Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 9, 2007 is: hoodwink • \HOOD-wink\ • verb : to deceive by false appearance : dupe Examples: The dishonest art dealer hoodwinked Edward, convincing him to pay top dollar for a relatively worthless painting. Did you know? A now-obsolete sense of the word "wink" is "to close one's eyes," and "hoodwink" once meant to cover the eyes of someone, such as a prisoner, with a hood or blindfold. ("Hoodwink" was also once a name for the game of blindman's buff.) This 16th-century term soon came to be used figuratively for veiling the truth. "The Public is easily hood-winked," wrote the Irish physician Charles Lucas in 1756, by which time the figurative use had been around for almost a century and a half. Two hundred and fifty years later, this meaning of the word hasn't changed a wink: "The American public has been hoodwinked and fleeced," wrote Theodore Wolff, for example, in the Iowa State Daily on July 6, 2006. 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, 2007 is: inviolable • \in-VYE-uh-luh-bul\ • adjective 1 : secure from violation or profanation 2 : secure from assault or trespass : unassailable Examples: "One can almost see him, grey-haired and serene in the inviolable shelter of his book-lined, faded, and comfortable study. . . ." (Joseph Conrad, Lord Jim) Did you know? "Inviolable" is a venerable word that has been with us since the 15th century. Its opposite, "violable" ("capable of being or likely to be violated") appeared a century later. The English playwright Shackerley Marmion made good use of "violable" in A Fine Companion in 1633, writing, "Alas, my heart is Tender and violable with the least weapon Sorrow can dart at me." But English speakers have never warmed up to that word the way we have to "inviolable," and it continues to be used much less frequently. Both terms descend from Latin "violare," which both shares the meaning and is an ancestor of the English word "violate." *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 7, 2007 is: avoirdupois • \av-er-duh-POYZ\ • noun 1 : the series of units of weight based on the pound of 16 ounces and the ounce of 16 drams 2 : weight, heaviness; especially : personal weight Examples: Michael's ample avoirdupois can be blamed on his fondness for rich sauces and fattening cheeses. Did you know? When "avoirdupois" first appeared in English in the 15th century, it carried a meaning of "goods sold by weight," which is also the meaning of its Middle English predecessor, "avoir de pois." That term derives from an Anglo-French phrase meaning "goods of weight." Today, "avoirdupois" most commonly refers to the system of weight measurement used for general merchandise, in which the pound is equal to 16 ounces, the ounce 16 drams, and the dram 27.344 grains. (Some other weight systems are apothecaries' weight, used to measure pharmaceutical items, and troy weight, used for precious metals.) It was Shakespeare, in his play Henry IV (1597), who first used "avoirdupois" to mean "heaviness." *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 6, 2007 is: metadata • \met-uh-DAY-tuh\ • noun : data that provides information about other data Examples: The word processing program also tracks and saves metadata such as the author of the document and how many copies have been printed. Did you know? It's easy to find data on the source of "metadata": the word was formed by combining "data" with "meta-," which means "transcending" and is often used to describe a new but related discipline designed to deal critically with the original one. "Meta-" was first used in that way in "metaphysics" and has been extended to a number of other disciplines, giving us such words as "metapsychology" and "metamathematics." "Metadata" takes the "transcending" aspect a step further, applying it to the concept of pure information instead of a discipline. "Metadata" is a fairly new word (it first appeared in print in 1983), whereas "data" can be traced back to the middle of the 17th 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 5, 2007 is: concinnity • \kun-SIH-nuh-tee\ • noun : harmony or elegance of design especially of literary style in adaptation of parts to a whole or to each other Examples: Julia maintains that no modern play can rival the concinnity of the classical Greek tragedies. Did you know? The Romans apparently found perfect harmony in a well-mixed drink. The cocktail in question was a beverage they called "cinnus," and so agreeably concordant did they find it that its name apparently inspired the formation of "concinnare," a verb meaning "to place fitly together." "Concinnare" gave rise to "concinnus," meaning "skillfully put together," which in turn fermented into "concinnitas." English speakers added the word to our mix in the 1500s as "concinnity." 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, 2007 is: purport • \per-PORT\ • verb 1 : to have the often specious appearance of being, intending, or claiming (something implied or inferred); also : claim 2 : intend, purpose Examples: The authors purport to offer irrefutable proof of a conspiracy, but in reality their book gives us nothing but unproven conjecture. Did you know? The verb "purport" may be more familiar nowadays, but the noun "purport" (a synonym of "gist," as in "gave the purport of her speech in a few words") is a bit older. The noun passed into English from Anglo-French in the mid 1400s. Anglo-French also had the verb "purporter" (meaning both "to carry" and "to mean"), which itself combined the prefix "pur-" ("thoroughly") and the verb "porter" ("to carry"). But English speakers apparently waited another seven decades to employ the verb. The first recorded use of "purport" as a verb doesn't appear until 1528. *Indicates the word 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 3, 2007 is: askance • \uh-SKANSS\ • adv 1 : with a side-glance : obliquely 2 : with disapproval or distrust : scornfully Examples: "How demurely the little urchins look at him askance as he surveys them when they are all seated, with a glare of the eye peculiar to beadles!" (Charles