Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 14, 2008 is: kangaroo court • \kang-uh-ROO-KORT\ • noun 1 : a mock court in which the principles of law and justice are disregarded or perverted 2 : a court characterized by irresponsible, unauthorized, or irregular status or procedures Examples: The press decried the tribunal as nothing more than a kangaroo court, meting out savage and arbitrary justice. Did you know? A "kangaroo court" has never been a court by or for kangaroos, but beyond that, little is known for sure about the term's origins. Various theories abound: it has been suggested that kangaroo courts got their name because they were initially marked by rapid and unpredictable movement from one place to another, or that they were in some way associated with "jumping" (i.e., illegally occupying) mining claims. These hypotheses are all unsubstantiated, however. What is known is that the first kangaroo courts originated in the United States at approximately the time of the 1849 California Gold Rush, and the word saw its earliest use in the southwestern U.S. It first turned up in print in 1853 in a book about Texas. 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 March 13, 2008 is: distaff • \DISS-taff\ • adjective 1 a : related through a mother b : inherited or derived from the female parent 2 : female Examples: The Solheim Cup pits America's best distaff golfers against the top European women. Did you know? A distaff was originally a short staff that held a bundle of fibers -- of flax or wool, for example -- ready to be spun into yarn or thread. Since spinning was a basic daily task customarily done by women, the distaff came to be the symbol for the work or domain of women. This symbolic use of the noun "distaff" dates back to the time of Chaucer and is found in several works by Shakespeare. Eventually "distaff" came to be used for the female branch of a family and then as an adjective, as in "the distaff side of the family." *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 March 12, 2008 is: speculate • \SPEK-yuh-layt\ • verb 1 a : to meditate on or ponder a subject : reflect b : to think or theorize about something in which evidence is too slight for certainty to be reached 2 : to assume a business risk in hope of gain; especially : to buy or sell in expectation of profiting from market fluctuations Examples: Mia's abrupt firing caused her coworkers to speculate endlessly about what she might have done wrong. Did you know? "Speculate" was adopted into English in the late 16th century from Latin "speculatus," the past participle of the verb "speculari," which means "to spy out" or "to examine." "Speculari," in turn, derives from "specula," meaning "lookout post," and ultimately from the Latin verb "specere," "to look (at)." Other conspicuous descendants of "specere" are "inspect" and "suspect." Some less obvious descendants are the words "despise," "species," "specimen," and, as you may have speculated, "conspicuous." 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 March 11, 2008 is: repertoire • \REP-er-twar\ • noun 1 : a list of plays, operas, pieces, or parts which a company or performer is prepared to present 2 : a supply of skills or devices possessed by a person Examples: "She is a pastry chef whose repertoire ranges from chocolate-filled croissants to old-fashioned scones and chocolate chip cookies."(Linda Giuca, Hartford Courant [Connecticut], January 31, 2008) Did you know? The Late Latin noun "repertorium," meaning "list," has given us two words that can be used to speak of the broad range of things that someone or something can do. One is "repertory," perhaps most commonly known as a word for a company that presents several different plays, operas, or other works at one theater, or the theater where such works are performed. "Repertoire," which comes from "repertorium" via French, once meant the same thing as "repertory" but later came to refer to the range of skills that a person has under his or her belt, such as the different pitches a baseball pitcher can throw or the particular dishes that are a chef's specialty. 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 March 10, 2008 is: wooden • \WOOD-un\ • adjective 1 : made or consisting of wood 2 : lacking ease or flexibility : awkwardly stiff Examples: As the play went on, Alyssa's stage fright dissipated, and her acting became less wooden. Did you know? Humans have been making objects out of wood since before there even was an English language, but the adjectival use of "wood" didn't come into being until the 14th century, and "wooden" didn't appear until the 16th. (The word "wood" has ancient roots, but it originally existed only as a noun.) In Middle English, the adjective of choice was "tree" or "treen," as in a "tree vessel" or "treen shoes." "Treen" in turn came from the Old English word "trēowen," from the noun "trēow" ("tree") and the suffix "-en," which was used to indicate that something was composed of a certain material. As far as we know, no one ever used "treen" figuratively to describe things that are stiff as a board, but "wooden" was put to broader use soon after it was first recorded. 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 March 9, 2008 is: hibernaculum • \hy-ber-NAK-yuh-lum\ • noun : a shelter occupied during the winter by a dormant animal (as an insect or reptile) Examples: The park ranger explained that a good hibernaculum might be used by many different snakes year after year. Did you know? If you're afraid of snakes or bats, you probably won't enjoy thinking about a hibernaculum, where hundreds, even thousands, of these creatures might be passing the wintry months. Other creatures also use hibernacula, though many of these tend to be a bit inconspicuous. The word "hibernaculum" has been used for the burrow of a woodchuck, for instance, as well as for a cozy caterpillar cocoon attached to a wintry twig, and for the spot in which a frog has buried itself in the mud. Hibernacula are all around us and have been around for a long, long time, but we have only called them such since 1789. In case you are wondering, "hibernate" didn't come into being until the beginning of the 19th century. Both words come from Latin "hibernare," meaning "to pass the winter." 