Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 16, 2007 is: fervid • \FER-vid\ • adjective 1 : very hot : burning 2 : marked by often extreme intensity of feeling Examples: Jennie was such a fervid supporter of the proposed law that she drove all the way to Washington to demonstrate in favor of its passage. Did you know? The Latin verb "fervēre" can mean "to boil" or "to glow," as well as, by extension, "to seethe" or "to be roused." In English, this root gives us three words that can mean "impassioned" by varying degrees: "fervid," "fervent," and "perfervid." "Fervid" and "fervent" are practically synonymous, but while "fervid" usually suggests warm emotion that is expressed in a spontaneous or feverish manner (as in "fervid basketball fans"), "fervent" is reserved for a kind of emotional warmth that is steady and sincere (as in "a fervent belief in human kindness"). "Perfervid" combines "fervid" with the Latin prefix "per-" ("thoroughly") to create a word meaning "marked by overwrought or exaggerated emotion," as in "a perfervid display of patriotism." *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 October 15, 2007 is: erne • \ERN\ • noun : eagle; especially : a long-winged sea eagle (Haliäetus albicilla) with a short white wedge-shaped tail Examples: "The two men in question were in the vicinity of an erne's nest on Mull in March last year. . .." (Sinclair Dunnett, The Scotsman, February 5, 2000) Did you know? What do ernes, crows, finches, wrens, owls, and sparrows have in common (besides feathers and beaks and other avian traits)? Wing your way through one thousand years of ornithological and etymological history, and you will alight on an Old English lexicon wherein these birds had basically the same names as they have now. Their names were spelled a little differently back then: "earn," "crāwe," "finc," "wrenna," "Ūle," and "spearwa." All those avian names are also birds of a feather in that their ancestors are akin to Old High German words: "arn," "krāwa," "fincho," "rentilo," "uwila," and "sparo," respectively. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 14, 2007 is: malign • \muh-LYNE\ • verb : to utter injuriously misleading or false reports about : speak evil of Examples: Critics have relentlessly maligned the mayor since rumors of bribery surfaced, even though she has successfully revitalized the downtown shopping district. Did you know? When a word's got "mal-" in it, it's no good. That prefix traces to the Latin word "malus" (which means "bad"), and it puts the negative vibes in "malign" and a host of other English words. You can see it in "malpractice" (bad medical practice) and "malady" (a bad condition, such as a disease or illness, of the body or mind). A "malefactor" is someone guilty of bad deeds, and "malice" is a desire to cause injury, pain, or distress to another person. Other "mal-" formed words include "malaise," "malcontent," "maladroit," "malodorous," and "malnourished." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 13, 2007 is: paradox • \PAIR-uh-dahks\ • noun 1 a : a statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true b : a self-contradictory statement that at first seems true 2 : one (as a person, situation, or action) having seemingly contradictory qualities or phases Examples: They had to face the paradox that their family, which was the source of so much love and affection, could also be the source of great hurt and pain. Did you know? The ancient Greeks were well aware that a paradox can take us outside our usual way of thinking. They combined the prefix "para-" ("beyond" or "outside of") with the verb "dokein" ("to think"), forming "paradoxos," an adjective meaning "contrary to expectation." Latin speakers picked up the word and used it to create their noun "paradoxum," which English speakers borrowed during the 1500s to create "paradox." *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 October 12, 2007 is: retrospective • \reh-truh-SPEK-tiv\ • adjective 1 a : contemplative of or relative to past events b : being a generally comprehensive exhibition, compilation, or performance of the work of an artist over a span of years 2 : affecting things past : retroactive Examples: Carla's next film will be a retrospective documentary about her favorite sculptor's work. Did you know? "Look not mournfully into the past. It comes not back again," wrote Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in his 1839 novel Hyperion. But these days the past is trendy, old-fashioned is hip, and "flea-market vogue" is not an oxymoron. And of course, "retrospective" is as retro as it gets. A glance at the history of "retrospective" reveals that it traces back to the Latin "retro-" (meaning "back," "behind," or "backward") and "specere" (meaning "to look at"). Once you have "retrospective" behind you, you can also add its kin "retrospect" (which is used as a noun, an adjective, and a verb) and "retrospection" to your vocabulary, too. "Retrospective" can also be used as a noun, referring to an exhibition that "looks back" at artistic work created over a span of years. *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 October 11, 2007 is: langue • \LAHNG (the vowel is pronounced in a nasal manner)\ • noun : language viewed abstractly as a system of forms and conventions used for communication in a community; also : the knowledge that enables a person to speak and understand a language Examples: Langue makes communication possible; without it we could not process and understand each other's utterances. Did you know? In lectures delivered at the University of Geneva from 1907 to 1913, Swiss linguist Ferdinand de Saussure set forth his groundbreaking distinction between "langue" -- the systematic, structured language existing at a given time within a given society -- and "parole," the individual use of that language by a person. In French, "langue" literally means "language." It was adopted into Middle English with that same general meaning but fell into disuse. "Parole" is also a French word; it means "speech" and is related to Late Latin "parabola," the base of our English word "parable." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 10, 2007 is: betwixt • \bih-TWIKST\ • adverb or preposition : between Examples: "A relative newbie as satellites go will glide betwixt a crescent moon and the Red Planet tonight on its way to the Little Dipper." (Thomas Stauffer, Arizona Daily Star, March 2, 2006) Did you know? "Jack Sprat could eat no fat, his wife could eat no lean; and so betwixt the two of them, they licked the platter clean." Perhaps you've always said "and so between the two of them" when reciting the tale of Jack Sprat and his wife. That's fine. "Betwixt" and "between" have similar origins: they both come from a combination of "be-" and related Old English roots. Both words appeared before the 12th century, but use of "betwixt" dropped off considerably toward the end of the 1600s. It survived in the phrase "betwixt and between" ("neither one thing nor the other"), which took on a life of its own in the 18th century. Nowadays "betwixt" is uncommon, but it isn't archaic; it's simply used more consciously than "between." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 9, 2007 is: terrestrial • \tuh-RESS-tree-ul\ • adjective 1 a : of or relating to the earth or its inhabitants b : mundane in scope or character : prosaic 2 a : of or relating to land as distinct from air or water b : living on or in or growing from land Examples: Although Marnie studied terrestrial animals as an undergraduate, she plans to focus on dolphins and other aquatic creatures in graduate school. Did you know? "Terrestrial" might be a pretty down-to-earth word, but some of its relatives are out of this world. "Terrestrial" first appeared in English in the 15th century and derives from the Latin root "terra," which means "earth." In the mid-1800s "extra-" was added to "terrestrial," giving us "extraterrestrial," an adjective that can be used to describe things (including science fiction creatures) that come from space. "Terrestrial" shares the "-al" suffix with "celestial," which was first used in the 14th century. Not surprisingly, "celestial" ("of or relating to the sky or visible heavens") traces back to the Latin for sky, "caelum." *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 October 8, 2007 is: jactitation • \jak-tuh-TAY-shun\ • noun : a tossing to and fro or jerking and twitching of the body Examples: "It is clear that Mrs Y.'s tics are far more complex in form than mere Parkinsonian jerks, jactitations, or precipitations. . .." (Oliver Sacks, Awakenings) Did you know? In the 17th century, lawyers began tossing around the word "jactitation," which can be traced back to the Latin verb "jactare," meaning "to throw." Originally, "jactitation" was used as a word for a false claim or assertion being publicly thrown about to the detriment of another person. Run-of-the-mill slander and false claims of being married to someone were two common types of jactitation brought to court. Before long, "jactitation" had jumped over to the medical profession, where it continues to serve as a word for restless, jerky, or twitchy body movements. In 1761, British writer Laurence Sterne threw "jactitation" into his novel Tristram Shandy as a substitute for "discussion," but that meaning never caught on. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 7, 2007 is: orgulous • \OR-gyuh-lus\ • adjective : proud Examples: Antoine usually worked with the boutique's most elite clientele and so tended to adopt an orgulous air toward more "ordinary" customers. Did you know? "In Troy, there lies the scene. From Isles of Greece / The princes orgulous, their high blood chaf'd, / Have to the port of Athens sent their ships." Thus Shakespeare began the Trojan War tale Troilus and Cressida, employing "orgulous," a colorful word first adopted in the 13th century from Anglo-French "orguillus." After the Bard's day, "orgulous" dropped from sight for 200 years; there is no record of its use until it was rejuvenated by the pens of Robert Southey and Sir Walter Scott in the early 1800s. Twentieth-century writers (including James Joyce and W.H. Auden) continued its renaissance, and today "orgulous" is an elegant choice for proud writers everywhere. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 6, 2007 is: cocoon • \kuh-KOON\ • verb : to wrap or envelop in or as if in a cocoon Examples: Lily settled into the bleachers and cocooned herself in blankets so she could enjoy the ball game without being chilled by the icy wind. Did you know? Since at least 1679, English speakers have been using the noun "cocoon" for the silky covering that surrounds a caterpillar or other insect larva in the pupa stage of metamorphosis. The word came into English from French, which in turn borrowed it from an Occitan term for "eggshell." Linguists believe the Occitan term was probably born of the Latin "coccum," a noun that has been translated as "kermes," the dried bodies of some insects that can be found on certain trees. The verb "cocoon" has been with us since at least 1881. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 5, 2007 is: umbra • \UM-bruh\ • noun 1 : a shaded area 2 a : a conical shadow excluding all light from a given source; specifically : the conical part of the shadow of a celestial body excluding all light from the primary source b : the central dark part of a sunspot Examples: During the lunar eclipse, the moon was in the umbra of the earth's shadow for about 90 minutes. Did you know? The Latin word "umbra" ("shade, shadow") has given English a range of words in addition to "umbra" itself. An umbrella can provide us with shade from the sun. So can an umbrageous tree. (In this case, "umbrageous" means "affording shade.") The connection to shade or shadow in other "umbra" words is less obvious. When we say someone takes "umbrage," we mean they take offense, but in times past people used the word as a synonym of "shade" or "shadow." The two senses of "umbrage" influenced "umbrageous," which can mean "inclined to take offense easily" as well as "affording shade." *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 October 4, 2007 is: astute • \uh-STOOT\ • adjective 1 : having or showing shrewdness and perspicacity 2 : crafty, wily Examples: The candidate made a number of astute observations about both foreign and domestic policy during the debate. Did you know? "Astute" is similar in meaning