Dickens, Sketches by Boz) Did you know? Etymologists have been scratching their heads over the origin of "askance" for centuries. Sources from Italian and Old Norse, among other languages, have been suggested, but, today, dictionary editors look askance at all of these explanations and simply label the word "origin unknown." What we do know is that the word was first used in English in the mid-16th century with the meaning "sideways" or "with a sideways glance," and that writers over the years have used the suggestion of someone looking askance at something to express a number of feelings from disapproval and distrust to jealousy. *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 2, 2007 is: glasnost • \GLAHZ-nohst\ • noun : a Soviet policy permitting open discussion of political and social issues and freer dissemination of news and information Examples: Yuri welcomed glasnost because he could finally publish the article he had written about poverty in Moscow. Did you know? "Glasnost'" wasn't coined by former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev, but he was responsible for catapulting the word into the international media and the English vocabulary. The term derives from the Russian adjective "glasnyi," which means "public" and which itself traces to "glas," a root meaning "voice." In Russian, "glasnost" was originally used (as long ago as the 18th century) in the general sense of "publicity," and the Oxford English Dictionary reports that V.I. Lenin used it in the context of freedom of information in the Soviet state. However, it wasn't until Gorbachev declared it a public policy in the mid-1980s that "glasnost" became widely known and used in English. 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, 2007 is: parsimonious • \par-suh-MOH-nee-us\ • adjective 1 : exhibiting or marked by parsimony; especially : frugal to the point of stinginess 2 : sparing, restrained Examples: My parsimonious brother refuses to buy the candy his daughter sells as a school fundraiser because he thinks it is overpriced. Did you know? English isn't stingy when it comes to synonyms of "parsimonious." "Stingy," "close," "penurious," and "miserly" are a few terms that, like "parsimonious," suggest an unwillingness to share with others. "Stingy" implies a marked lack of generosity, whereas "close" suggests keeping a tight grip on one's money and possessions. "Penurious" implies frugality that gives an appearance of actual poverty, and "miserly" suggests avariciousness and a morbid pleasure in hoarding. "Parsimonious" usually suggests an extreme frugality that borders on stinginess. *Indicates the sense illustrated in 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, 2007 is: interpellate • \in-ter-PELL-ayt\ • verb : to question (as a foreign minister) formally concerning an official action or policy or personal conduct Examples: At the international tribunal, U.N. officials interpellated the premier about his country's acquisition of illegal weapons. Did you know? "Interpellate" is a word you might encounter in the international news section of a newspaper or magazine. It refers to a form of political challenging used in the congress or parliament of many nations throughout the world, in some cases provided for in the country's constitution. Formal interpellation isn't practiced in the U.S. Congress, but in places where it is practiced, it can be the first step in ousting an appointed official or bringing to task an elected one. The word was borrowed from the Latin term "interpellatus," past participle of "interpellare," which means "to interrupt or disturb a person speaking." The "interrupt" sense, once used in English, is now obsolete, and "interpellate" should not be confused with "interpolate," which means "to insert words into a text or conversation." 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, 2007 is: katzenjammer • \KAT-zun-jam-er\ • noun 1 : hangover 2 : distress 3 : a discordant clamor Examples: The morning after the wedding, Pamela woke up with a blinding katzenjammer. Did you know? Have you ever heard a cat wailing and felt that you could relate? Apparently some hungover German speakers once did. "Katzenjammer" comes from the German "Katze" (meaning "cat") and "Jammer" (meaning "distress"). English speakers borrowed the word for their hangovers (and other distressful inner states) in the 19th century and eventually applied it to outer commotion as well. The word isn't as popular in English today as it was around the mid-20th century, but it's well-known to many because of the "Katzenjammer Kids," a long-running comic strip featuring the incorrigibly mischievous twins Hans and Fritz. *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 January 29, 2007 is: zaibatsu • \zye-BAHT-soo\ • noun : a powerful financial and industrial conglomerate of Japan Examples: As owners of a zaibatsu with interests in the insurance and banking industries, the family's decisions had an undeniable impact on the Japanese economy. Did you know? "Zaibatsu" is a compound formed by the Japanese words "zai," meaning "money" or "wealth," and "batsu," meaning "clique" or "clan." The word refers to one of several large capitalist enterprises that developed in Japan after the Meiji Restoration of 1868 and that expanded rapidly during World War I. Each zaibatsu was typically organized around a single family and controlled interests in multiple areas, such as mining, foreign trade, textiles, insurance, and especially banks. While zaibatsus were dissolved during the Allied occupation of Japan following World War II (around the time the word entered English), many of the individual companies that comprised them continued to be managed as they had been, and the term has survived. 