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 March 8, 2008 is: descry • \dih-SKRYE\ • verb 1 : to catch sight of 2 : find out, discover Examples: Liang descried a bluebird flitting near the edge of the glade. Did you know? With "descry" and the more common "decry" ("to express strong disapproval of"), we have a case of linguistic double-dipping. That is, English borrowed from the same French root twice. Both words ultimately come from the Old French verb "decrier," meaning "to proclaim" or "to decry." English speakers borrowed the term as "descry" in the 14th century and used it to mean "to proclaim" or "to spy out from a distance" (as a watchman might) and eventually simply "to catch sight of" or "discover." Meanwhile, in French, "descrier" itself developed into the modern French "décrier" ("to disparage, to decry"). English speakers borrowed this word as "decry" in the 17th century. Be careful not to confuse "descry" and "decry." They may be close relatives, but in modern English they have distinct meanings. 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 March 7, 2008 is: muckety-muck • \MUCK-uh-tee-muck\ • noun : an important and often arrogant person Examples: A contingent of hospital muckety-mucks swept into Adelaide's room, peered at her over their glasses, briefly discussed her case, and swept out again. Did you know? The Chinook of the Pacific Northwest were avid traders, and in the course of their history a trade language developed that came to be known as Chinook jargon, based on a combination of Chinook and other American Indian languages with English and French. The Chinook jargon term "hayo makamak" meant "plenty to eat." By a process called folk etymology, in which a word of another language is transformed to a more familiar-sounding term, "hayo" was identified with "high" and the spelling and meaning of the entire phrase was transformed. Beginning in the 19th century, the term "high-muck-a-muck" referred to a self-important person. Since then, the expression has taken on several variations, including "high mucky-muck" and "high-muckety-muck," and nowadays the "high" is often dispensed with entirely. 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 March 6, 2008 is: pleiad • \PLEE-ad\ • noun : a group of usually seven illustrious or brilliant persons or things Examples: During Wolfgang's brief time at the spa, he met a pleiad of writers and intellectuals who also were there to "take the cure," as they say. Did you know? In Greek mythology, the Pleiades were the seven daughters of Atlas and Pleione who were changed into a conspicuous cluster of seven stars in the constellation Taurus. During the Renaissance, French speakers used "Pléiade" (from the singular form of "Pleiades") as the name for an eminent group of seven tragic poets of ancient Alexandria. Later, the French word was also used as a sobriquet for a group of 16th-century French poets led by Pierre de Ronsard. "Pleiad" has been shining its light in English since about 1839. 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 March 5, 2008 is: errant • \AIR-unt\ • adjective 1 : traveling or given to traveling 2 a : straying outside the proper path or bounds b : moving about aimlessly or irregularly c : behaving wrongly Examples: "'Move! Move! Move!' cried Helen, chasing him from corner to corner with a chair as though he were an errant hen." (Virginia Woolf, The Voyage Out, 1915) Did you know? "Errant" has a split history. It comes from Anglo-French, a language in which two confusingly similar verbs with identical spellings ("errer") coexisted. One "errer" meant "to err" and comes from the Latin "errare," meaning "to wander" or "to err." The second "errer" meant "to travel," and traces to the Latin "iter," meaning "road" or "journey." Both "errer" homographs contributed to the development of "errant," which not surprisingly has to do with both moving about and being mistaken. A "knight-errant" travels around in search of adventures. Cowboys round up "errant calves." An "errant child" is one who misbehaves. (You might also see "arrant" occasionally -- it's a word that originated as an alteration of "errant" and that usually means "extreme" or "shameless.") 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 March 4, 2008 is: éclat • \ay-KLAH\ • noun 1 : ostentatious display : publicity 2 : dazzling effect : brilliance 3 a : brilliant or conspicuous success b : praise, applause Examples: The young actor played the role with such éclat that he was nominated for several awards. Did you know? "Éclat" burst onto the scene in English in the 17th century. The word derives from French, where it can mean "splinter" (the French idiom "voler en éclats" means "to fly into pieces") as well as "burst" ("un éclat de rire" means "a burst of laughter"), among other things. The "burst" sense is reflected in the earliest English sense of the word, meaning "ostentatious display or publicity." This sense found its own idiomatic usage in the phrase "to make an éclat," which at one time meant "to create a sensation." By the 1740s, "éclat" took on the additional meaning of "applause or acclamation," as in "The performer was received with great éclat." 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 March 3, 2008 is: obverse • \AHB-verss\ • noun 1 : the side of a coin or currency note bearing the chief device and lettering; broadly : a front or principal surface 2 : a counterpart having the opposite orientation or force; also : opposite Examples: The U.S. Mint has begun releasing a new series of $1 coins, each showing the name and likeness of a former U.S. president on the obverse. Did you know? Heads or tails? If you called heads, "obverse" is the word for you. Since the 17th century, we've been using "obverse" for the front side of coins (usually, the side depicting the head or bust of a ruler). The opposite of this sense of "obverse" is "reverse," the back or "tails" side of a coin. Since the 19th century, "obverse" has also had the extended meaning "an opposing counterpart" or "opposite." Additionally, it can be an adjective meaning "facing the observer or opponent" or "being a counterpoint or complement." 