Podcasts by Word of the Day
The huge Amazon Alexa hit Word of the Day is now available as a podcast!
Word of the Day teaches you a useful word, its definition, etymology, and gives you examples of how to use it in a sentence. A new word each and every day! Perfect for those looking to expand their vocabulary, learning English and looking for a boost and anyone who loves words.
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Asportation from 2023-12-12T10:00
Asportation is a noun that refers to the illegal carrying away of property.
The Latin word asportare (as poor TAR ay) means ‘to carry away.’ Our word of the day is related to other k...
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Sociometry from 2023-12-09T10:00
Sociometry is a noun that refers to the quantitative study and measurement of relationships within a group of people.
Stemming from the Latin words socius (SO see oos) meaning ‘compa...
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Erewhonian from 2023-12-07T10:00
Erewhonian is an adjective that means ‘opposed to machinery or technological progress.’
Our word of the day gets its origin from an 1872 speculative fiction novel called ‘Erew...
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Cabotinage from 2023-12-01T10:00
Cabotinage is an adjective that means overacting or hamming.
Originally stemming from the French word for a cabinet, our word of the day entered English in the 19th century t...
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Synderesis from 2023-11-26T10:00
Synderesis is a noun that refers to inborn knowledge of the basic principles of morality.
Originally stemming from Greek philosophy and the Greek language, our word of the day may be used...
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Infrasocial from 2023-11-22T10:00
Infrasocial is an adjective that means lacking social organization.
Our word of the day comes from the Latin word ‘socius’ (SO see oos) meaning ‘friend’ and adds the prefix I-N-F-R-A mea...
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Terricolous from 2023-11-19T10:00
Terricolous is an adjective that means ‘living in or on the ground.’
Our word of the day comes from the Latin words ‘terra,’ (TEAR uh) meaning ‘land’ or ‘the earth,’ and colore (coe LOW a...
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Fastidious from 2023-11-07T10:00
Fastidious is an adjective that means very attentive and concerned about accuracy.
Coming from the Middle English period, our word of the day gets its origin from the Latin word fastidio...
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Nomenclature from 2023-11-06T10:00
Nomenclature is a noun that refers to the devising or choosing of names for things.
Our word of the day comes from two Latin words. ‘nomen’ (KNOW men) which means ‘name,’ and clatura (cl...
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Transmarine from 2023-11-03T10:00
Transmarine is an adjective that means passing over or crossing the sea.
The Latin prefix TRANS means ‘across.’ We see it in words like ‘transatlantic’ or ‘transfer.’ Marine comes fr...
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Temerarious from 2023-11-02T10:00
Temerarious is an adjective that means ‘reckless or rash.’
Our word of the day comes directly from the Latin word for ‘rashly.’ It’s been around since the mid-16th century. Here’s an exam...
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Discompose from 2023-11-01T10:00
Discompose is a verb that means to disturb or agitate from a calm state.
Compose is a Latin-based word that’s been around since the late Middle English period and it means ’...
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Animalcule from 2023-10-27T09:00:16
Animalcule is a noun that refers to a microscopic animal, nearly or completely invisible to the naked eye.
The Latin word ‘animalculum’ (ahn ee MAL kyoo loom) means ‘little animal.’ ...
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Anomalistics from 2023-10-25T09:00:02
Anomalistics is a noun that refers to the use of scientific methods to try and find a rational explanation for seemingly unusual phenomena.
An anomaly refers to something that deviates f...
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Jurisprudence from 2022-04-12T09:00
Jurisprudence is a noun that refers to a legal system.
Our word of the day’s Latin prefix J-U-R refers to ‘law.’ While the Latin word prudentia (proo DENSE ee uh) means ‘knowledge.’ Juris...
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Facultative from 2022-04-07T09:00
Facultative is an adjective that means related to the granting of permission.
The French word faculte (fa COOLT) refers to a physical or mental power. When the word facultative is used, i...
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Rubiginous from 2022-04-05T09:00
Today’s word of the day is rubiginous. It’s spelled R-U-B-I-G-I-N-O-U-S. Rubiginous is an adjective that means rust-colored.
The Latin word rubigo (ROO bee go) means ‘rust.’ Our word of t...
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Submontane from 2022-04-04T09:00
Submontane is an adjective that means at or near the base of a mountain.