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, 2007 is: yaw • \YAW\ • verb 1 : to deviate erratically from a course (as when struck by a heavy sea); especially : to move from side to side b of an airplane, spacecraft, or projectile : to turn by angular motion about the vertical axis 2 : alternate Examples: The gigantic wave caused our boat to yaw sharply to port, but thanks to some clever steering by Dad, we were able to get safely back on course. Did you know? In the heyday of large sailing ships, numerous nautical words appeared on the horizon, many of which have origins that have never been traced. "Yaw" is one such word. It began showing up in print in the 16th century, first as a noun (meaning "movement off course" or "side to side movement") and then as a verb. For more than 350 years it remained a sailing word, with occasional side trips to the figurative sense "to alternate." Then dawned the era of airplane flight in the early 20th century, and "yawing" was no longer confined to the sea. Nowadays, people who love boats still use "yaw" much as did the sailing-men of old, but pilots and rocket scientists also refer to the "yawing" of their crafts. *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 January 27, 2007 is: quotidian • \kwoh-TID-ee-un\ • adjective 1 : occurring every day 2 : belonging to each day : everyday 3 : commonplace, ordinary Examples: As an employee, Fiona is gifted at solving the difficult problems that arise from time to time, but she is often careless about the quotidian responsibilities of her job. Did you know? In Shakespeare's play As You Like It, the character Rosalind observes that Orlando, who has been running about in the woods carving her name on trees and hanging love poems on branches, "seems to have the quotidian of love upon him." Shakespeare's use doesn't make it clear that "quotidian" derives from a Latin word that means "every day." But as odd as it may seem, Shakespeare's use of "quotidian" is just a short semantic step away from the "daily" adjective sense. Some fevers occur intermittently -- sometimes daily. The phrase "quotidian fever" and the noun "quotidian" have long been used for such recurring maladies. Poor Orlando is simply afflicted with such a "fever" of love. *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 January 26, 2007 is: legerdemain • \lej-er-duh-MAYN\ • noun 1 : sleight of hand 2 : a display of skill and adroitness Examples: It was an impressive feat of legerdemain for Shane to take a dollar bill and instantly turn it into twenty nickels. Did you know? In Middle French, folks who were clever enough to fool others with fast-fingered illusions were described as "leger de main," literally "light of hand." English speakers condensed that phrase into a noun when they borrowed it in the 15th century and began using it as an alternative to the older "sleight of hand." (That term for dexterity or skill in using one's hands makes use of "sleight," an old word from Middle English that derives from an Old Norse word meaning "sly.") In more modern times, a feat of legerdemain can even be accomplished without using your hands, as in, for example "an impressive bit of financial legerdemain." *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 January 25, 2007 is: chivalry • \SHIV-ul-ree\ • noun 1 : mounted men-at-arms 2 : the system or practices of knighthood 3 : the conduct, spirit, or character of the ideal knight Examples: "Chivalry is not completely dead," thought Alice when the man on the subway rose to offer her his seat. Did you know? In days of old when knights were bold, Anglo-French speakers used the word "chevaler" (an ancestor of our word "chevalier") for a knight or horseman. By the 14th century, English speakers had adopted the slightly modified spelling "chivalry" to describe their own well-armored, mounted warriors. Nowadays, when we say that chivalry is not dead, we are alluding to the high standard of character and conduct typically associated with gallant knights. If you trace "chevaler" back to Late Latin, you'll find that it derives from "caballarius," which is also the ancestor of another term for a daring medieval gentleman-at-arms: "cavalier." 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 24, 2007 is: nonce • \NAHNTS\ • adjective : occurring, used, or made only once or for a special occasion Examples: Lewis Carroll's nonsense poem "Jabberwocky" is chock-full of nonce words, but a few of his coinages, such as "chortle" and "galumph," have become established in our language. Did you know? "Nonce" first appeared in Middle English as a noun spelled "nanes." The spelling likely came about from a misdivision of the phrase "then anes." ("Then" was the Middle English equivalent of "the" and "anes" meant "one purpose.") The word was especially used in the phrase "for the nonce," meaning "for the one purpose," as in Geoffrey Chaucer's "Prologue" of Canterbury Tales: "A cook they hadde with hem for the nones To boille the chiknes with the marybones." The adjective "nonce" did not exist in print until the publication in 1884 of the New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (which later became the Oxford English Dictionary). The editor of that dictionary, James Murray, created the term "nonce-word" as a label for "words apparently employed for the nonce." 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 23, 2007 is: pettifogger • \PET-ee-fog-ur\ • noun 1 : a lawyer whose methods are petty, underhanded, or disreputable : shyster 2 : one given to quibbling over trifles Examples: Charles Dickens's Uriah Heep was a complete pettifogger, an unctuous villain whose name became a byword for a falsely humble hypocrite. Did you know? In its earliest English uses, "pettifogger" was two separate words: "pettie fogger." "Pettie" was a variant spelling of "petty," a reasonable inclusion in a word for someone who is disreputable and small-minded. But why "fogger"? It may come from "Fugger," the name of a successful family of 15th- and 16th-century German merchants and financiers. Germanic variations of "fugger" were used for the wealthy and avaricious, as well as for hucksters. In English, a "pettie fogger" was originally a small-time operator of a shady business. We're not sure why the word came to be applied specifically to lawyers, but it appears to have initially referred to lower-status attorneys who argued the smaller, less important cases. *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 January 22, 