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 March 2, 2008 is: grisly • \GRIZ-lee\ • adjective 1 : inspiring horror or intense fear 2 : inspiring disgust or distaste Examples: "The crime scene revealed an especially brutal murder," the detective reported, "but I will spare you the grisly details." Did you know? An angry grizzly bear could certainly inspire fear, so "grizzly" must be a variant of "grisly," right? Yes and no. The adjective "grisly" is indeed sometimes spelled "grizzly," but the "grizzly" in "grizzly bear" is a different animal altogether. "Grisly" derives from an Old English predecessor, "grislic," which is itself related to an Old English verb meaning "to fear." "Grizzly" comes from the Middle English adjective "grisel," meaning "gray." Like its close relative "grizzled," this "grizzly" means "sprinkled or streaked with gray." In other words, the grizzly got its name because the hairs of its brownish to buff coat usually have silver or pale tips, creating a grizzled effect, not because it causes terror. The misperception that the bear's name reflects its reputed fierceness probably contributed to the development of the "grizzly" variant of "grisly." 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 March 1, 2008 is: Luddite • \LUH-dyte\ • noun : one of a group of early 19th century English workmen destroying laborsaving machinery as a protest; broadly : one who is opposed to especially technological change Examples: Luddites might argue that the modern electronic age is too impersonal, but they cannot deny that it has brought new conveniences and information to the masses. Did you know? Luddites could be considered the first victims of corporate downsizing. The Luddite movement began in the vicinity of Nottingham, England, toward the end of 1811 when textile mill workers rioted for the destruction of the new machinery that was slowly replacing them. Their name is of uncertain origin, but it may be connected to a (probably mythical) person known as Ned Ludd. According to an unsubstantiated account in George Pellew's Life of Lord Sidmouth (1847), Ned Ludd was a Leicestershire villager of the late 1700s who, in a fit of insane rage, rushed into a stocking weaver's house and destroyed his equipment; subsequently, his name was proverbially connected with machinery destruction. With the onset of the information age, "Luddite" gained a broader sense describing anyone who shuns new technology. 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 February 29, 2008 is: impromptu • \im-PROMP-too\ • adjective 1 : made, done, or formed on or as if on the spur of the moment : improvised 2 : composed or uttered without previous preparation : extemporaneous Examples: When we dropped by unexpectedly, Aunt Dinah threw together an impromptu dinner from the odds and ends in her refrigerator. Did you know? If you think that "impromptu" looks like a relative of "prompt," you're right; both are ultimately derived from the Latin "promere," meaning "to bring forth, take out." "Impromptu" was borrowed from French, where it meant "extemporaneously," but French speakers picked it up from the Latin phrase "in promptu," a "promere" descendant meaning "in readiness" or "at hand." There is also another, much rarer descendant of "promere" in English -- the noun "promptuary," meaning "a book of ready reference." 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 February 28, 2008 is: Bonapartism • \BOH-nuh-par-tiz-um\ • noun : a policy supporting dictatorial rule usually by a military leader who has ostensibly received a popular mandate Examples: Public fears that the new president would shift to Bonapartism were fueled by his early attempts to undermine the parliament. Did you know? Napoleon I (Napoleon Bonaparte) came to power in France by military coup in 1799 and ruled as emperor from 1804 until he was forced from power in 1815. The year 1815 was clearly a bad one for Bonaparte: he was defeated at Waterloo by the Duke of Wellington and sent into exile. Coincidentally, 1815 was also the year that marked the debut in English of "Bonapartism," the word derived from his name. "Waterloo," a term for a decisive defeat such as the one Napoleon suffered, had come into general English use by 1816. 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 February 27, 2008 is: divest • \dye-VEST\ • verb 1 a : to deprive or dispossess especially of property, authority, or title b : to undress or strip especially of clothing, ornament, or equipment c : rid, free 2 : to take away from a person Examples: When tests revealed that the athlete had been taking steroids, Olympic officials divested him of his medal. Did you know? "Divest" is one of many English words that come from the Latin verb "vestire" ("to clothe") and ultimately from the noun "vestis" ("clothing, garment"). Others include "vest," "vestment," "invest," and "travesty." "Divest" and its older form "devest" can mean "to unclothe" or "to remove the clothing of," but the word had broader applications even when it was first being used in the 16th and 17th centuries. In the opening scene of Shakespeare's King Lear, Lear uses the term to mean "rid oneself of" or "put aside": "Tell me, my daughters (Since now we will divest us both of rule, Interest of territory, cares of state), Which of you shall we say doth love us most?" In addition to clothing, one can be divested of power, authority, possessions, or burdens. 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 February 26, 2008 is: benefic • \buh-NEFF-ik\ • adjective : of, having, or exerting a favorable influence Examples: Simon believes that his meditation practice is a benefic force in his life, helping him to focus and to feel less stressed. Did you know? "Benefic" comes from Latin "beneficus," which in turn comes from "bene" ("well") and "facere" ("to do"). The word was originally used by astrologers to refer to celestial bodies believed to have a favorable influence, and it's still used in astrological contexts. "Benefic," "beneficent," and "beneficial" are all synonyms, but there are shades of difference. "Beneficial" usually applies to things that promote well-being (as in "beneficial treatment"), or that provide some benefit or advantage (as in "beneficial classes"). "Beneficent" means doing or effecting good (as in "a beneficent climate"), but in particular refers to the performance of acts of kindness or charity (as in "a beneficent organization")."Benefic," the rarest of the three, tends to be a bit high-flown, and it's mostly used to describe a favorable power or force. 