flexuous

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 18, 2010 is: flexuous • \FLEK-shuh-wus\  • adjective 1 : having curves, turns, or windings 2 : lithe or fluid in action or movement Examples: The last leg of the trail is a flexuous path leading up the mountain to a spectacular panoramic view of the valley. Did you know? English author Thomas Hardy was fond of the word "flexuous" and described his dark-haired Tess as "the most flexuous and finely-drawn figure." "Flexuous" may be a synonym of "curvy," but it's not the word most likely to be chosen these days to describe a shapely woman. The botanists' use of "flexuous" to describe plant stems that aren't rigid is a more typical use today. But don't let that tendency deflect you from occasionally employing this ultimately quite flexible word. Stemming straight from Latin "flectere," meaning "to bend," it can also mean "undulating" or "fluid." It might, for example, be used of writing or music, or of something or someone that moves with a fluid sort of grace. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.