Our word of the day combines the Latin prefix S-U-B, meaning ‘under’ or ‘beneath’ with the Latin word mons, meanin...
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Hypnagogia from 2022-03-31T09:00
Hypnagogia is a noun that refers to the state immediately before falling asleep.
The Greek prefix H-Y-P-N-A means ‘sleep,’ as in hypnosis. And Agogos (ah GO gose) means ‘leading.’ Our wor...
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Magniloquence from 2022-03-27T09:00
Magniloquence is a noun that refers to use of high-flown language.
In Latin, the word Magnus (MAG nus) means ‘great,’ while the word loqui (LOW kwi) — also from Latin — means ‘speak...
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Pantophagous from 2022-03-24T10:00
Pantophagous is an adjective that means requiring or serving a wide variety of food.
Coming from Middle English, pantophagous is often used to describe a varied diet. Here’s an example of...
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Terraqueous from 2022-03-19T10:00
Terraqueous is an adjective that means consisting or formed of land and water.
Our word of the day combines the Latin words for ‘land,’ terra (TARE uh) and ‘water,’ aqua (AWK wah). It may...
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Terpsichorean from 2022-03-18T10:00
Terpsichorean is an adjective that means related to dancing.
Our word of the day takes its origin from a dancing female figure in Greek mythology. In addition to being used as an adjectiv...
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Innominate from 2022-03-14T10:00
Innominate is an adjective that means not named or anonymous.
The Greek word onoma (OH no ma) means ‘name.’ It’s where we get words like anonymous an eponymous. Our word of the day combin...
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Hyperborean from 2022-03-11T10:00
Hyperborean is a noun that refers to an inhabitant of the cold north. It can also be used as an adjective that means related to the far north.
In ancient Greek mythology, our word of the ...
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Appurtenance from 2022-03-05T10:00
Appurtenance is a noun that refers to an item indicating a particular lifestyle.
Our word of the day is not to be confused with the word appurtenant, which means ‘pertinent.’ But the two ...
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Epexegesis from 2022-03-03T10:00
Epexegesis is a noun that refers to the addition of words to clarify meaning.
Our word of the day comes directly from the Greek words for ‘in addition’ and ‘explanation.’ Here is an examp...
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Integrative from 2022-02-22T10:00
Integrative is an adjective that means tending to unify.
The root word of our word of the day is integrate. To integrate something is to unify or combine various elements. Integrative cou...
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Anacreontic from 2022-02-21T10:00
Anacreontic is an adjective that means convivial and festive.
Our word of the day comes from an ancient Greek poet named anacreon. He was best known for poems that were celebrations ...
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Neurotypical from 2022-02-19T10:00
Neurotypical is an adjective that means not displaying signs of autism.
Our word of the day combines the Greek prefix N-E-U-R-O with the word ‘typical,’ also of Greek origin. Neurotypical...
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Disputation from 2022-02-18T10:00
Disputation is a noun that refers to argument or debate.
The Latin word disputare (dis pyoo TAR ay) means ‘to dispute.’ The word is often used to refer to a formal debate. Here’s an examp...
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Theophoric from 2022-02-16T10:00
Theophoric is an adjective that means bearing the name of a god.
Our word of the day is Greek in origin and is used to describe any name from a god of any faith. Here’s an example of ...
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Attitudinize from 2022-02-15T10:00
Attitudinize is a verb that means to assume an affected mental state.
Our word of the day gets its root word from attitude, which comes indirectly from the Latin word Aptus (OP toose)...
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Synallagmatic from 2022-02-14T10:00
Synallagmatic is an adjective that means imposing reciprocal obligations.
Coming from the Greek word for contract, our word of the day is often used in legal situations, refers to the nee...
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Organoleptic from 2022-02-12T10:00
Organoleptic is an adjective that means involving the sense organs.
Our word of the day comes from the Greek word for ‘organ’ and combines it with the Greek ‘leptikos’ (LEP tea cose) whic...
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Cognoscente from 2022-01-28T10:00
Cognoscente is a noun that refers to a person with specialized knowledge or expertise.
Coming directly from Italian, our word of the day entered the English language in the late 18th cent...
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Prosopopoeia from 2022-01-25T10:00
Prosopopeia is a noun that refers to a figure of speech in which an abstract thing is personified.
Our word of the the day comes directly from the Greek words for ‘person’ and ‘make.’ It ...