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 February 25, 2008 is: emulate • \EM-yuh-layt\ • verb 1 a : to strive to equal or excel b : imitate 2 : to equal or approach equality with Examples: Younger brothers and sisters will often try to emulate the behavior of their older siblings. Did you know? If imitation really is the sincerest form of flattery, to paraphrase Charles C. Colton (circa 1780-1832), then past speakers of English clearly had a great admiration for the Latin language. The verb "emulate" joined the ranks of Latin-derived English terms in 1582. It comes from "aemulus," a Latin term for "rivaling" or "envious." Two related adjectives -- "emulate" and "emulous" -- appeared around the same time as the verb "emulate." Both mean "striving to emulate" or sometimes "jealous," but "emulous" is rare these days, and the adjective "emulate" is obsolete. The latter did have a brief moment of glory, however, when Shakespeare used it in Hamlet: "Our last king, Whose image even but now appear'd to us, Was, as you know, by Fortinbras of Norway, Thereto prick'd on by a most emulate pride, Dar'd to the combat. . . ." *Indicates the sense illustrated in 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 February 24, 2008 is: raddled • \RAD-uld\ • adjective 1 : being in a state of confusion : lacking composure 2 : broken-down, worn Examples: We were met at the door by a raddled old man who turned out to be the actor's father, and who in his day had also been an estimable presence on the London stage. Did you know? How "raddled" came to mean "old and worn" isn't known for sure, but etymologists have some theories. One possibility is an association with raddle, a red coloring matter that was used to mark animals. From this, "raddled" came to mean "heavily made up with rouge" -- a condition that sometimes causes the makeup wearer to appear older and more haggard instead of more attractive. "Raddled" predates the similar-sounding adjective "rattled," which means "confused or upset" and comes from the verb "rattle." "Raddled" first appeared in print in 1694, and "rattled" didn't appear until the early 1900s. 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 February 23, 2008 is: dodgery • \DAH-juh-ree\ • noun : evasion, trickery Examples: Mitch thought his clever act of dodgery would spare him from paying taxes on the money he earned from the sale of his vacation home, until an audit notice came in the mail from the IRS. Did you know? In "dodgery" one can see the verb "dodge," meaning "to evade by a sudden or repeated shift of position." That verb entered English in the 17th century, but the noun form of "dodge," referring to the act of evading something by such a motion, is over a hundred years older. "Dodgery" entered English around the same time. You can dodge things physically -- as in getting out of the way of the ball in the popular schoolyard game -- or figuratively, as in shirking one's responsibilities, often by some kind of deceitful action. From there the use of "dodgery" to mean "evasion" or "trickery" is hardly an elusive connection. 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 February 22, 2008 is: logy • \LOH-ghee\ • adjective : marked by sluggishness and lack of vitality : groggy Examples: I was feeling logy after eating such a big meal, so I decided to take a brief nap. Did you know? Based on surface resemblance, you might guess that "logy" (also sometimes spelled "loggy") is related to "groggy," but that's not the case. "Groggy" ultimately comes from "Old Grog," the nickname of an English admiral who was notorious for his cloak made of a fabric called grogram -- and for adding water to his crew's rum. The sailors called the rum mixture "grog" after the admiral. Because of the effect of grog, "groggy" came to mean "weak and unsteady on the feet or in action." No one is really sure about the origin of "logy," but experts speculate that it comes from the Dutch word "log," meaning "heavy." Its first recorded use in English, from an 1847 London newspaper, refers to a "loggy stroke" in rowing. 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 February 21, 2008 is: jaundiced • \JAWN-dist\ • adjective 1 : affected with or as if with a disease characterized by yellow pigmentation of the skin 2 : exhibiting or influenced by envy, distaste, or hostility Examples: "Since I tend to have a jaundiced view toward marriage in general," said George, "I'm not the guy you should be asking for wedding tips." Did you know? The adjective "jaundiced," which was introduced into English in the mid-17th century, is the direct result of the older noun "jaundice." The physical condition called jaundice involves a yellowish coloring of the skin, tissues, and body fluids caused by the presence of coloring matter from bile. In ages past, people believed that a hostile, irritable temperament indicated an excess of bile in one's body. This belief not only led to the extended use of "jaundiced," but it also resulted in a similar use of the adjective "bilious," which can mean either "ill-tempered" or "marked by or suffering from liver dysfunction and especially excessive secretion of bile." 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 February 20, 2008 is: contumely • \kahn-TOO-muh-lee\ • noun : harsh language or treatment arising from haughtiness and contempt; also : an instance of such language or treatment Examples: Early in his career, the pioneering scientist's colleagues heaped contumely on him for his unconventional ideas, which were eventually proven to be correct. Did you know? Geoffrey Chaucer was writing about the sin of "contumelie," as it was spelled in Middle English, back in the late 1300s. We borrowed the word from Middle French (whence it had earlier arrived from Latin "contumelia"), and it has since seen wide literary use. Perhaps its most famous occurrence is in Hamlet's "To be or not to be" soliloquy: "For who would bear the whips and scorns of time, Th' oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely...." That's not to say the word has no place today. This past September, for example, political columnist Mona Charen expressed the opinion that President Bush has not only been criticized by those on the left of the political spectrum, but "has also suffered the contumely of some on the right and of seemingly everyone in the center." 