had worked so well for their first album. Did you know? "Opine" has been around since the 15th century, and while it certainly is not a rare word today, not everyone is inclined to take it seriously. Commentators have described it as a stilted word, appropriate only in facetious use -- and it does have an undeniable tendency to turn up in humorous writing. Recent evidence, however, suggests that it is being used in perfectly respectable contexts more often. It typically serves to emphasize that the opinion being reported is just that -- an opinion. The etymology of "opine" is perfectly respectable, too. The term derives from the Middle French "opiner" ("to express one's opinion") and the Latin "opinari," meaning "to have an opinion" or "to think." 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, 2008 is: ramshackle • \RAM-shak-ul\ • adjective 1 : appearing ready to collapse : rickety 2 : carelessly or loosely constructed Examples: The properties were separated by a ramshackle wooden fence that was just barely held together with chicken wire. Did you know? "Ramshackle" has nothing to do with rams, nor the act of being rammed, nor shackles. The word is an alteration of "ransackled," an obsolete form of the verb "ransack," meaning "to search through or plunder." ("Ransack" in turn derives, via Middle English, from Old Norse words meaning "house" and "seek.") A home that has been ransacked has had its contents thrown into disarray, and that image may be what caused us to start using "ramshackle" in the first half of the 19th century to describe something that is poorly constructed or in a state of near collapse. These days, "ramshackle" can also be used figuratively, as in "He could only devise a ramshackle excuse for his absence." 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, 2008 is: propensity • \pruh-PENN-suh-tee\ • noun : an often intense natural inclination or preference Examples: "My brother has a propensity for exaggeration," said Daniella, "so you should probably take his claims with a grain of salt." Did you know? When it comes to synonyms of "propensity," the letter "p" predominates. "Proclivity," "preference," "penchant," and "predilection" all share with "propensity" the essential meaning "a strong instinct or liking." Not every word that is similar in meaning to "propensity" begins with "p," however. "Propensity" comes from Latin "propensus," the past participle of "propendēre," a verb meaning "to incline" or "to hang forward or down." Thus "leaning" and "inclination" are as good synonyms of "propensity" as any of those "p"-words. 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, 2008 is: hierophant • \HYE-uh-ruh-fant\ • noun 1 : a priest in ancient Greece; specifically : the chief priest of the Eleusinian mysteries 2 a : a person who explains : commentator b : a person who defends or maintains a cause or proposal : advocate Examples: "Very few women can be coerced into spending $4,000 for green leather trousers embroidered with silver petals . . . simply because some fashion hierophant declares it a trend." (Cathy Horyn, The New York Times, March 30, 1999) Did you know? "Hierophant," "hieroglyphics," and "hierarch" have a common root: "hieros," a Greek word meaning "sacred." "Hieroglyphics" joins "hieros" with a derivative of "glyphein," the Greek verb for "carve." "Hierarch," a word that can refer to a religious leader in a position of authority, joins "hieros" with a derivative of "archein," meaning "to rule." "Hierophant" itself joins the root with a derivative of "phainein," which means "to show." The original hierophants were priests of the ancient Greek city of Eleusis who performed sacred rites. In the 17th century, when the word was first documented in English, it referred to these priests. By the 19th century, English speakers were using the term in a broader sense. A "hierophant" can now be a spokesperson, a commentator, an interpreter, or a leading 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 May 17, 2008 is: incandescent • \in-kun-DESS-unt\ • adjective 1 a : white, glowing, or luminous with intense heat b : marked by brilliance especially of expression c : characterized by glowing zeal : ardent 2 a : of, relating to, or being light produced by incandescence b : producing light by incandescence Examples: The professor was dazzled by Tia's incandescent prose, which was infinitely more sophisticated than that of the other students in the introductory history course. Did you know? "Incandescent" came into the English language toward the end of the 18th century, at a time when scientific experiments involving heat and light were being conducted on an increasingly frequent basis. An object that glowed at a high temperature (such as a piece of coal) was "incandescent." By the mid-1800s, the incandescent lamp -- a.k.a. the "lightbulb" -- had been invented; it contains a filament which gives off light when heated by an electric current. "Incandescent" is the modern offspring of a much older parent, the Latin verb "candēre," meaning "to glow." Centuries earlier, the word for another source of light, "candle," was also derived from "candēre." 