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Snollygoster from 2022-01-24T10:00
Snollygoster is a noun that refers to a clever, shrewd person.
Coming from German, our word of the day was imported into English in the mid 19th century. It refers to a screwed, clever pe...
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Euhemerism from 2022-01-21T10:00
Euhemerism is a noun that refers to the interpretation of myths as traditional accounts of historical persons and events.
Today’s word of the day comes from an ancient Greek mythographer ...
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Mythopoeia from 2022-01-19T10:00
Mythopoeia is a noun that refers to a creation of myth.
Our word of the day combines two Greek words ‘myth,’ which translates into our contemporary English word myth, and poiein (PEEN) me...
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Indissoluble from 2022-01-18T10:00
Indissoluble is an adjective that means incapable of being undone.
The Latin word dissolubilis (dee so loo BEE leese) means ‘fades.’ When the prefix I-N is added, we get a word that means...
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Prothalamion from 2022-01-16T10:00
Prothalamion is a noun that refers to a song celebrating an upcoming marriage.
Our word of the day comes from the title of a 16th century poem and is typically used in a literary or histo...
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Wanderwort from 2022-01-15T10:00
Wanderwort is a noun that refers to a word from one language that is used in many others.
Our word of the day consists of two words that are German in origin, wander, meaning ‘to meander ...
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Glossophobia from 2022-01-10T10:00
Glossophobia is a noun that refers to a fear of public speaking.
Our word of the day is comprised of the Greek prefix G-L-O-S-S-O, derived from the word for ‘language.’ And P-H-O-B-I-A, a...
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Galimatias from 2022-01-09T10:00
Galimatias is a noun that refers to confused or meaningless talk.
Our word of the day has no clear origin, but we can say with certainty that it arrived in English around the mid 17th cen...
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In statu nascendi from 2022-01-05T10:00
In statu nascendi is an adjective that means in the course of being formed or developed.
Sometimes written or spoken simply as statu nascendi, our word of the day comes directly from the ...
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Synecdoche from 2021-12-26T10:00
Synecdoche is a noun that refers to a figure of speech by which a part is used for the whole.
Our word of the day is derived from a variety of Greek phrases that roughly translate to ‘tak...
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Torrential from 2021-12-19T10:00
Torrential is an adjective that means falling in rushing or violent streams.
The word torrent comes directly from Latin and it means ‘boiling’ or ‘roaring.’ Our word of the day modifies t...
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Subsidiary from 2021-12-12T10:00
Subsidiary is an adjective that means less important to but related to.
The Latin word subsidere means ‘to sit below.’ When something is deemed subsidiary, it is regarded as less importan...
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Flagitious from 2021-12-09T10:00
Flagitious is an adjective that means criminal or villainous.
The Latin word flagitium (fla JEE tomb) is a noun that refers to ‘shameful crime.’ Our word of the day is an adjective to des...
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Fantasticate from 2021-12-05T10:00
Fantasticate is a verb that means to make something seem fanciful.
Our word of the day is derived from the word fantasy, which comes from the Greek word phantasia (FAWN toss yah). When we...
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Umbrageous from 2021-11-29T10:00
Umbrageous is an adjective that means inclined to take offense easily.
Our word of the day is loosely related to the word umbrella, which comes from the Latin word umbra (OOM bruh) meanin...
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Florilegium from 2021-11-27T10:00
Florilegium is a noun that refers to a volume of writing.
The Latin prefix F-L-O-R has given birth to many words likes ‘flower’ and ‘florist.’ Its path to becoming the origin of a word fo...
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Jouissance from 2021-11-23T10:00
Jouissance is a noun that refers to physical or intellectual pleasure.
The French word juir (ghweere) means ‘to enjoy.’ From this our word of the day has come to enter English. Here’...
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Multifarious from 2021-11-22T10:00
Multifarious is an adjective that means ‘of many types. ‘
The Latin multifarius (mool tee FAR ee oose) was imported into English in the Late 16th century and has maintained the ...
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Compendium from 2021-11-19T10:00
Compendium is a noun that refers to a concise collection of information.
The Latin prefix C-O-M means ‘together,’ while pendere (PEN dare ay) is Latin for ‘weight.’ Compendium entere...
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Calumniate from 2021-11-18T10:00
Calumniate is a verb that means to defame or make false statements about.