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 February 19, 2008 is: poltergeist • \POL-ter-ghyste\ • noun : a noisy usually mischievous ghost held to be responsible for unexplained noises (as rappings) Examples: They had trouble selling the house because it was rumored to have been inhabited by a poltergeist. Did you know? One of the tricks a poltergeist is known for is making "knocking" noises, so it will come as no surprise to learn that the word "poltergeist" translates literally from German as "knocking spirit." The German verb "poltern" means "to knock," and "Geist" is the German word for "spirit." Another "Geist" descendant in English is "zeitgeist" ("the general intellectual, moral, and cultural climate of an era"). The English word "ghost" is also related; it descends from the same ancient root that led to "Geist." Although "ghost" has been used in English since before the 12th century, "poltergeist" is a relative newcomer, first appearing as an English word in the middle of the 19th century. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 18, 2008 is: esplanade • \ESS-pluh-nahd\ • noun : a level open stretch of paved or grassy ground; especially : one designed for walking or driving along a shore Examples: While walking along the esplanade, we stopped to enjoy yet another gorgeous ocean sunset. Did you know? The history of "esplanade" is completely on the level. The Italians created "spianata," for a level stretch of ground, from their verb "spianare," which means "to make level." "Spianare" in turn comes from the Latin verb "explanare," which also means "to make level" and which is the source of our verb "explain." Middle-French speakers borrowed "spianata" as "esplanade," and in the late 1500s we borrowed the French word. In the late 17th century, and even later, esplanades were associated with war. The word was used to refer to a clear space between a citadel and the nearest house of a town or to a slope around a fortification used for defense against attack. Today, however, esplanades are usually for enjoyment. 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 February 17, 2008 is: glean • \GLEEN\ • verb 1 a : to pick up after a reaper b : to strip (as a field) of the leavings of reapers 2 a : to gather (as information) bit by bit b : to pick over in search of relevant material 3 : find out Examples: Esther wouldn't tell us why she was upset, but by talking with others who had been at the party, we were able to glean what happened. Did you know? "Glean" comes from Middle English "glenen," which traces to Anglo-French "glener," meaning "to glean." The French borrowed their word from Late Latin "glennare," which also means "to glean" and is itself of Celtic origin. Both the grain-gathering sense and the collecting-bit-by-bit senses of our "glean" date back at least to the 14th century. Over the years, and especially in the 20th and 21st centuries, "glean" has also come to be used frequently with the meaning "to find out, learn, ascertain." This sense has been criticized by folks who think "glean" should always imply the drudgery involved in the literal grain-gathering sense, but it is well established and perfectly valid. *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 February 16, 2008 is: punctilio • \punk-TILL-ee-oh\ • noun 1 : a minute detail of conduct in a ceremony or in observance of a code 2 : careful observance of forms (as in social conduct) Examples: Unsure of the punctilios of formal dining, Todd worried he would make a bad impression on his fiancée's parents. Did you know? We'll get straight to the point: there are a number of English words that come from Latin "pungere," meaning "to prick" or "to sting." "Punctilio" is one of these words. It traces back to "pungere" by way of Italian "puntiglio" (meaning "small point," "point of honor," or "scruple"), Spanish "puntillo" (the diminutive of "punto," meaning "point"), and Latin "punctum" (also meaning "point"). The adjective "punctilious," meaning "marked by or concerned about precise accordance with the details of codes or conventions," is a close relative of "punctilio." Do you have any guesses for other "pungere" derivatives? "Punctuate," "puncture," "compunction," "punctual," and "pungent" are some of the more common ones. 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 February 15, 2008 is: whodunit • \hoo-DUN-it\ • noun : a detective story or mystery story Examples: Betty packed several romance novels and whodunits to read at the beach. Did you know? In 1930, Donald Gordon, a book reviewer for News of Books, needed to come up with something to say about a rather unremarkable mystery novel called Half-Mast Murder. "A satisfactory whodunit," he wrote. The coinage played fast and loose with spelling and grammar, but "whodunit" caught on anyway. Other writers tried respelling it "who-done-it," and one even insisted on using "whodidit," but those sanitized versions lacked the punch of the original and have fallen by the wayside. "Whodunit" became so popular that by 1939 at least one language pundit had declared it "already heavily overworked" and predicted it would "soon be dumped into the taboo bin." History has proven that prophecy false, and "whodunit" is still going strong. 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 February 14, 2008 is: mash • \MASH\ • noun : an intense and usually passing infatuation; also : the object of infatuation Examples: I think Daisy has a mash on you -- you should ask her to the Valentine's Day dance. Did you know? Those shot by Cupid's arrow know that love can spur a desire to hold one's beloved tightly and never let go. Perhaps that embracing feeling of love is why "mash," originally a word for an act of squeezing and crushing, became a term for an intense infatuation or the object of it in 1870. The more popular "crush" showed its loving side in 1884, and "main squeeze" had begun crossing the lips of sweethearts by 1926. "Mash" itself is not widely used today, but the compound "mash note," referring to a love letter, has enjoyed many happy years since its union in 1890. 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 February 13, 2008 is: dégringolade • \day-gran-guh-LAHD\ • noun : a rapid decline or deterioration (as in strength, position, or condition) : downfall Examples: The journalist's reputation never recovered from the dégringolade that ensued when it was discovered that he had plagiarized another's work. Did you know? If "dégringolade" looks French to you, you have a good eye. We lifted this noun directly from French, and even in English it is usually styled with an acute accent over the first "e," as in French. The French noun in turn comes from the verb "dégringoler" ("to tumble down"), which itself derives from the Middle French "desgringueler" (from "des-," meaning "down," and "gringueler," meaning "to tumble"). Although "dégringolade" retains the sense of a sudden tumble in English, it tends to be applied to more metaphorical situations -- a rapid fall from a higher position in society, for example. These days, "dégringolade" is fairly rare in American English. We rely far more heavily on its familiar synonym "downfall." 