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, 2008 is: puckish • \PUCK-ish\ • adjective : impish, whimsical Examples: Ellen found Gabe's puckish antics quite appealing when they first started dating, but now she wishes he would be more serious. Did you know? We know Puck as "that merry wanderer of the night," the shape-changing, maiden-frightening, mischief-sowing henchman to the king of the fairies in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. The Bard drew on English folklore in casting his character, but the traditional Puck was more malicious than the Shakespearean imp; he was an evil spirit or demon. In medieval England, this nasty hobgoblin was known as the "puke" or "pouke," names related to the Old Norse "pŪki," meaning "devil." But it was the Bard's characterization that stuck, and by the time the adjective "puckish" started appearing regularly in English texts in the late 1800s the association was one of impishness, not 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 May 15, 2008 is: titivate • \TIH-tuh-vayt\ • verb : to make or become smart or spruce Examples: "Work could undoubtedly be done on the show to titivate it for Broadway -- but the score will remain a problem, if not a liability." (Clive Barnes, The New York Post, August 13, 2000) Did you know? "Titivate," "spruce," "smarten," and "spiff" all mean "to make a person or thing neater or more attractive." "Titivate" often refers to making small additions or alterations in attire ("titivate the costume with sequins and other accessories") and can also be used figuratively, as in our example sentence. "Spruce up" is sometimes used for cosmetic changes or renovations that give the appearance of newness ("spruce up the house with new shutters and fresh paint before trying to sell it"). "Smarten up" and "spiff up" both mean to improve in appearance often by making more neat or stylish ("the tailor smartened up the suit with minor alterations"; "he needed some time to spiff himself up for the party"). The origins of "titivate" are uncertain, but it may have been formed from the English words "tidy" and "renovate." 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, 2008 is: foursquare • \FOR-SKWAIR\ • adjective 1 : square 2 : marked by boldness and conviction : forthright Examples: The governor has been foursquare in his support for the education bill. Did you know? Early English speakers liked to use "foursquare" to describe a rectangle with four equal sides, even though they could also say it was simply "square." They also used "three-square" to describe a triangle with equal sides, "five-square" for "having five equal sides," "six-square" as an alternative to "hexagonal," and "eight-square" for "octagonal." Eventually "foursquare" also developed a second sense, which is used to describe persons and things that stand out "squarely" and forthrightly. One can now speak of "foursquare citizens" and "a foursquare response." "Foursquare" can also be an adverb meaning "solidly" or "forthrightly." 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, 2008 is: attitudinize • \at-uh-TOO-duh-nyze\ • verb : to assume an affected mental attitude : pose Examples: "She kept her position; she seemed absorbed in the view. 'Is she posing -- is she attitudinizing for my benefit?' Longueville asked of himself." (Henry James, Confidence) Did you know? The English word "attitude" was first used in the 17th century to describe the posture of a sculptured or painted figure. The word was borrowed from French and formed from the Italian word "attitudine," meaning "aptitude" or "natural tendency." By the early 18th century, "attitude" was also being used for the posture a person assumed for a specific purpose. And by mid-century, "attitudinarians," people who study and practice attitudes, were being talked about. The verb "attitudinize" followed in 1784. 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, 2008 is: iconoclast • \eye-KAH-nuh-klast\ • noun 1 : a person who destroys religious images or opposes their veneration 2 : a person who attacks settled beliefs or institutions Examples: Susan's irreverent opinion of Shakespeare made her an iconoclast in the eyes of many of her fellow English majors. Did you know? "Iconoclast" is a word that often shows up on vocabulary lists and College Board tests. How will you remember the meaning of this vocabulary-boosting term? If you already know the word "icon," you're halfway there. An "icon" is a picture that represents something, and is often a religious image. "Icon" comes from the Greek "eikōn," which is from "eikenai," meaning "to resemble." "Iconoclast" comes to us by way of Medieval Latin from Middle Greek "eikonoklastēs," which joins "eikōn" with a form of the word "klan," meaning "to break." "Iconoclast" literally means "image destroyer." 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, 2008 is: treacle • \TREE-kul\ • noun 1 : a medicinal compound formerly in wide use as a remedy against poison 2 a : molasses b : a blend of molasses, invert sugar, and corn syrup used as syrup 3 : something (as a tone of voice) heavily sweet and cloying Examples: The film is engaging for about an hour, but then it nose-dives into sentimental treacle and never recovers. Did you know? The long history of "treacle" begins in ancient Greece. The Greek word "thēriakos," meaning "of a wild animal," came from "thērion" ("wild animal"). Since wild animals are often known to bite, these words gave rise to "thēriakē," meaning "antidote against a poisonous bite." Latin borrowed "thēriakē" as "theriaca," and the word eventually entered Anglo-French -- and then Middle English -- as "triacle." The senses of "treacle" that refer to molasses developed from the earlier "antidote" sense. The "molasses" sense, in turn, was extended to give us a word for things excessively sweet or sentimental. 