The Latin word calumnia (cal OOM ne uh) means ‘oppression.’ More recently, the English ancestor or this word, cal...
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Accelerant from 2021-11-15T10:00
Accelerant is a noun that refers to something that aids in acceleration. It comes also be used as an adjective to describe something that causes an acceleration.
The word accelerate ...
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Contestation from 2021-11-14T10:00
Contestation is a noun that refers to controversy or debate.
The Latin word contestari (con test TAR ay) means ‘to call upon a witness.’ It later evolved into a number of English words li...
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Doctrinaire from 2021-11-06T10:00
Doctrinaire is an adjective that means seeking to impose a doctrine in all circumstances without regard to practical considerations. It is also a noun that refers to a person with doctrinai...
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Mythomania from 2021-11-01T10:00
Mythomania is a noun that refers to the tendency to exaggerate.
We have the Greeks to thank for our word of the day. Its root word is ‘myth,’ coming from the Greek word mythos (MYTH ose) ...
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Perihelion from 2021-10-29T09:00
Perihelion is a noun that refers to the highest point or the peak.
The Greek prefix P-E-R-I means ‘near,’ while the word helios (HE lee ose) — also from Greek — means ‘the sun.’ The word ...
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Deontology from 2021-10-28T09:00
Deontology is a noun that refers to the study of obligation.
Our word of the day’s origin comes mainly from Greek. The Greek prefix D-E-O-N-T means ‘being needed,’ while the suffix L-O-G-...
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Psychogenic from 2021-10-22T09:00
Psychogenic is an adjective that means originating in the mind.
The prefix P-S-Y-C-H-O comes from Greek and refers to the mind or the soul. Genic is also Greek and refers to ‘origin’ or ‘...
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Idiopathic from 2021-10-20T09:00
Idiopathic is an adjective that means of unknown causes.
The prefix of our word of the day, I-D-I-O comes from the Greek word meaning ‘one’s own’ or ‘private.’ And ‘pathic’ comes fro...
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Maladaptive from 2021-10-08T09:00
Maladaptive is an adjective that means not conducive to adaptation.
The root word of the our word of the day is ‘adapt,’ from the Latin word aptus,(AP toos) which means ‘to fit.’ The Lati...
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Fountainhead from 2021-10-06T09:00
Fountainhead is a noun that refers to the origin of something.
After entering the English language in the 16th century, our word of the day came to refer to the original source of a river...
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Numismatic from 2021-10-05T09:00
Numismatic is an adjective that means monetary or related to currency.
The Greek word nomisma (NO meese ma) means ‘coin.’ Our word of the day describes any kind of currency or medals...
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Bellwether from 2021-10-04T09:00
Bellwether is a noun that refers to an indicator or predictor of something.
Coming from Middle English, our word of the day began as a term for a sheep that lead the flock. More recently ...
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Ne plus ultra from 2021-10-03T09:00
Ne plus ultra is a noun that refers to the highest point attainable.
Our word of the day comes directly from a Latin phrase that translates to ‘not further beyond.’ It basically indicates...
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Vade mecum from 2021-09-23T09:00
Vade mecum is a noun that refers to something regularly carried by a person.
Coming directly from a Latin phrase that translates to ‘come with me,’ our word of the day, after entering Eng...
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Lese majesty from 2021-09-20T09:00
Lese majesty is a noun that refers to an attack on a custom or tradition.
The Latin phrase leasa majestas (la AYS uh ma JACE dus) translates to ‘injured majesty.’ After being imported int...
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Appellative from 2021-09-12T09:00
Appellative is a noun that refers to a descriptive name or designation. It can also be used as an adjective that means relating to or denoting the giving of a name.
The Latin word ap...
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Infinitesimal from 2021-09-10T09:00
Infinitesimal is an adjective that means immeasurably small. It is also a noun that refers to a very small amount.
The root word of infinitesimal is ‘infinite,’ which means ‘not fini...
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Punditocracy from 2021-09-07T09:00
Punditocracy is a noun that refers to an elite or influential group of political commentators.
The word pundit comes from the Hindi word pandit (PON dit) which means ‘scholar.’ After bein...
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Asseverate from 2021-09-02T09:00
Asseverate is a verb that means to declare earnestly or solemnly.
Asseverare (ah SAY ver are ay) is a Latin word that means ‘assert’ or ‘declare.’ Our word of the day could be thought of ...