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 February 12, 2008 is: collegium • \kuh-LEG-ee-um\ • noun : a group in which each member has approximately equal power and authority Examples: Each paper published by the journal has been approved by a collegium of scientists. Did you know? English contains many words that were borrowed from Latin, either directly or often by way of French, which began to influence the development of English after the Norman Conquest of 1066. "Collegium" is borrowed from Latin as well, but its journey into the English language made an unusual stop at Russian, a Slavic language. Russian borrowed the Latin "collegium" ("society") as "kollegiya," a word used for an advisory board or committee whose members share power. "Kollegiya" entered the English language in 1917, and with gradual modifications it was eventually restored to its original Latin spelling. 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 February 11, 2008 is: philippic • \fuh-LIP-ik\ • noun : a discourse or declamation full of bitter condemnation : tirade Examples: The columnist's most recent philippic took the governor to task for her neglect of education reform in light of declining test scores throughout the state. Did you know? In 351 B.C., the Greek orator Demosthenes delivered a fiery speech warning his countrymen against the imperialistic designs of Philip II, king of Macedon, and chastising them for their timidity and inaction. In Greek, this and subsequent such speeches on the subject made by Demosthenes were known as "philippikoi logoi," literally, "speeches relating to Philip." Demosthenes is known to have delivered only three Philippics; in contrast, the Philippics of the Roman statesman Marcus Tullius Cicero attacking Marc Antony some 300 years later -- "orationes philippicae" in Latin (so-named because of their similarity to Demosthenes' orations) -- numbered fourteen. We still capitalize the word when we refer to these famous diatribes, but ever since 1592, "philippic" has been used (usually in lowercase) in a broader sense 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 February 10, 2008 is: truckle • \TRUCK-ul\ • verb : to act in a subservient manner : submit Examples: Jumana decided that she had had enough of her older sister's demands and vowed not to truckle to her anymore. Did you know? When "truckle" was first used in English in the 15th century, it meant "small wheel" or "pulley." Such small wheels were often attached to the underside of low beds, to allow them to be easily moved under high beds for storage. These beds came to be known as "truckle beds" (or "trundle beds"), and a verb "truckle" -- meaning "to sleep in a truckle bed" -- came into being. By the 17th century, the fact that truckle beds were pushed under larger standard beds had inspired a figurative sense of "truckle": "to yield to the wishes of another" or "to bend obsequiously." The initial verb meaning became obsolete; the newer sense is fairly rare but is still in use. 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 February 9, 2008 is: gadfly • \GAD-flye\ • noun 1 : any of various flies (as a horsefly, botfly, or warble fly) that bite or annoy livestock 2 : a person who stimulates or annoys especially by persistent criticism Examples: Robert, the self-appointed gadfly of the local paper, would write a scathing letter to the editor whenever he felt the news coverage had been inadequate or inaccurate. Did you know? The history of "gadfly" starts with "gad," which now means "chisel" but which formerly could designate a spike, spear, or rod for goading cattle. Late in the 16th century, "gad" was joined with "fly" to designate any of several insects that aggravate livestock. Before too long, we began applying "gadfly" to people who annoy or provoke others. One of history's most famous gadflies was the philosopher Socrates, who was known for his constant questioning of his fellow Athenians' ethics, misconceptions, and assumptions. In his Apology, Plato describes Socrates' characterization of Athens as a large and sluggish horse and of Socrates himself as the fly that bites and rouses it. Many translations use "gadfly" in this portion of the Apology, and Socrates is sometimes referred to as the "gadfly of Athens." 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 February 8, 2008 is: sitzmark • \SITS-mark\ • noun : a depression left in the snow by a skier falling backward Examples: Proper skiing etiquette dictates that a skier who falls in the middle of a trail should smooth over his or her sitzmark so it won't pose a hazard to other skiers. Did you know? On the slopes, do you zip down the mountain leaving other skiers in your wake? Or are you more likely to leave a trail of sitzmarks behind you? If the latter is true, you may want to give your backside a break and plop down into a comfy chair in the ski lodge instead of plunking back onto the snow. Either way, you'll find yourself sitting on your derriere, a fact you can use to remember "sitzmark." It is most likely a creation made in English from the German verb "sitzen," meaning "to sit," plus the English noun "mark," as in "impression." 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 February 7, 2008 is: nebula • \NEB-yuh-luh\ • noun 1 : any of numerous clouds of gas or dust in interstellar space 2 : galaxy; especially : a galaxy other than the Milky Way Examples: The brilliant colors of the nebula were visible through the telescope. Did you know? The history of today's word is not lost in the mists of time, although its history does get misty at points. "Nebula" comes to us from Latin, where it meant "mist" or "cloud." In its earliest English uses in the 1600s, "nebula" referred to a cloudy speck or film on the eye that caused vision problems. It was first applied to great interstellar clouds of gas and dust in the early 1700s. The adjective "nebulous" comes from the same Latin root as "nebula," but the first uses of "nebulous" don't appear in English until the late 1700s, well after the discovery of interstellar nebulae. 