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, 2008 is: livid • \LIV-id\ • adjective 1 : discolored by bruising : black-and-blue 2 : ashen, pallid 3 : reddish 4 : very angry : enraged Examples: "When my mother caught me sneaking in after midnight, she was livid," Manny reported. Did you know? "Livid" has a colorful history. The Latin adjective "lividus" means "dull, grayish, or leaden blue." From this came the French "livide" and eventually the English "livid," which was used to describe flesh discolored by a bruise when it was first recorded in the early 17th century. A slight extension of meaning gave it the sense "ashen or pallid," as used in describing a corpse. "Livid" eventually came to be used in this sense to characterize the complexion of a person pale with anger ("livid with rage"). From this meaning came two new senses in the 20th century. One was "reddish," as one is as likely to become red with anger as pale; the other was simply "angry" or "furious," the most common sense of the word 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 May 9, 2008 is: chockablock • \CHAH-kuh-blahk\ • adjective 1 : brought close together 2 : very full Examples: Chandra's tiny apartment is chockablock with fabric, yarn, and other craft supplies. Did you know? "Chockablock" started out as a nautical term. A block is a metal or wooden case with one or more pulleys inside. Sometimes, two or more blocks are used (as part of a rope and pulley system called a "block and tackle") to provide a mechanical advantage -- as, for example, when hoisting a sail on a traditional sailing ship. When the rope is pulled as far as it will go, the blocks are tight together and are said to be "chockablock." Non-nautical types associated the "chock" in "chockablock" with "chock-full," which goes back to Middle English "chokkefull," meaning "full to the limit" (a figurative use of "full to choking"). We thus gave "chockablock" the additional meaning "filled up." "Chockablock" can also be an adverb meaning "as close or as completely as possible," as in "families living chockablock" or the seemingly redundant "chockablock 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 May 8, 2008 is: scavenger • \SKAV-un-jer\ • noun 1 : one who collects or salvages garbage or junk 2 : an organism that typically feeds on refuse or carrion Examples: Scavengers took the broken lamp that I left on the curb last night. Did you know? You might guess that "scavenger" is a derivative of "scavenge," but the reverse is actually true; "scavenger" is the older word, first appearing in English in 1530, and the back-formation "scavenge" came into English in the mid-17th century. "Scavenger" is an alteration of the earlier "scavager," itself from Anglo-French "scawageour," meaning "collector of scavage." In medieval times, "scavage" was a tax levied by towns and cities on goods put up for sale by nonresidents, in order to provide resident merchants with a competitive advantage. The officers in charge of collecting this tax were later made responsible for keeping streets clean, and that's how "scavenger" came to refer to a public sanitation employee in Great Britain before acquiring its current sense referring to a person who salvages discarded items. 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 7, 2008 is: beau geste • \boh-ZHEST\ • noun 1 : a graceful or magnanimous gesture 2 : an ingratiating conciliatory gesture Examples: Rather than compete against his best friend for the scholarship, Brayden gallantly stepped aside, a beau geste that Anthony never forgot. Did you know? "Beau geste" is a phrase borrowed from French; the literal translation is "beautiful gesture." Beau Geste is also the title of a 1924 novel by Percival Christopher Wren, featuring three English brothers who join the French Foreign Legion to repair their family honor. The novel spawned several film versions, including one starring Gary Cooper. Wren didn't invent the phrase "beau geste," which first appeared in print in 1900, but the publicity surrounding the novel and subsequent films likely contributed to the expression's popularity. 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 6, 2008 is: veritable • \VAIR-uh-tuh-bul\ • adjective : being in fact the thing named and not false, unreal, or imaginary Examples: Melissa is a veritable wellspring of information on local history and folklore. Did you know? "Veritable," like its close relative "verity" ("truth"), came to English through Anglo-French from Latin. It is ultimately derived from "verus," the Latin word for "true," which also gave us "verify," "aver," and "verdict." "Veritable" is often used as a synonym of "genuine" or "authentic" ("a veritable masterpiece"), but it is also frequently used to stress the aptness of a metaphor, often in a humorous tone ("a veritable swarm of lawyers"). In the past, usage commentators have objected to the latter use, but today it doesn't draw much criticism. 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 5, 2008 is: posthaste • \POHST-HAYST\ • adverb : with all possible speed Examples: When it became clear that the interviewee was inebriated and unable to speak coherently, the television station cut to commercial posthaste. Did you know? In the 16th century, "haste, post, haste" was used to inform "posts," as couriers were then called, that a letter was urgent and must be hastily delivered. Posts would then speedily gallop along a route with a series of places at which to get a fresh horse or to relay the letter to a fresh messenger. Shakespeare was one of the first to use a version of the phrase adverbially in Richard II. "Old John of Gaunt . . . hath sent post haste / To entreat your Majesty to visit him," the Bard versified. He also used the phrase as an adjective in Othello (a use that is now obsolete): "The Duke . . . requires your haste-post-haste appearance," Lieutenant Cassio reports to the play's namesake. 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 4, 2008 is: kindred • \KIN-drud\ • adjective 1 : of a similar nature or character : like 2 : of the same ancestry Examples: The rock-climbing club tends to attract kindred spirits -- outdoorsy, adventurous types who derive satisfaction from conquering new challenges. Did you know? If you believe that advice and relatives are inseparable, the etymology of "kindred" will prove you right. "Kindred" comes from a combination of "kin" and the Old English word ræden ("condition"), which itself comes from the verb rædan, meaning "to advise." "Kindred" entered English as a noun first, in the 12th century. That noun, which can refer to a group of related individuals or to one's own relatives, gave rise to the adjective "kindred" in the 14th century. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.