to "shrewd" and "sagacious," but there are subtle differences in connotation among them. All three suggest sharp thinking and sound judgment, but "shrewd" stresses practical, hardheaded cleverness and judgment ("a shrewd judge of character"), whereas "sagacious" implies wisdom and foresight combined with good judgment ("sagacious investors"). "Astute," which derives from the Latin noun "astus," meaning "craft," suggests cleverness, mental sharpness, and diplomatic skill ("an astute player of party politics"). *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 October 3, 2007 is: sutler • \SUT-ler\ • noun : a civilian provisioner to an army post often with a shop on the post Examples: The sutler who provided the company's provisions wanted a dollar for a can of peaches, so the enlisted men had to be content with hardtack and jerky. Did you know? "For I shall sutler be / Unto the camp, and profits will accrue," Pistol declares in Shakespeare's Henry V. In 1599, the year the play was first performed, "sutler" was quite new to English. It was adapted from the Dutch word "soeteler," which meant about the same thing as our modern term. Even then, sutlers weren't usually the most popular fellows in a military camp, as a further look at the word's history reveals. The Dutch adopted "soeteler" from a Low German word meaning "sloppy worker," which itself traces to an even older verb that meant "to do sloppy work" or "to dirty." Perhaps the snide designation was inspired by the fact that the traditional sutler followed troops and sold them supplies at hugely inflated prices. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 2, 2007 is: morganatic • \mor-guh-NAT-ik\ • adjective : of, relating to, or being a marriage between a member of a royal or noble family and a person of inferior rank in which the rank of the inferior partner remains unchanged and the children of the marriage do not succeed to the titles, fiefs, or entailed property of the parent of higher rank Examples: The king's son, the child of a morganatic marriage, will never rule. Did you know? Although the deprivations imposed on the lower-ranking spouse by a morganatic marriage may seem like a royal pain in the neck, the word "morganatic" actually comes from a word for a marriage benefit. The New Latin term "morganatica" means "morning gift" and refers to a gift that a new husband traditionally gave to his bride on the morning after the marriage. So why was the New Latin phrase "matrimonium ad morganaticam," which means literally "marriage with morning gift," the term for a morganatic marriage? Because it was just that -- the wife got the morning gift, but that's all she was entitled to of her husband's possessions. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 1, 2007 is: lodestone • \LOAD-stoan\ • noun 1 : magnetite possessing polarity 2 : something that strongly attracts Examples: The old battlefield is a lodestone for history buffs, and many people travel long distances to visit it. Did you know? "Lodestone" is made up of distinctly English components, ones that have been part of our language since before the 12th century. "Lode" comes from the Old English "lād," which means "way, journey, course." The word "stone" derives from the Old English "stān," which had the same meaning as the modern term "stone." When the two ancient words were combined to form "lodestone" around 1515, the new term referred to magnetite, an oxide of iron that forms a natural magnet. *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 September 30, 2007 is: restive • \RES-tiv\ • adjective 1 : stubbornly resisting control : balky 2 : marked by impatience or uneasiness : fidgety Examples: The audience grew restive as the scholar introducing the acclaimed poet droned on and on. Did you know? "Restive" ultimately comes from the Anglo-French word "rester," meaning "to stop, resist, or remain." In its earliest use, "restive" meant "sluggish" or "inactive," though this sense is no longer in use. Another early sense was "stubborn, obstinate." Specifically, "restive" often referred to horses that refused to do as commanded. This general application to unruly horses may have influenced the development of the "fidgety, impatient" sense of "restive." Some usage commentators have objected to this newer sense, but it has been in use for well over a century, and is now the more common of the uses. *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 September 29, 2007 is: infrangible • \in-FRAN-juh-bul\ • adjective 1 : not capable of being broken or separated into parts 2 : not to be infringed or violated Examples: Page explained that family is sacred to her because she believes that few things in life are more infrangible than the bonds of kinship. Did you know? "Infrangible" comes to us via Middle French from the Late Latin "infrangibilis" and is ultimately derived from the prefix "in-" and the Latin verb "frangere," meaning "to break." (Believe it or not, our "break" is ultimately derived from the same ancient word that gave rise to "frangere.") "Infrangible" first appeared in print in English in the 16th century with the literal meaning "impossible to break"; it was later extended metaphorically to things that cannot or should not be broken. *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 September 28, 2007 is: syncategorematic • \sin-kat-uh-gor-uh-MAT-ik\ • adjective : forming a meaningful expression only in conjunction with a denotative expression (as a content word) Examples: "In any language, there will be what are called syncategorematic words, such as prepositions and articles," explained Dr. Lewis. Did you know? In ancient Greek logic, "katēgorēma" referred to something that was affirmed or denied about the subject in a proposition. For instance, in "the paper is white," "whiteness" would be the "katēgorēma." Seventeenth-century logicians extended this concept, which they called "categorem," to cover the subject of the proposition as well. So, in the proposition "All men are mortal," "mortality" is a categorem and so is "man." But what about "all"? Words like "all" that signify quantity (as well as words that function as adverbs, prepositions, or conjunctions) are syncategoremata -- that is, they are words that