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 February 6, 2008 is: haplology • \hap-LAH-luh-jee\ • noun : contraction of a word by omission of one or more similar sounds or syllables Examples: Johnny's teacher, determined to stomp out any instances of haplology in her classroom, corrected him every time he pronounced "probably" as "problee." Did you know? Try to say "pierced-ear earrings" three times fast. That exercise will demonstrate why haplology happens: sometimes it's just easier to drop a syllable and leave yourself with something that's easier to say (such as "pierced earrings"). American philologist Maurice Bloomfield recognized the tendency to drop one of a pair of similar syllables a little over a hundred years ago. He has been credited with joining the combining form "hapl-" or "haplo-" (meaning "single") with "-logy" (meaning "oral or written expression") to create "haplology" as a name for the phenomenon. Haplology is quite common in English, and often the contracted forms it generates spread into the written language. In fact, haplology played a role in naming the nation that is the cradle of English: "England" was condensed via haplology from "Engla 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 February 5, 2008 is: scission • \SIZH-un\ • noun 1 : a division or split in a group or union : schism 2 : an action or process of cutting, dividing, or splitting : the state of being cut, divided, or split Examples: Despite the bitter scissions that divided their party, the Republicans dominated the state's political scene throughout the 1990s. Did you know? You may suspect that a connection exists between "scission" and "scissors," but, actually, their etymologies are sharply divided. "Scission" traces to the Latin verb "scindere" ("to split" or "to cut"). "Scissors," on the other hand, comes from an entirely separate Latin verb that also means "to cut" -- "caedere." The Middle English word for the cutting instrument was "cisours" or "sisoures," which comes from Middle French "cisoires." An "sc" spelling appeared only in the 16th century when, apparently, the word for the cutting instrument was mistakenly taken to have derived, like "scission," from "scindere." 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 February 4, 2008 is: luminary • \LOO-muh-nair-ee\ • noun 1 : a person of prominence or brilliant achievement 2 : a body that gives light; especially : one of the celestial bodies Examples: The front of the science building is engraved with the names of luminaries from various scientific disciplines. Did you know? Allow us to shed some light on "luminary." It came to English by way of Anglo-French and Late Latin, and it traces back to the Latin word "lumen," meaning "light." Other "lumen" descendants in English include "illuminate" (to light up), "luminous" (emitting light) and "phillumenist" (one who collects matchbooks or matchbox labels). "Luminary" has been shining its light in English since the 15th 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 February 3, 2008 is: pamphleteer • \pam-fluh-TEER\ • verb 1 : to write and publish pamphlets 2 : to engage in partisan arguments indirectly in writings Examples: Though he is remembered today for his novels and essays, George Orwell was also known to pamphleteer for causes important to him. Did you know? Pamphlets, unbound printed publications with no covers or with paper covers, are published about all kinds of subjects, but our word "pamphlet" traces back to one particular document. It derives from the title of a short Latin love poem of the 12th century: Pamphilus, seu De Amore, which can be translated as "Pamphilus, or On Love." The name Pamphilus referred to a Greek god whose name means "loved by all." Following from this, the original pamphlets were short handwritten poems, tracts, or treatises, often consisting of several pages bound together. "Pamphleteer," which can be both a noun and a verb, combines "pamphlet" with the "-eer" suffix found in such words as "engineer" and "puppeteer." 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 February 2, 2008 is: cohort • \KOH-hort\ • noun 1 a : one of 10 divisions of an ancient Roman legion b : band, group c : a group of individuals having a statistical factor (as age or class membership) in common in a demographic study 2 : companion, colleague Examples: "A cohort of chambermaids would descend twice daily with mops, brooms, and fresh towels in tow." (Doone Beale, Gourmet, April 1989) Did you know? In ancient times, a cohort was a military unit, one of ten divisions in a Roman legion. The term passed into English via French in the 15th century, when it was used in translations and writings about Roman history. Once "cohort" became established in our language, its meaning was extended, first to refer to any body of troops, then to any group of individuals with something in common, and later to a single companion. Some usage commentators have objected to this last sense because it can be hard to tell whether the plural refers to different individuals or different groups. The "companion" sense is well established in standard use, however, and its meaning is clear enough in such sentences as "her cohorts came along with her to the game." *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 February 1, 2008 is: assuage • \uh-SWAYJ\ • verb 1 : to lessen the intensity of (something that pains or distresses) : ease 2 : pacify, quiet 3 : to put an end to by satisfying : appease, quench Examples: After her son's first fender bender, Patty tried to assuage his feelings of humiliation by sharing tales of her own misadventures behind the wheel. Did you know? Scholars assume that the word "assuage" derives from "assuaviare," a Vulgar Latin term that combines the prefix "ad-" ("to" or "toward") and the Latin "suavis," meaning "sweet," "pleasant," or "agreeable."