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Volte-face from 2021-09-01T09:00
Volte-face is a noun that refers to a reversal of opinion or position.
Our word of the day comes directly from the French words ‘turn of face.’
The Governor’s volte-face on the iss...
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Perfidious from 2021-08-31T09:00
Perfidious is an adjective that means deceitful and untrustworthy.
Our word of the day is derived from the Latin word perfidia (pair FEE dee uh) meaning ‘treachery.’ By the late 16th cent...
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Recriminate from 2021-08-28T09:00
Recriminate is a verb that means to accuse someone who has made an accusation against you.
The Latin word criminare (crim in ARE ay) means ‘accuse.’ Our word of the day gets its origin wi...
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Recompense from 2021-08-19T09:00
Recompense is a verb that means to compensate or make amends. It can also be used as a noun that refers to the compensation or reward given for past harm.
The Latin word recompensare (ray...
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Prima facie from 2021-08-11T09:00
Prima facie is an adjective that means based on the first impression. It can also be used as an adverb that means ‘on the first impression.’
Our word of the day comes directly from a Lati...
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Nouveau riche from 2021-08-08T09:00
Nouveau riche is an adjective that means a rich person who has recently acquired their wealth as opposed to having inherited it.
Our word of the day comes directly from a French phra...
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Felicitate from 2021-07-26T09:00
Felicitate is a verb that means to congratulate.
The Latin word Felix (FAY licks) means ‘happy,’ and it gave birth to our word of the day which is mainly used as a synonym of the verb con...
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Adventitious from 2021-07-22T09:00
Adventitious is an adjective that means happening by chance not design.
The Latin word adventicius (odd VENT tee toose) means ‘coming to us from abroad.’ Our word of the day can main...
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Impalpable from 2021-07-18T09:00
Impalpable is an adjective that means not easily understood.
Our word of the day comes from the Latin word palpare (pal PAR ay) which means ‘to feel.’ When something is described as palpa...
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Bildungsroman from 2021-07-14T09:00
Bildungsroman is a noun that refers to a coming of age novel.
Our word of the day comes from two German words. Bildung (BILL dung) means ‘education,’ and roman (ROE mahn) refers to ‘a nov...
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Discommode from 2021-07-13T09:00
Discommode is a verb that means to inconvenience.
The Latin word commodus (COMB oh deuce) means ‘suitable’ or ‘convenient.’ The word accommodate is also derived from commodus and is often...
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Jabberwocky from 2021-07-03T09:00
Jabberwocky is a noun that refers to meaningless language.
A poem by Lewis Carroll called Through the Looking Glass gave birth to our word of the day in 1871. This whimsical poem referred...
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Susurration from 2021-07-02T09:00
Susurration is a noun that refers to a soft murmur or whisper.
Our word of the day comes from the Latin word susurrare (soo soo RARE ay) which means ‘to murmur or hum.’ A susurration typi...
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Alimentation from 2021-06-29T09:00
Alimentation is a noun that refers to the provision of nourishment and other necessities of life.
The Latin word alimentare (all ee men TAR ay) means ‘to feed.’ Our word of the day may re...
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Soniferous from 2021-06-25T09:00
Soniferous is an adjective that means producing or conducting sound.
Our word of the day shares an origin with words like ‘sonic’ and ‘sonata.’ All of these words are derived from the Lat...
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Propitious from 2021-06-23T09:00
Propitious is an adjective that means indicating a good chance of success.
The Latin word propitus (por PEE tea oose) means ‘favorable’ or ‘gracious.’ In recent centuries, it has dri...
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Wheel horse from 2021-06-20T09:00
Wheel horse is a noun that refers to a hardworking or diligent person.
Our word of the day combines the English words ‘wheel’ and ‘horse.’ Its origin is from the practice of position...
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Picaresque from 2021-06-05T09:00
Picaresque is an adjective that means ‘related to the adventures of a rogue.’ The word can also be used as a noun to refer to ‘a book or movie that features the adventures of a rogue.’
Th...
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Desideratum from 2021-05-30T09:00
Desideratum is a noun that refers to ‘something that is desired or wanted.’
The origin or desideratum is directly from Latin. It translates into the two words ‘something desired.’ An...
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Caliginous from 2021-05-22T09:00
Caliginous is an adjective that means ‘obscure’ or ‘murky.’