2007 is: decrement • \DEK-ruh-munt\ • noun 1 : a gradual decrease in quality or quantity 2 : the quantity lost by diminution or waste Examples: The participants in the sleep deprivation study experienced a decrement in cognitive abilities as the night wore on. Did you know? Even if you've never seen "decrement" before, you might be familiar with "increment," a word for the action or process of increasing or for something that is gained or added. "Increment" arrived in English, after a rather circuitous route involving Anglo-French, from the Latin verb "increscere," meaning "to increase." So it should come as no surprise that "decrement" derives from the Latin verb "decrescere," meaning "to decrease." Both words can be traced further back to the verb "crescere," which means "to grow." Like "increment," "decrement" can also have the (much rarer) mathematical sense of "a change in the value of one or more of a set of variables," but "increment" is used for both positive and negative changes, and "decrement" only for negative ones. *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 January 21, 2007 is: cadge • \KAJ\ • verb : beg, sponge Examples: Mike tried to cadge a cigarette from Paula, but she told him to get his own pack. Did you know? As long ago as the 1400s, peddlers traveled the British countryside, each with a packhorse or a horse and cart, first carrying produce from rural farms to town markets, then returning with small wares to sell to country folk. The Middle English name for such traders was "cadgear"; Scottish dialects rendered the term as "cadger." Etymologists are pretty sure the verb "cadge" was created as a back-formation of "cadger" (which is to say, it was formed by removal of the "-er" suffix). At its most general, "cadger" meant "carrier," and the verb "cadge" meant "to carry." More specifically, the verb meant to go about as a cadger or peddler. By the 1800s, it was used when someone who posed as a peddler turned out to be more of a beggar, from which arose our present-day 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 January 20, 2007 is: miscible • \MISS-uh-bul\ • adjective : capable of being mixed; specifically : capable of mixing in any ratio without separation of two phases Examples: Mr. Remington's class demonstration showed that, to paraphrase an old saying, oil and water are indeed not miscible. Did you know? "Miscible" isn't simply a lesser-known synonym of "mixable" -- it's also a cousin. It comes to us from the Medieval Latin adjective "miscibilis," which has the same meaning as "miscible" and which derives in turn from Latin "miscēre," meaning "to mix." "Miscēre" is also the ultimate source of our "mix"; its past participle "mixtus" (meaning "mixed") spawned "mixte" in Anglo-French and Middle English, and "mix" came about as a back-formation of "mixte." The suffix "-able" gives us "mixable," thereby completing its link to "miscible." "Miscible" turns up most frequently in scientific discussions where it is used especially to describe fluids that don't separate when they are combined. 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 19, 2007 is: Gordian knot • \GOR-dee-un-NAHT\ • noun : an intricate problem; especially : a problem insoluble in its own terms Examples: "This renovation project has become a Gordian knot," said Marvin, "and I think the only way to cut the knot is to knock down the structure and start over." Did you know? According to Greek mythology, when the peasant Gordius became king of Gordium in Phrygia, he dedicated his wagon to Jupiter and fastened its yoke to a beam with a very complex knot. Centuries later, when Alexander the Great arrived on the scene, he was told that he couldn't conquer and rule Asia unless he proved himself worthy by untying the knot. Alexander quickly solved his problem -- and gained a new kingdom -- by slicing the knot in half with his sword. Since then, "Gordian knot" has become a term for a difficult problem, and the phrase "cut the Gordian knot" has become a popular way to describe a neat solution for an apparently insurmountable difficulty. 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 18, 2007 is: oleaginous • \oh-lee-AJ-uh-nus\ • adjective 1 : resembling or having the properties of oil : oily; also : containing or producing oil 2 : marked by an offensively ingratiating manner or quality Examples: Kelly spoke to her boss with an oleaginous deference that made her coworkers cringe. Did you know? The oily "oleaginous" slipped into English through Middle French, coming from the Latin "oleagineus," meaning "of an olive tree." "Oleagineus" itself is from the Latin "olea," meaning "olive tree," and ultimately from the Greek "elaia," meaning "olive." "Oleaginous" was at first used in a literal sense, as it still can be. An oleaginous substance is simply oily, and an oleaginous plant produces oil. The word took on its extended "ingratiating" sense in the 19th century. *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 January 17, 2007 is: consanguineous • \kahn-san-GWIN-ee-us\ • adjective : of the same blood or origin; specifically : descended from the same ancestor Examples: Brent hadn't believed that the man who claimed to be his long-lost cousin was telling the truth, but the documents proved that the two men were consanguineous. Did you know? "Consanguineous" is part of a family of "blood" relatives that all descend from the Latin noun "sanguis," meaning "blood." Some of these relatives are found on the literal branch of the family tree, as "exsanguination," a term for the draining or removal of blood. Others are on the figurative side of the family, such as "sanguine," a word that can mean "bloodred" or "ruddy" but that is more often used with the meaning "cheerful" or "optimistic." There is also "sangfroid," a French word (literally meaning "cold blood") that was borrowed into English to refer to self-control under stress. "Consanguineous" relies on the "kinship" sense of "blood," bringing together "sanguis" with the Latin prefix "con-," meaning "with," to form a word used to describe two or more organisms that descend from the same ancestor. 