have meaning in propositions only when used in conjunction "with" other words. ("Syn-" means "with.") See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 27, 2007 is: fugitive • \FYOO-juh-tiv\ • noun 1 : a person who flees or tries to escape; especially : refugee 2 : something elusive or hard to find Examples: The television news aired frequent descriptions of the fugitive, who was wanted for assault and murder. Did you know? "Fugitive" was adopted into English as both a noun and an adjective in the 14th century. Both forms came to Middle English by way of Middle French from the Latin adjective "fugitivus." "Fugitivus," in turn, comes from "fugitus," the past participle of the verb "fugere," meaning "to flee." Since its adoption, the noun "fugitive" has been used to identify a motley group of individuals: runaway slaves and soldiers, on-the-run criminals, exiles, refugees, and vagabonds. Eventually, it also developed a less commonly used extended sense for things which are difficult to find or pin down. *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 September 26, 2007 is: bodacious • \boh-DAY-shuss\ • adjective 1 : outright, unmistakable 2 : remarkable, noteworthy 3 : sexy, voluptuous Examples: "Bears are not picky eaters especially in the spring, after they wake up from their winter hibernation with a bodacious appetite." (George Osgood, Star-Gazette [Elmira, New York], May 12, 2007) Did you know? Some of our readers may know "bodacious" as a word that figured prominently in the lingo of the 1989 film Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. Others may recall the term's frequent use in the long-running "Snuffy Smith" comic strip. Neither the creators of the comic strip nor the movie can claim to have coined "bodacious," which actually first appeared in print in 1832, but both likely contributed to its popularity. The exact origin of the word is uncertain, but it was most likely influenced by "bold" and "audacious," and it may be linked to "boldacious," a term from British dialect. *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 September 25, 2007 is: commensurate • \kuh-MEN-suh-rut\ • adjective 1 : equal in measure or extent : coextensive 2 : corresponding in size, extent, amount, or degree : proportionate Examples: "Salary commensurate with experience," the job advertisement read. Did you know? "Commensurate" is a word that really measures up. And no wonder -- it's a descendant of the Latin noun "mensura," meaning "measure," from "mensus," past participle of "metiri" ("to measure"). In the first recorded use of "commensurate," which comes from 1641, the adjective was used as a synonym of "coextensive." It didn't take long for "commensurate" to be used to mean "proportionate" as well. Henry James used this sense in The American when he wrote, "The stakes were high and the risk was great; the prize therefore must have been commensurate." *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 September 24, 2007 is: exculpatory • \ek-SKUL-puh-tor-ee\ • adjective : tending or serving to clear from alleged fault or guilt Examples: The witness's exculpatory testimony convinced the jury to find the defendant not guilty. Did you know? No one will blame you for having questions about the origins of "exculpatory." The adjective comes from a combination of the prefix "ex-," meaning "out of" or "away from," and the Latin noun "culpa," which means "blame" or "guilt." Something exculpatory, then, frees one from accusations. "Culpa" has given English a number of other words, including the verb "exculpate" ("to clear from alleged fault or guilt"). The related but lesser-known terms "inculpate" ("to incriminate") and "inculpatory" ("incriminating") are antonyms of "exculpate" and "exculpatory." "Culpable" is a synonym of "blameworthy," and "mea culpa" refers to a formal acknowledgment of personal fault or error. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 23, 2007 is: acerbic • \uh-SER-bik\ • adjective : acid in temper, mood, or tone Examples: Liam's speech was punctuated by his usual acerbic wit, and some people in the audience thought that his comments went too far. Did you know? English speakers created "acerbic" in the 19th century by adding "-ic" to the adjective "acerb." "Acerb" had been around since the 17th century, but for most of that time it had been used with only a literal "sour-tasting" sense. (The word "acerb" is still around today, but it is now simply a less common synonym of "acerbic.") "Acerbic" and "acerb" ultimately come from the Latin adjective "acerbus," which can mean "harsh," "bitter," or "unpleasant." Another English word that comes from "acerbus" is "exacerbate," which means "to make more violent, bitter, or severe." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 22, 2007 is: prognosticate • \prahg-NAHSS-tuh-kayt\ • verb 1 : to foretell from signs and symptoms : predict 2 : presage Examples: The two sportscasters bantered back and forth, each dismissing the other's attempts to prognosticate the outcome of the championship. Did you know? "Prognosticate," which comes from the Greek "prognōstikos" ("foretelling"), first appeared in English during the 15th century. Since that time, "prognosticate" has been connected with things that give omens or warnings of events to come and with people who can prophesy or predict the future by such signs. Shakespeare used the "prophesy" sense of "prognosticate" in the sonnet that begins "Not from the stars do I my judgement pluck": "From thine eyes my knowledge I derive, And constant stars in them I read such art ...of thee this I prognosticate, Thy end is truth's and beauty's doom and date." *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 September 21, 2007 is: genial • \JEE-nee-ul\ • adjective 1 : favorable to growth or comfort : mild 2 : marked by or diffusing sympathy or friendliness 3 : displaying or marked by genius Examples: Our genial host immediately offered us refreshments and introduced us to everyone. Did you know? "Genial" derives from the Latin adjective "genialis," meaning "connected with marriage." When "genial" was first adopted into English in the mid-16th century, it meant "of or relating to marriage," a sense that is now obsolete. "Genialis" was formed