Coming to English in the mid-16th century, our word of the day originated in Latin, where it means ‘misty.’ In recent years, it...
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Synesthesia from 2021-05-20T09:00
Synesthesia is a noun that refers to a condition where one sense is replaced by another.
The Latin prefix S-Y-N means ‘with.’ While the rest of the word comes from the Greek word ‘asthesi...
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Consilience from 2021-05-18T09:00
Consilience is a noun that refers to the overlap between different fields of study.
Our word of the day combines the Latin prefix C-O-N, meaning ‘together,’ and ‘silient,’ (SEE lee ant) m...
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Implacable from 2021-05-16T09:00
Implacable is an adjective that means unstoppable or relentless.
The origin of our word of the day is the Latin word placare (pla CAR ay) which means ‘to calm’ or ‘to soothe.’ The prefix ...
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Muliebrity from 2021-05-15T09:00
Muliebrity is a noun that refers to womanly qualities.
The Latin word MOOL lee air) means ‘woman.’ It’s the origin of our word of the day which has been around since the late 16th century...
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Equipollent from 2021-05-14T09:00
Equipollent is an adjective that means equal in power and effect.
The Latin word pollere (poe LARE ay) means ‘to be strong.’ Our word of the day combines that with the prefix E-Q-U-I, whi...
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Ordonnance from 2021-05-13T09:00
Ordonnance is a noun that refers to the systematic arrangement of parts.
Our word of the day came from French, where it was basically a synonym of words like ‘configuration’ or ‘arrangeme...
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Generative from 2021-05-02T09:00
Generative is an adjective that means ‘able to produce.’
Our word of the day is derived from the Latin word generare (jen air ARE ay) which means ‘to beget’ or ‘to generate.’ If something...
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Stewardship from 2021-04-29T09:00
Stewardship is a noun that refers to the responsible overseeing of something.
Steward — a word of Old English origin — refers to someone responsible for managing or taking care ...
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Inflorescence from 2021-04-28T09:00
Inflorescence is a noun that refers to a flowering or blooming.
Our word of the day comes directly from Latin where it means ‘to begin to bloom.’ The inflorescence of those daisies in my ...
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Typification from 2021-04-26T09:00
Typification is a noun that refers to a representative of.
The Latin word typus (TEA poos) means ‘type.’ When we say something typifies something, we mean it embodies it or serves as an e...
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Singularity from 2021-04-20T09:00
Singularity is a noun that refers to a hypothesized era when machines merge with humanity.
Coming from the Latin singulus (SEEN goo loose) our word of the day is often used simply to mean...
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Vox populi from 2021-04-18T09:00
Vox populi is a noun that refers to the popular opinion.
Our word of the day comes from Latin and its literal translation is ‘the people’s voice.’ It can be used in a political setting or...
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Discomfiture from 2021-04-17T09:00
Discomfiture is a noun that refers to awkwardness or unease.
Coming from Old French, our word of the day is often used as a synonym of words like ‘distress,’ or ‘embarrassment.’ An exampl...
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Isomorphic from 2021-04-04T09:00
Isomorphic is an adjective that means having a similar form.
The Greek prefix I-S-O means ‘equal’ or ‘identical,’ while morphe (MORE fey) is Greek for shape.
The two chemicals were...
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Epistolary from 2021-04-03T09:00
Epistolary is an adjective that means related to a letter.
The Latin word epistola (ay pee STOLE uh) means a letter. This word gave birth to its English equivalent epistle, meaning ‘lette...
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Metastasize from 2021-04-01T09:00
Metastasize is a verb that means to dramatically spread.
The Greek word methistanai (methy STAHN ay) means ‘to change.’ This word later evolved into metastasis, a word for a disease, whic...
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Disquisition from 2021-03-26T10:00
Disquisition is a noun that refers to an elaborate discussion of a particular subject.
Our word of the day originates from the Latin word quaerere (kwa WOAR ay) which means ‘seek’ or ‘ask...
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Attestation from 2021-03-24T10:00
Attestation is a noun that refers to evidence or confirmation.
The Latin word testis (TESS dis) means ‘witness.’ It’s related to words like ‘testify’ and ‘attest.’ These are verbs that ca...
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Ergonomics from 2021-03-14T10:00
Ergonomics is a noun that refers to the science of design.