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 16, 2007 is: perceptible • \per-SEP-tuh-bul\ • adjective : capable of being perceived especially by the senses Examples: The smell of onions in the kitchen was barely perceptible to me, but Laura found it overwhelmingly pungent. Did you know? If something is "perceptible," you can "capture" it with your senses. "Perceptible" traces back to the Latin word "capere," which means "to take," combined with the prefix "per-," which means "thoroughly." It shares the "capere" part of its ancestry with a number of other English words related to seizing or being seized, including "capture," "captor," "captivate," and even "catch." 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 15, 2007 is: amuse-bouche • \AH-mooz-BOOSH\ • noun : a small complimentary appetizer offered at some restaurants Examples: "Meals start with a complimentary amuse-bouche and basket of bread with a ramekin of herb butter." (Linda Bladholm, The Miami Herald, November 30, 2006) Did you know? In French, "amuse bouche" means literally "it amuses the mouth." The French were using "amuse-bouche" as a word for appetizers when English speakers embraced the culinary term almost a quarter of a century ago. The French are more likely to use their term "amuse-gueule" for those tasty tidbits, however; and in English "amuse-bouche" has a special meaning. It's not just any appetizer! Typically, it's a tiny complimentary one that seems to have taxed the creative powers of the chef to the utmost for the amusement of the diners (e.g., a tiny beet-puree-filled taco; a tiny square of halibut-and-salmon cake; fig molasses on a tiny cube of goat cheese). 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 14, 2007 is: telecommute • \TEL-ih-kuh-myoot\ • verb : to work at home by the use of an electronic linkup with a central office Examples: When construction on the highway extended her drive to the office by 20 minutes, Margaret made the decision to start telecommuting. Did you know? "Telecommute" derives from the prefix "tele-," a descendant of the Greek "tele," meaning "far off," and the verb "commute," which arose from the Latin "commutare," meaning "to change" or "to exchange." The practice of working at home and interfacing with the office via modem, telephone, or another telecommunications device has only recently become commonplace, but the word "telecommute" has been around since the mid-1970s. Its earliest documented use can be found in a January 1974 article in The Economist that predicted, "As there is no logical reason why the cost of telecommunication should vary with distance, quite a lot of people by the late 1980s will telecommute daily to their London offices while living on a Pacific island if they want to." 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 13, 2007 is: bluestocking • \BLOO-stah-king\ • noun : a woman having intellectual or literary interests Examples: Now that Aunt Sarah has retired from teaching college English, she fulfills the role of bluestocking by holding literary teas for students at her home. Did you know? In mid-18th century England, a group of ladies decided to replace evenings of card playing and idle chatter with "conversation parties," inviting illustrious men of letters to discuss literary and intellectual topics with them. One regular guest was scholar-botanist Benjamin Stillingfleet. His hostesses willingly overlooked his cheap blue worsted stockings (a type disdained by the elite) in order to have the benefit of his lively conversation. Those who considered it inappropriate for women to aspire to learning derisively called the group the "Blue Stocking Society." The women who were the original bluestockings rose above the attempted put-down and adopted the epithet as a name for members of their society. 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 12, 2007 is: fictitious • \fik-TISH-us\ • adjective 1 : of, relating to, or characteristic of fiction : imaginary 2 : conventionally or hypothetically assumed or accepted b *of a name : false, assumed 3 : not genuinely felt Examples: Although the television series is based on real criminal cases, fictitious names are used to protect the privacy of the people who were actually involved. Did you know? "Fictitious" is related to the Latin word "ficticius," meaning "artificial" or "feigned." It was first used in English as an antonym for "natural." For instance, a fake diamond would be referred to as a fictitious one. This use indicates the word's deeper Latin roots. "Ficticius" is from Latin "fingere," meaning "to shape, form, or devise." Nowadays, "fictitious" is no longer used for physical things shaped by the human hand. Rather, it is typically used for imaginative creations or for feigned emotions. *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 January 11, 2007 is: urticaria • \er-tuh-KAIR-ee-uh\ • noun : hives Examples: After he told Betsy that the itchy, red welts on her arm were urticaria, the doctor noticed her scared look and quickly said "hives." Did you know? Hives can be caused by a number of things. It can be a reaction to the piece of food you ate, the new medication you took, or irritants in the air you breathe, among other causes. Urticaria was named in the 18th century for its resemblance to the rash caused by nettle, a plant of the genus Urtica. That genus name reflects the Latin word for "nettle" and is also related to the Latin verb "urere," meaning "to burn." (It's easy to see the connection here if you know that many species of nettle have stinging hairs that irritate the skin.) 