in Latin by combining the "-alis" suffix (meaning "of, relating to, or characterized by") with "genius," meaning "a person's disposition or inclination." As you may have guessed, Latin "genius" is the ancestor of the English word "genius," meaning "extraordinary intellectual power"-- so it's logical enough that "genial" eventually developed a sense (possibly influenced by the German word "genial") of "marked by very high intelligence." *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 September 20, 2007 is: quidnunc • \KWID-nunk\ • noun : a person who seeks to know all the latest news or gossip : busybody Examples: Those who criticize Joanne for being a quidnunc are usually the first to go to her when they want to know the latest gossip. Did you know? "What's new?" That's a question every busybody wants answered. Latin-speaking Nosey Parkers might have used some version of the expression "quid nunc," literally "what now," to ask the same question. Appropriately, the earliest documented English use of "quidnunc" to refer to a gossiper appeared in 1709 in Sir Richard Steele's famous periodical, The Tatler. Steele is far from the only writer to ply "quidnunc" in his prose, however. You also can find the word among the pages of works by such writers as Washington Irving and Nathaniel Hawthorne. But don't think the term is old news -- it sees some use in current publications, 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 September 19, 2007 is: fissiparous • \fih-SIP-uh-rus\ • adjective : tending to break up into parts : divisive Examples: The reorganization of management can have a fissiparous effect on the rest of the company. Did you know? When it first entered English in the 19th century, "fissiparous" was concerned with reproduction. In biology, a fissiparous organism is one that produces new individuals by fission; that is, by dividing into separate parts, each of which becomes a unique organism. (Most strains of bacteria do this.) "Fissiparous" derives from Latin "fissus," the past participle of "findere" ("to split"), and "parere," meaning "to give birth to" or "to produce." Other "parere" offspring refer to other forms of reproduction, including "oviparous" ("producing eggs that hatch outside the body") and "viviparous" ("producing living young instead of eggs"). By the end of the 19th century "fissiparous" had acquired a figurative meaning, describing something that breaks into parts or causes something else to break into parts. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 18, 2007 is: thesaurus • \thih-SOR-us\ • noun 1 : treasury, storehouse 2 a : a book of words or of information about a particular field or set of concepts; especially : a book of words and their synonyms b : a list of subject headings or descriptors usually with a cross-reference system for use in the organization of a collection of documents for reference and retrieval Examples: The drill sergeant had a thesaurus of insults, and any recruit who stepped out of line became the immediate recipient of one of his zingers. Did you know? In the early 19th century, archaeologists borrowed the Latin word "thesaurus" to denote an ancient treasury, such as that of a temple. Soon after, the word was metaphorically applied to a book containing a "treasury" of words or information about a particular field. In 1852, the English scholar Peter Mark Roget published his Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases, in which he listed a treasury of related words organized into numerous categories. This work led to the common acceptance of the term "thesaurus" for "a book of words and their synonyms." Finally, during the 1950s, "thesaurus" began being used in the field of word processing to refer to a list of related terms used for indexing and retrieval. *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 September 17, 2007 is: salubrious • \suh-LOO-bree-us\ • adjective : favorable to or promoting health or well-being Examples: Scott's breathing problems have improved markedly since he left the city and moved to a place with a more salubrious climate. Did you know? "Salubrious" and its synonyms "healthful" and "wholesome" all mean favorable to the health of mind or body. "Healthful" implies a positive contribution to a healthy condition (as in Charles Dickens' advice to "take more healthful exercise"). "Wholesome" applies to something that benefits you, builds you up, or sustains you physically, mentally, or spiritually. Louisa May Alcott used this sense in Little Women: "Work is wholesome.... It keeps us from ennui and mischief, is good for health and spirits, and gives us a sense of power and independence...." "Salubrious" is similar to the other two, but tends to apply chiefly to the helpful effects of climate or air. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 16, 2007 is: dissonant • \DISS-uh-nunt\ • adjective 1 : marked by lack of agreement : discordant 2 : incongruous 3 : harmonically unresolved Examples: "The beautiful tuna had been cooked to dry dullness, and the bitter baby bok choy was alarmingly dissonant with the sauce." (Patricia Greathouse, Santa Fe New Mexican, August 4, 2006) Did you know? The root of "dissonant" is the Latin verb "sonare." Can you guess what "sonare" means? Here's a hint: some related derivatives are "sonata," "supersonic," and "resonance." Does it sound to you as if "sonare" has something to do with sound? If so, you're right. In fact, "sonare" means "to sound," is related to the Latin noun "sonus" (meaning "sound"), and is an ancestor of the English word "sound." "Dissonant" includes the negative prefix "dis-." What is "dissonant," therefore, sounds inharmonic, conflicting, or clashing. *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 September 15, 2007 is: pinchbeck • \PINCH-beck\ • noun 1 : an alloy of copper and zinc used especially to imitate gold in jewelry 2 : something counterfeit or spurious Examples: Danny claims that the word "trousers" comes from the name of "inventor" Jacob Trowser, but that etymology is just a pinchbeck. Did you know? On November 27, 1732, an advertisement ran in a British newspaper announcing that "the toys made of the late ingenious Mr. Pinchbeck's curious metal ... are now sold only by his