("Suavis" is also the source of the adjective "suave.") To "assuage" is to sweeten or make agreeable or tolerable, and it is far from the only English word for relieving or softening something difficult. Others include "allay," "alleviate," and "mitigate." "Allay" implies an effective calming or soothing of fears or alarms, while "alleviate" implies temporary or partial lessening of pain or distress. "Mitigate" suggests moderating or countering the force or intensity of something painful. *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 January 31, 2008 is: jehu • \JEE-hyoo\ • noun : a driver of a coach or cab Examples: The jehu who picked us up from the hotel got us to the airport in plenty of time, but his reckless driving gave us more of an adventure than we would have liked. Did you know? Today's word comes from the name of a notoriously speedy chariot driver. Originally a commander of chariots for Ahab, king of Israel, Jehu later led a revolt against the throne and became king himself. In the Bible, it is noted of Jehu that "he drives furiously" (II Kings 9:20). In the 17th century, English speakers began using "jehu" as a generic term meaning "coachman" or, specifically, "a fast or reckless coachman." Today, we are more likely to use the word in reference to reckless cabdrivers. The phrase "drives like Jehu" is encountered occasionally, too. 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 January 30, 2008 is: beholden • \bih-HOHL-dun\ • adjective : being under obligation for a favor or gift : indebted Examples: Tom understood that Mrs. Milton disliked being beholden to anyone, so he usually let her give him a dollar or two when he mowed her lawn or shoveled her driveway. Did you know? Have you ever found yourself under obligation to someone else for a gift or favor? It's a common experience, and, not surprisingly, many of the words describing this condition have been part of the English language for centuries. "Beholden" was first recorded in writing in the 14th century, in the poem "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight." "Indebted," which entered English through Anglo-French, is even older, first appearing in the 13th century. English speakers in the 14th century would also have had another synonym of "beholden" to choose from, a now-obsolete sense of "bounden," which today means "made obligatory" or "binding." 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 January 29, 2008 is: Lucullan • \loo-KULL-un\ • adjective : lavish, luxurious Examples: The banquet guests were treated to a Lucullan feast in the royal dining room. Did you know? "Lucullan" echoes the name of Roman general Lucius Licinius Lucullus. The general had a distinguished military career (including the defeat of Mithradates VI Eupator, king of Pontus, at Cabira in 72 B.C.), but he is best remembered for the splendor of his opulent retirement. Lucullus established a reputation for magnificent banquets, at which he wined and dined the leading poets, artists, and philosophers of his time. His feasts were sufficiently extravagant to establish a lasting place for his name as a synonym of "lavish" in the English lexicon. 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 January 28, 2008 is: albeit • \awl-BEE-it\ • conjunction : conceding the fact that : even though : although Examples: Troy has finally landed a role in a Broadway play, albeit as a minor character. Did you know? In the middle of the 20th century, several usage commentators observed that the "archaic" word "albeit" was making a comeback. The "archaic" descriptor was not entirely apt. Evidence indicates that "albeit," which was first recorded in English in the 14th century, never really went out of use (although, admittedly, its use did seem to drop off a bit in the 19th century). It is true, however, that use of "albeit" has increased considerably since the 1930s, judging by evidence in Merriam-Webster's files. 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 January 27, 2008 is: solon • \SOH-lun\ • noun 1 : a wise and skillful lawgiver 2 : a member of a legislative body Examples: "The bill will likely look quite different by the time the solons in Congress are through with it," the pundit remarked. Did you know? Solon was a particularly wise lawgiver in ancient Athens who was born in approximately 630 B.C. and lived until about 560 B.C. He was one of the Seven Wise Men of Greece, and he implemented a number of reforms in Athenian law. In English, his name has been used generically since at least 1625 to refer to any wise statesman. Contemporary American journalists, with whom the term is especially popular, have extended the meaning even further to include any member of a lawmaking body, wise or not. In fact, today the word is sometimes used ironically for a legislator who displays a marked lack of wisdom, rather than a profusion of 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 January 26, 2008 is: immutable • \ih-MYOO-tuh-bul\ • adjective : not capable of or susceptible to change Examples: "Emboldened local farmers, whose diets had for the past 200 years been nearly as immutable as those of their horses, began to drift over to the sushi bar to see what . . . was going on." (William Hamilton, Gourmet, October 2003) Did you know? "Immutable" comes to us through Middle English from Latin "immutabilis," meaning "unable to change." "Immutabilis" was formed by combining the negative prefix "in-" with "mutabilis," which comes from the Latin verb "mutare" and means "to change." Some other English words that can be traced back to "mutare" are "commute" (the earliest sense of which is simply "to change or alter"), "mutate" ("to undergo significant and basic alteration"), "permute" ("to change the order or arrangement of"), and "transmute" ("to change or alter in form, appearance, or nature"). There's also the antonym of "immutable" -- "mutable" -- which of course can mean "prone to change" and "capable of change or of being changed." 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 January 25, 2008 is: foozle • \FOO-zul\ • verb : to manage or play awkwardly : bungle Examples: Carl thought he had an easy putt lined up for a birdie, but instead he foozled the shot and hooked the ball to the left. Did you know? "Foozle" dates only to the late 19th century, but its origins are obscure. The German dialect verb "fuseln" ("to work carelessly") could figure in its history, but that speculation has never been proven. Not particularly common today, "foozle" still holds a special place in the hearts, minds, and vocabularies of many golfers. In golf, to foozle a shot is to bungle it and a foozle is a bungled shot. In a Century magazine piece from 1899 called "Two Players and their Play," Beatrice Hanscom reveals more of golf's specialized vocabulary: She tops her ball; then divots fly; In bunkers long she stays; She foozles all along the course In most astounding ways: In sooth, it is an eery thing The way Priscilla plays. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.