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 10, 2007 is: histrionic • \his-tree-AH-nik\ • adjective 1 : deliberately affected : theatrical 2 : of or relating to actors, acting, or the theater Examples: Professor Dawson's histrionic flair may have been excessive, but it certainly made his history lectures entertaining. Did you know? The term "histrionic" developed from "histrio," Latin for "actor." Something that is "histrionic" tends to remind one of the high drama of stage and screen and is often stagy and over-the-top. It especially calls to mind the theatrical form known as the "melodrama," where plot and physical action, not characterization, are emphasized. But something that is "histrionic" isn't always overdone; the word might simply refer to an actor or something related to the theater. In that sense, it becomes a synonym of "thespian." *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 January 9, 2007 is: oxymoron • \ahk-sih-MOR-ahn\ • noun : a combination of contradictory or incongruous words Examples: "That's an oxymoron!" said Joanne, when she heard the DJ describe the song as an "instant classic." Did you know? The Greeks exhaustively classified the elements of rhetoric, or effective speech and writing, and gave the name "oxymoron," literally "pointed foolishness," to the deliberate juxtaposing of seemingly contradictory words. The roots of "oxymoron" -- "oxys," meaning "sharp" or "keen," and "moros," meaning "foolish" -- are nearly antonyms themselves, making "oxymoron" nicely self-descriptive. "Oxymoron" originally applied to a meaningful paradox condensed into a couple of words, as in "precious bane," "lonely crowd," or "sweet sorrow." Today, however, "oxymoron" can also refer to unintentional contradictions, like "a plastic glass." 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 8, 2007 is: cognoscible • \kog-NAH-suh-bul\ • adjective : cognizable, knowable Examples: "Discourse must be in words, and it is possible to give a name to that which is not understood nor cognoscible by human reason." (Flann O'Brien, The Dalkey Archive) Did you know? The exact synonym of "cognoscible" is the far better-known "cognizable." Both words mean "capable of being judicially heard and determined" (as "a cognoscible claim") and "capable of being known" (as "cognoscible circumstances"). Both terms are from Latin "cognoscere," meaning "to know." And both appeared in the 17th century, less than two decades apart -- first, "cognoscible," direct from the Late Latin adjective "cognoscibilis"; then, "cognizable," from the English noun "cognizance" ("knowledge"). 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 7, 2007 is: vox populi • \VOKS-POP-yoo-lye\ • noun : popular sentiment Examples: It's too early to determine with certainty just how much influence the vox populi will really have on the new governor's policy decisions. Did you know? "Vox populi" is a Latin phrase that literally translates as "the voice of the people." It can be found in the longer maxim, "Vox populi, vox Dei," which means "The voice of the people is the voice of God." Many people think that expression means that the people are always right, but it really implies that the will of the masses -- right or wrong -- is often irresistible. Since the mid-1960s, English speakers, especially British ones, have trimmed "vox populi" down to the abbreviated form "vox pop," an expression used particularly for popular opinion as it is used and expressed by the media. 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 6, 2007 is: expeditious • \ek-spuh-DISH-us\ • adjective : characterized by or acting promptly and efficiently Examples: Poisonous snakebites require expeditious treatment. Did you know? Like "expeditious," all of the following words contain "ped." Can you guess which ones get those three letters from the same Latin root as "expeditious"? encyclopedia expedition stampede torpedo orthopedic impede The Latin source of "expeditious" is the verb "expedire," which means "to extricate," "to prepare," or "to be useful." The "ped" is from "pes," meaning "foot." (The "ex-" means "out of," and the literal sense of "expedire" is "to free the feet.") The "ped" in "impede" also comes from "pes." But the "ped" in "encyclopedia" and "orthopedic" is from the Greek "pais," meaning "child"; "stampede" is from the Spanish "estampar," meaning "to stamp"; and "torpedo" is from the Latin "torpere," meaning "to be sluggish." What about "expedition"? Meaning both "a journey" and "promptness," it too is from "expedire." 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 5, 2007 is: mesmerize • \MEZ-muh-ryze\ • verb 1 : hypnotize 2 : spellbind, fascinate Examples: The audience was mesmerized by the performance of the circus acrobats on the trapeze. Did you know? Experts can't agree on whether Franz Anton Mesmer (1734-1815) was a quack or a genius, but all concede that the late 18th-century physician's name is the source of the word "mesmerize." In his day, Mesmer was the toast of Paris, where he enjoyed the support of notables including Queen Marie Antoinette. He treated patients with a force he termed "animal magnetism." Many believe that what he actually used was what we now call "hypnotism." Mesmer's name was first applied to a technique for inducing hypnosis by one of his students in 1784. *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 January 4, 2007 is: juncture • \JUNK-cher\ • noun 1 : joint, connection 2 : a point of time; especially : one made critical by a concurrence of circumstances Examples: "At this juncture in the editing process," said Philip, "it is important that all facts have been double-checked and sources verified." Did you know? "Juncture" has many relatives in English -- and some of them are easy to spot, whereas others are not so obvious. "Juncture" derives from the Latin verb "jungere" ("to join"), which gave us not only "join" and "junction" but also "conjugal" ("relating to marriage") and "junta" ("a group of persons controlling a government"). "Jungere" also has distant etymological connections to "joust," "jugular," "juxtapose," "yoga" and "yoke." The use of "juncture" in English dates back to the 14th century. Originally, the word meant "a place where two or more things are joined," but by the 17th century it could also be used of an important point in time or of a stage in a process or activity. *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 3, 2007 is: hazmat • \HAZ-mat\ • noun : a material (as flammable or poisonous material) that would be a danger to life or to the environment if released without precautions Examples: When asbestos was discovered, the company called in a hazmat team to identify and remove all of it. Did you know? The origin of "hazmat" is clear enough -- it was formed by combining the first three letters of each of two words: "hazardous" and "material." The word "hazmat" is fairly young, first appearing in print in 1980. Although it is a noun, "hazmat" tends to be used attributively, meaning that it often appears in sentences before another noun as if it were performing the duties of an adjective (as in "hazmat team" and "hazmat worker"). 