son. . .." The Mr. Pinchbeck in question was Christopher Pinchbeck, a London watchmaker who invented the alloy that would be posthumously named for him. Although the metal is used as a substitute for gold, the word "pinchbeck," which can also be used as an adjective, didn't acquire its "counterfeit" sense until the 1790s, over 50 years after Pinchbeck's death. *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 September 14, 2007 is: thwart • \THWORT\ • verb 1 a : to run counter to so as to effectively oppose or baffle : contravene b : to oppose successfully : defeat the hopes or aspirations of 2 : to pass through or across Examples: At the end of the episode, the fleeing villain told the hero, "You may have thwarted me this time, but I'll be back." Did you know? "Thwart" and its synonyms "foil" and "frustrate" all suggest checking or defeating another's plan or preventing the achievement of a goal. "Foil" implies checking or defeating so as to discourage future efforts ("foiled by her parents, he stopped trying to see her"), while "frustrate" suggests making all efforts, however vigorous or persistent, futile or ineffectual ("frustrated attempts at government reform"). "Thwart" usually indicates frustration caused by opposition ("the army thwarted an attempted coup"). *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 September 13, 2007 is: dubious • \DOO-bee-us\ • adjective 1 a : of doubtful promise or outcome b : questionable or suspect as to true nature or quality 2 : unsettled in opinion : doubtful Examples: I'm dubious that this plan will be successful, but I'm willing to try. Did you know? "Dubious" derives from the Latin verb "dubare," meaning "to hesitate in choice of opinions or courses," and it is related to the Latin word for "two": "duo." "Dubious" can be used to indicate uncertainty about the result of an action or the truth of a statement as well as about the uncertainty of a person and his or her character. In either case, it usually implies a feeling of doubt from suspicion, mistrust, or hesitation. *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 September 12, 2007 is: virtuoso • \ver-choo-OH-soh\ • noun 1 : one skilled in or having a taste for the fine arts 2 : one who excels in the technique of an art; especially : a highly skilled musical performer (as on the violin) 3 : a person who has great skill at some endeavor Examples: Amir is a virtuoso who makes playing the violin look easy. Did you know? English speakers borrowed the Italian noun "virtuoso" in the 1600s. It comes in turn from the Italian adjective "virtuoso," which means both "virtuous" and "skilled." In English, "virtuoso" can be pluralized as either "virtuosos" or "virtuosi," and it is often used attributively ("a virtuoso performer"). The first virtuosos were individuals of substantial knowledge and learning ("great wits," to quote one 17th-century clergyman). The word was then transferred to those skilled in the arts, and by the 18th century it had acquired its specific sense applied to musicians. In the 20th century, English speakers broadened "virtuoso" again to apply to a person skilled in any pursuit. *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 September 11, 2007 is: aplomb • \uh-PLAHM\ • noun : complete and confident composure or self-assurance : poise Examples: Never once betraying the fact that this was her first sales trip, Rachel delivered the product presentation with the aplomb of a veteran. Did you know? In the 19th century, English speakers borrowed "aplomb," meaning "composure," from French. "Aplomb" can also mean "perpendicularity" in French and comes from the phrase "a plomb," meaning "perpendicularly" or literally "according to the plummet." A plummet is a lead weight that is attached to a line and used to determine vertical alignment. Not surprisingly, "aplomb" and English words like "plumber" and the verb "plumb" ("to measure depth" and "to explore critically and minutely") ultimately trace back to the Latin word for lead, "plumbum." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 10, 2007 is: longueur • \lawn-GUR (approximation -- this word comes from French and h\ • noun : a dull and tedious passage or section (as of a book, play, or musical composition) -- usually used in plural Examples: "This production has its occasional longueurs, but glorious singing and energetic choreography quickly rope us back in." (Rick Rogers, The Oklahoman, June 28, 2007) Did you know? You've probably come across long, tedious sections of books, plays, or musical works before, but perhaps you didn't know there was a word for them. English speakers began using the French borrowing "longueurs" in the late 18th century. In French, "longueurs" are tedious passages, and "longueur" literally means "length." The first recorded use of "longueur" in English comes from the writer Horace Walpole, who wrote in a letter, "Boswell's book is gossiping;. . . but there are woful longueurs, both about his hero and himself." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 9, 2007 is: convivial • \kun-VIV-ee-ul\ • adjective : relating to, occupied with, or fond of feasting, drinking, and good company Examples: Ellen and Kevin's dinner parties are always relaxed, convivial events, with good food in abundance, and wine and conversation both flowing freely. Did you know? "Convivial" traces to "convivium," a Latin word meaning "banquet," and tends to suggest a mood of full-bellied joviality. Charles Dickens aptly captures that sense in his novel David Copperfield: "We had a beautiful little dinner. Quite an elegant dish of fish; the kidney-end of a loin of veal, roasted; fried sausage-meat; a partridge, and a pudding. There was wine, and there was strong ale.... Mr. Micawber was uncommonly convivial. I never saw him such good company. He made his face shine with the punch, so that it looked as if it had been varnished all over. He got cheerfully sentimental about the town, and proposed success to it." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 8, 2007 is: jape • \JAYP\ • verb 1 : to say or do something jokingly or mockingly 2 : to make mocking fun of Examples: At the convention, the younger gamers japed at the low-tech graphics of the early consoles on display. Did you know? "Jape" mysteriously appeared in the English language during the 14th century and was adopted by literary folks, such as Geoffrey Chaucer, as a word meaning both "to trick" and "to jeer." It was also used, however, with the meanings "to seduce (someone)" or "to have sexual intercourse." This ambiguity forced writers to think twice about using "jape" in fear of misinterpretation. Ultimately, the word was avoided by respectable writers, and by the end of the 16th century it had fallen into disuse. But this four-letter word was not completely forgotten. It got its second chance when 19th-century writers began using its "jeer" meaning again -- leaving its carnal meaning in oblivion. *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 September 7, 2007 is: miasma • \mye-AZ-muh\ • noun 1 : a vaporous exhalation formerly believed to cause disease; also : a heavy vaporous emanation or atmosphere 2 : an influence or atmosphere that tends to deplete or corrupt; also : an atmosphere that obscures : fog Examples: Hallie couldn't wait to escape the miasma of petty rivalry that had enveloped the team and stifled her growth as a player. Did you know? In notes taken during a voyage to South America on HMS Beagle in the 1830s, Charles Darwin described an illness that he believed was caused by "miasma" emanating from stagnant pools of water. For him, "miasma" had the same meaning that it did when it first appeared in English in the 1600s: an emanation of a vaporous disease-causing substance. ("Miasma," by the way, comes from Greek "miainein," meaning "to pollute."). But while Darwin was at sea, broader applications of "miasma" were starting to spread. Nowadays, we know germs are the source of infection, so we're more likely to use the newer, more figurative sense of "miasma," which refers to something destructive or demoralizing that surrounds or permeates. *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 September 6, 2007 is: grandiloquence • \gran-DIH-luh-kwunss\ • noun : a lofty, extravagantly colorful, pompous, or bombastic style, manner, or quality especially in language Examples: I prefer a more informal style, so I was a bit put off by the grandiloquence of the author's writing. Did you know? "Grandiloquence," which first appeared in English in the late 16th century, is one of several English words pertaining to speech that derive from the Latin "loqui," meaning "to speak." Other offspring of "loqui" include "eloquent" ("marked by fluent expression"), "loquacious" ("full of excessive talk"), and "soliloquy" ("a long dramatic monologue"). "Grandiloquence" comes (probably via Middle French) from the Latin adjective "grandiloquus," which combines "loqui" and the adjective "grandis" ("grand or great"). A word that is very similar in meaning to "grandiloquence" is "magniloquence" -- and the similarity is not surprising. "Magniloquence" combines "loqui" with "magnus," another Latin word meaning "great." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 5, 2007 is: benign • \bih-NYNE\ • adjective 1 : of a gentle disposition : gracious 2 a : showing kindness and gentleness b : favorable, wholesome 3 a : of a mild type or character that does not threaten health or life; especially : not becoming cancerous b : having no significant effect : harmless Examples: Mr. Richardson was a benign man and an excellent teacher, and the children loved and trusted him instinctively. Did you know? "Benediction," "benefactor," "benefit," "benevolent," and "benign" are just some of the English words that derive from the well-tempered Latin root "bene," which means "well." "Benign" came to English via Anglo-French from the Latin "benignus," which in turn paired "bene" with "gignere," meaning "to beget." "Gignere" has produced a few offspring of its own in English. Its descendants include "congenital," "genius," "germ," "indigenous," and "progenitor," among others. *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 September 4, 2007 is: ruly • \ROO-lee\ • adjective : obedient, orderly Examples: Concert organizers worried that rambunctious fans might get out of hand, but the crowd was surprisingly ruly. Did you know? You're probably familiar with "unruly," meaning "not readily controlled or disciplined." Have you ever wondered, "Is there a 'ruly' too?" If so, did it seem to you that such a word should exist? A little over 150 years ago, someone apparently followed that same thought process, creating "ruly" by dropping the prefix from "unruly." Whoever did so probably thought the coinage was a new one, but that's not quite the case. There had once been another "ruly" with much the same meaning as the modern term, but it had been out of use for over 200 years. Ultimately, "ruly" and "unruly" come from "reuly," a Middle English word meaning "disciplined." "Reuly" in turn comes from Middle English "reule," a predecessor of "rule." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 3, 2007 is: insinuate • \in-SIN-yuh-wayt\ • verb 1 a : to introduce (as an idea) gradually or in a subtle, indirect, or covert way b : to impart or suggest in an artful or indirect way : imply 2 : to introduce (as oneself) by stealthy, smooth, or artful means Examples: Caleb wouldn't openly accuse Trudy of lying, but he wasn't above insinuating it. Did you know? The meaning of "insinuate" is similar to that of another verb, "suggest." Whether you "suggest" or "insinuate," you are conveying an idea indirectly. But although these two words share the same basic meaning, each gets the idea across in a different way. When you "suggest," you put something into the mind by associating it with other ideas, desires, or thoughts. You might say, for example, that a book's title suggests what the story is about. "Insinuate," on the other hand, usually includes a sense that the idea being conveyed is unpleasant, or that it is being passed along in a sly or underhanded way. *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 September 2, 2007 is: pillory • \PILL-uh-ree\ • noun 1 : a device formerly used for publicly punishing offenders consisting of a wooden frame with holes in which the head and hands can be locked 2 : a means for exposing one to public scorn or ridicule Examples: "Whenever [Charlie Brown] stepped