The Greek word ergon (AIR gon) means ‘work.’ Our word of the day combines this word with ‘nomics,’ which refers to ‘the art of m...
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Bedraggled from 2021-03-12T10:00
Bedraggled is an adjective that means dirty and disheveled.
The root word of bedraggled is drag, which has an origin from Middle English. When we say someone is or looks bedraggled, we me...
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Shibboleth from 2021-03-11T10:00
Shibboleth is a noun that refers to a use of language unique to a particular group.
Our word of the day comes from Hebrew. It means ‘ear of corn,’ but more importantly the word came ...
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Elephantine from 2021-03-10T10:00
Elephantine is an adjective that means massive and not easily handled.
You may have guessed that our word of the day comes from the word elephant, which is Greek in origin. And like many ...
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Effectuate from 2021-03-07T10:00
Effectuate is a verb that means to bring something about.
The Latin word effectus (eff ECK toos) simply means ‘to effect.’ Our word of the day could be thought of as a more formal version...
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Descamisado from 2021-03-04T10:00
Descamisado is a noun that refers to a very poor person. It can also refer to a revolutionary.
The literal Spanish translation of our word of the day is ‘shirtless.’ But our word of the d...
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Sansculotte from 2021-03-03T10:00
Sansculotte is a noun that refers to an extreme revolutionary.
Our word of the day comes from French, where its literal translation is ‘without knee breeches,’ a look you’d expect from a ...
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Inestimable from 2021-03-01T10:00
Inestimable is an adjective that means too valuable to be measured or calculated.
The root word of the our word of the day is estimate. It comes from the Latin word aestimare (eye ess tea...
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Accoutrement from 2021-02-26T10:00
Accoutrement is a noun that refers to an additional item of dress.
Our word of the day comes directly from French, where it means ‘clothing.’ But its English counterpart refers more speci...
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Pervicacious from 2021-02-10T10:00
Pervicacious is an adjective that means obstinate or extremely willful.
The Latin word vincere (VEEN chair ay) means ‘win.’ Our word of the day combines this word with the prefix P-E-R, m...
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Sine qua non from 2021-02-08T10:00
Sine qua non is a noun that refers to an essential element.
The literal translation of our word of the day is ‘without which not.’ This is a helpful way to understand how to use our word ...
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Superannuate from 2021-02-03T10:00
Superannuate is a verb that means to make or declare obsolete.
The Latin prefix S-U-P-E-R means ‘over,’ while annus (AH noose) — a word related to ‘annual’ — means ‘year.’ When someone is...
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Pareidolia from 2021-01-30T10:00
Pareidolia is a noun that refers to the tendency to interrupt something vague as meaningful.
The Greek word eidolon (Ay ee DOE lee on) means ‘image’ or ‘shape.’ When a person sees signifi...
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Ultracrepidarian from 2021-01-29T10:00
Ultracrepidarian is an adjective that means expressing opinions outside of one's knowledge. It can also be used as a noun that refers to a person who expresses opinion outside of ones knowledge....
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Acculturate from 2021-01-28T10:00
Acculturate is a verb that means to assimilate to a different culture.
The Latin word culture (cool TOUR ay) refers to growing or cultivating. It’s loosely related to the term agriculture...
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Eclaircissement from 2021-01-27T10:00
issement is a noun that refers to an enlightening explanation.
The French term eclaircir (ee CLAIR seer) means ‘to clear up’ or ‘enlighten.’ An eclaircissement is an act of clearing somet...
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Promontory from 2021-01-24T10:00
Promontory is a noun that refers to a cliff that extends into a large body of water.
Our word of the day is derived from the Latin word promin?re (pro min AIR ay) which means ‘jut forward...
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Hebdomadal from 2021-01-21T10:00
Hebdomadal is an adjective that means occurring every week.
The Greek word Hepta (HEPT ah) means seven. So when our word of the day drifted into English, it came to refer to a period...
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Interstitial from 2021-01-20T10:00
Interstitial is an adjective that means occurring during an interval or between spaces.
The Latin word interstitium (een tear STEET ee um) means ‘interval.’ Anything interstitial tak...
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Abecedarian from 2021-01-16T10:00
Abecedarian is a noun that refers to someone who is beginning to learn something.
Our word of the day’s origin comes literally from the ABCs. It was initially use...