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 2, 2007 is: riot act • \RYE-ut-AKT\ • noun : a vigorous reprimand or warning -- used in the phrase read the riot act Examples: When Chris arrived late to class again, the teacher read him the riot act for not being more punctual. Did you know? Many people were displeased when George I became king of England in 1714, and his opponents were soon leading rebellions and protests against him. The British government, anxious to stop the protests, passed a law called the "Riot Act." It allowed public officials to break up gatherings of 12 or more people by reading aloud a proclamation, warning those who heard it that they must disperse within the hour or be guilty of a felony punishable by death. By 1819, "riot act" was also being used more generally for any stern warning or reprimand. Although the law long ago fell into disuse and was finally repealed in 1973, the term that it generated lives on today. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 1, 2007 is: fatidic • \fay-TID-ik\ • adjective : of or relating to prophecy Examples: I hope the dream I had last night about losing my wedding ring doesn't prove fatidic. Did you know? As you might guess, "fatidic" is a relative of the word "fate." The Latin word for fate is "fatum," which literally means "what has been spoken." "Fatum," in turn, comes from "fari," meaning "to speak." In the eyes of the ancients, your fate was out of your hands -- what happened was up to gods and demigods. Predicting your fate was a job for oracles and prophets. "Fatidic" is "fatum" combined with "dicere," meaning "to say." That makes "fatidic" a relative of the word "predict" as well; the "-dict" of "predict" also comes from Latin "dicere." 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 December 31, 2006 is: chagrin • \shuh-GRIN\ • noun : disquietude or distress of mind caused by humiliation, disappointment, or failure Examples: It was with a great deal of chagrin that Lynette heard the news that her sister wasn't coming to her wedding. Did you know? "Chagrin" comes from French, in which it means "grief," "sorrow," or essentially the same thing as our "chagrin," and in which it is also an adjective meaning "sad." Some etymologists have linked this "chagrin" with another French "chagrin," meaning "rough leather" or "rough skin." Supposedly, the rough leather used to rub, polish, or file became a metaphor in French for agitating situations. English-speakers have also adopted the leathery "chagrin" into our language but have altered the spelling to "shagreen." 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 December 30, 2006 is: slapstick • \SLAP-stick\ • noun 1 : a device made of two flat pieces of wood fastened at one end so as to make a loud noise when used by an actor to strike a person 2 : comedy stressing farce and horseplay; also : activity resembling slapstick Examples: Joe's sense of humor was such that the slapstick of the Three Stooges would have him rolling on the floor. Did you know? The idea that knocking people about made for good comedy dates as far back as the Greco-Roman theater, where clowns rambunctiously "attacked" one another onstage. The object from which the word "slapstick" derives, however, was invented in Italy in the 16th century. Renaissance comedy typically featured stock characters placed in ridiculous situations, and one such ubiquitous character was Harlequin, whose brilliant costuming made him easily recognizable. Harlequin was given to wielding a paddle which was designed to make a terrible noise when he hit someone, usually to the delight of the audience. This paddle was eventually known in English as a "slapstick," and it became a symbol of that type of highly physical comedy. The word "slapstick" then came to refer to the comedy itself. *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 December 29, 2006 is: pell-mell • \pell-MELL\ • adverb 1 : in mingled confusion or disorder 2 : in confused haste Examples: Autograph seekers rushed pell-mell into the hotel lobby in an effort to meet the famous actress. Did you know? The word "pell-mell" was formed through a process called "reduplication." The process -- which involves the repetition of a word or part of a word, often including a slight change in its pronunciation -- also generated such terms as "bowwow," "helter-skelter," "flip-flop," and "walkie-talkie." Yet another product of reduplication is "shilly-shally," which started out as a single-word compression of the question "Shall I?" "Pell-mell" traces to the Middle French "pelemele," which has the same meaning as the English "pell-mell." *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 December 28, 2006 is: inculcate • \in-KUL-kayt\ • verb : to teach and impress by frequent repetitions or admonitions Examples: More than anything, Don and Gloria try to inculcate in their children the importance of treating others the way they wish to be treated themselves. Did you know? "Inculcate" derives from the past participle of the Latin verb "inculcare," meaning "to tread on." In Latin, "inculcare" possesses both literal and figurative meanings, referring to either the act of walking over something or to that of impressing something upon the mind, often by way of steady repetition. It is the figurative sense that survives with "inculcate," which was first used in English in the 16th century. "Inculcare" was formed in Latin by combining the prefix "in-" with "calcare," meaning "to trample," and ultimately derives from the noun "calx," meaning "heel." In normal usage "inculcate" is typically followed by the prepositions "in" or "into," with the object of the preposition being the person or thing receiving the instruction. 