onto a baseball field, the mound turned into a pillory, the boos and catcalls flying at him with the speed of a fastball." (Robert Seltzer, San Antonio Express-News, February 26, 2006) Did you know? In days gone by, criminals who got caught might well have found themselves in the stocks (which held the feet or both feet and hands) or a pillory. Both of those forms of punishment -- and the words that name them -- have been around since the Middle Ages. We latched onto "pillory" from the Anglo-French "pilori" (which has the same meaning as our English term), but the exact origins of the French term are uncertain. For centuries, "pillory" referred only to the wooden frame used to hold a ne'er-do-well, but by the early 1600s, folks had turned the word into a verb for the act of putting someone in a pillory. Within a century, they had further expanded the verb to cover any process that led to as much public humiliation as being pilloried. *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 September 1, 2007 is: stipulate • \STIP-yuh-layt\ • verb 1 : to make an agreement to do something : contract 2 : to specify (something) as a condition or requirement (as of an agreement or offer) Examples: The lease stipulates that the tenant's failure to pay rent by the end of the month may result in eviction. Did you know? Like many terms used in the legal profession, "stipulate" has its roots in Latin. It derives from "stipulatus," the past participle of "stipulari," a verb meaning "to demand a guarantee (as from a prospective debtor)." "Stipulate" has been a part of the English language since the 17th century. In Roman law, oral contracts were deemed valid only if they followed a proper question-and-answer format; "stipulate" was sometimes used specifically of this process of contract making, though it also could be used more generally for any means of making a contract or agreement. The "specify as a condition or requirement" sense of the word also dates from the 17th century, and it is the sense that is most often encountered in current use. *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 August 31, 2007 is: tyro • \TYE-roh\ • noun : a beginner in learning : novice Examples: A reviewer described the new photography manual as "a clear explanation of the basics, ideal for tyros but too elementary for seasoned shutterbugs." Did you know? The word "tyro" is hardly a newcomer to Western language. It comes from the Latin "tiro," which means "young soldier," "new recruit," or more generally, "novice." The word was sometimes spelled "tyro" as early as Medieval Latin, and can be spelled "tyro" or "tiro" in English (though "tyro" is the more common American variant). Use of "tyro" in English has never been restricted to the original "young soldier" meaning of the Latin term. Writers in the 17th and 18th centuries wrote of tyros in various fields and occupations. Herman Melville used "tyro" to refer to men new to whaling and life at sea. More recently, The New York Times Book Review and Rolling Stone used the noun attributively (that is, directly before another noun), referring to a "tyro sleuth" and a "tyro director," respectively. 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 August 30, 2007 is: protean • \PROH-tee-un\ • adjective 1 : of or resembling Proteus in having a varied nature or ability to assume different forms 2 : displaying great diversity or variety : versatile Examples: Bradley has made the most of the space in his tiny apartment by selecting furniture pieces that are protean, such as storage cubes that double as extra seats. Did you know? Proteus was the original master of disguise. According to Greek mythology, the grizzled old shepherd of Poseidon's sea creatures possessed the gift of prophecy but didn't like to share his knowledge. Proteus would escape those who wanted to question him by changing his shape. The only way to get a straight answer from him was to sneak up behind him during his midday nap and hold onto him (while he frantically changed from shape to shape) until he eventually revealed what he knew. The adjective "protean" describes anyone or anything that is as mutable and adaptable as the mythological shepherd. *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 August 29, 2007 is: berate • \bih-RAYT\ • verb : to scold or condemn vehemently and at length Examples: I quit my job after my boss berated me for addressing a letter incorrectly. Did you know? "Berate" and one sense of the verb "rate" can both mean "to scold angrily or violently." This sense of "rate" was first recorded in the 14th century, roughly a century before the now more familiar sense meaning "to estimate the value of." We know that "berate" was probably formed by combining "be" and the older sense of "rate," but the origins of "rate" itself are somewhat more obscure. We can trace the word back to the Middle English form "raten," but beyond that things get a little murky. It's possible that "rate," and by extension "berate," derives from the same ancient word that led to the Swedish "rata" (meaning "to find blame, despise") and earlier the Old Norse "hrata" ("to fall, stagger"), but this is uncertain. 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 August 28, 2007 is: stagflation • \stag-FLAY-shun\ • noun : persistent inflation combined with stagnant consumer demand and relatively high unemployment Examples: In the '70s, when the economy slid into stagflation, many college graduates had difficulty landing the high-paying jobs they had expected. Did you know? "Stagflation" is a portmanteau, that is, a word that blends two others (in this case, "stagnation" and "inflation"). The first documented use of the word appeared in 1965 in the writing of British politician Iain Macleod, who wrote, "We now have the worst of both worlds -- not just inflation on the one side or stagnation on the other, but both of them together. We have a sort of 'stagflation' situation." Macleod is often credited with coining the term, and his linguistic invention was quickly embraced by economists in the United States, who used it to refer to the period of economic sluggishness and high inflation that affected the country in the 1970s. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.