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 December 27, 2006 is: vertiginous • \ver-TIJ-uh-nus\ • adjective 1 a : characterized by or suffering from vertigo or dizziness b : inclined to frequent and often pointless change : inconstant 2 : causing or tending to cause dizziness 3 : marked by turning : rotary Examples: In Moscow, we saw "Swan Lake" from the vertiginous perspective of the Bolshoi Theatre's uppermost balcony. Did you know? "It is generally necessary to avoid crowded rooms and the vertiginous influence of the dance," one 19th-century medical work advised. We're not sure what condition this advice was aimed at, but it may well have been "vertigo," a disordered state characterized by whirling dizziness. "Vertiginous," from the Latin "vertiginosus," is the adjective form of "vertigo," which in Latin means "a turning or whirling action." Both words descend from the Latin verb "vertere," meaning "to turn." ("Vertiginous" and "vertigo" are just two of an almost dizzying array of "vertere" offspring, from "adverse" to "vortex.") The "dizzying" sense of "vertiginous" is often used figuratively, as in "vertiginous medical discoveries may drastically change life in the 21st century." *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 December 26, 2006 is: ex cathedra • \eks-kuh-THEE-druh ("th" is as in "think")\ • adverb or adjective : by virtue of or in the exercise of one's office or position Examples: Andrew seems to think that his new position as supervisor gives him the ex cathedra privilege of taking excessively long lunch breaks. Did you know? "Ex cathedra" is a Latin phrase, meaning not "from the cathedral," but "from the chair." The phrase does have religious origins though: it was originally applied to decisions made by Popes from their thrones. According to Roman Catholic doctrine, a Pope speaking ex cathedra on issues of faith or morals is infallible. In general use, the phrase has come to be used with regard to statements made by people in positions of authority, and it is often used ironically to describe someone speaking with overbearing or unwarranted self-certainty. 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 December 25, 2006 is: belated • \bih-LAY-tud\ • adjective 1 : delayed beyond the usual time 2 : existing or appearing past the normal or proper time Examples: Susan called Jim on Christmas and told him he'd be receiving a belated gift from her. Did you know? Long ago, there was a verb "belate," which meant "to make late." From the beginning, "belate" tended to mostly turn up in the form of its past participle "belated." Eventually, "belate" itself fell out of use, leaving behind "belated" as an adjective that preserved the original notion of delay. As you may have guessed, "belate" and its descendant "belated" derive from the adjective "late"; "belate" was formed by simply combining the prefix "be-" ("to cause to be") with "late." *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 December 24, 2006 is: rue • \ROO\ • verb 1 : (transitive sense) to feel penitence, remorse, or regret for 2 : (intransitive sense) to feel sorrow, remorse, or regret Examples: As Robert watched Deborah's train pull out of the station, he knew that he would forever rue the day he let the one woman he truly loved get away. Did you know? If you remember your high school French, or if you've ever strolled down the Rue de Rivoli in Paris, you may have the notion that the English word "rue" is somehow connected to the French word for "street." In actuality, the French and English words are not related at all. The English "rue" is originally from the Old English word "hrēow," meaning "sorrow." Used as both a noun and, more frequently, a verb, "rue" is very old, dating back to before the 12th century. *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 December 23, 2006 is: adamantine • \ad-uh-MAN-teen\ • adjective 1 : made of or having the quality of adamant 2 : rigidly firm : unyielding 3 : resembling the diamond in hardness or luster Examples: Jay was adamantine in his refusal to help with the party, insisting he had to be somewhere else that night. Did you know? The Greek and Latin word for the hardest imaginable substance, whether applied to a legendary stone or an actual substance, such as diamond, was "adamas." Latin poets used the term figuratively for things lasting, firm, or unbending, and the adjective "adamantinus" was used in similar contexts. The English noun "adamant" (meaning "an unbreakable or extremely hard substance"), as well as the adjective "adamant" (meaning "inflexible" or "unyielding"), came from "adamas." "Adamantine," which has such figurative uses as "rigid," "firm," and "unyielding," came from "adamantinus." "Adamas" is actually the source of "diamond" as well. "Diamas," the Latin term for diamond, was an alteration of "adamas." *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 December 22, 2006 is: gregarious • \grih-GAIR-ee-us\ • adjective 1 a : tending to associate with others of one's kind : social b : marked by or indicating a liking for companionship: sociable c : of or relating to a social group 2 a : (of a plant) growing in a cluster or a colony b : living in contiguous nests but not forming a true colony -- used especially of wasps and bees Examples: Michael's gregarious nature made him popular with students of all different stripes at school. Did you know? When you're one of the herd, it's tough to avoid being social. The etymology of "gregarious" reflects the social nature of the flock; in fact, the word grew out of the Latin noun "grex," meaning "herd" or "flock." When it first began appearing in English texts in the 17th century, "gregarious" was applied mainly to animals, but by the 18th century it was being used for social human beings as well. By the way, "grex" gave English a whole flock of other words too, including "egregious," "aggregate," "congregate," and "segregate." *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.