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Exfiltrate from 2021-01-12T10:00
Exfiltrate is a verb that means to withdraw people from a dangerous position.
Our word of the day could be thought of as the opposite of ‘infiltrate,’ a word of Latin origin that means to...
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Dilettante from 2021-01-10T10:00
Dilettante is a noun that refers to an amateur or someone who dabbles in a particular field.
The Italian word dilettare (dill ay TAR ay) means ‘to delight.’ A dilettante is someone who do...
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Approbation from 2021-01-05T10:00
Approbation is a noun that refers to approval or praise.
The Latin word probus (PRO boose) means ‘good.’ You could think of something that has gotten approbation as something that has bee...
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Disquietude from 2021-01-03T10:00
Disquietude is a noun that refers to a state of anxiety.
The root word of disquietude is ‘quiet,’ a word of Latin origin that means ‘silent’ or ‘calm.’ When we disquiet a person or place,...
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Panjandrum from 2020-12-25T10:00
Panjandrum is a noun that refers to a person who claims to have great influence.
The strange origin or our word of the day begins with an 18th century playwright named Samuel Foote, who s...
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Indefatigable from 2020-12-24T10:00
Indefatigable is an adjective that means incapable of being fatigued.
The root word of indefatigable is ‘fatigue’ a word that means ‘to feel tired or exhausted.’ Its origin is from the La...
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Conterminous from 2020-12-18T10:00
Conterminous is an adjective that means sharing a common boundary.
The Latin word terminus (TEAR me noos) means ‘border.’ When combined with the Latin prefix C-O-N, we get a word that mea...
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Philistine from 2020-12-15T10:00
Philistine is a noun that refers to a person who lacks appreciation of culture.
The original Philistines of the Bible were a tribe of people who were portrayed as crude and warlike. By th...
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Insufflate from 2020-12-13T10:00
Insufflate is a verb that means to blow to breathe something in.
The Latin word insufflare (in sue FLAR ay) means ‘to breath.’ Our word of the day has originated from this and come to ref...
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Sempiternal from 2020-12-08T10:00
Sempiternal is an adjective that means seeming to last forever.
The Latin word semper (SEM per) means forever. Our word of the day has the same basic meaning. For me, old westerns have a ...
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Peregrinate from 2020-12-06T10:00
Peregrinate is a verb that means to navigate by foot.
Our word of the day comes from the Latin word peregre (PAIR ay grey) which means ‘to travel abroad.’ The word’s meaning has broadened...
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Astigmatic from 2020-12-04T10:00
Astigmatic is an adjective that means showing an incapacity for observation or discrimination.
Coming from the Greek word stigma (STEEG ma) the term astigmatism refers to an eye condition...
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Contretemps from 2020-11-26T10:00
Contretemps is a noun that refers to a minor dispute or disagreement.
The Latin word tempus (TEM poos) means ‘time.’ Combined with the prefix C-O-N-T-R-E, which means ‘counter’ or ‘...
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Soi-disant from 2020-11-23T10:00
Soi-disant is an adjective that means self-described.
Our word of the day comes directly from the French words for ‘oneself’ and ‘saying.’ It’s usually used to refer to a title or descrip...
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Promulgate from 2020-11-22T10:00
ulgate is a verb that means to make an idea or belief known among people.
Our word of the day comes from the Latin word promulgare (pro mull GAR ay) which means ‘to bring something out.’ ...
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Procrustean from 2020-11-20T10:00
Procrustean is an adjective that means enforcing conformity.
According to Greek mythology, Procrustes was a cruel villain who was eventually killed by the hero Theseus. Today the word is ...
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Predilection from 2020-11-18T10:00
Predilection is a noun that refers to a preference for.
The Latin word prediligere (pray day LEEGE air ay) means ‘to prefer before others.’ Having a predilection means to have a preferenc...
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Ingratiate from 2020-11-15T10:00
Ingratiate is a verb that means to bring oneself into favor with.
The Latin phrase in gratium (een GRATS ee oom) means ‘in favor.’ When someone ingratiates themselves to someone, they bri...
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Incandescent from 2020-11-12T10:00
Incandescent is an adjective that means bright or brilliant.
The Latin word candidus (can DEE doos) means ‘brilliant’ or ‘bright.’ Our word of the day has evolved from this origin and can...
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Stochastic from 2020-11-05T10:00
Stochastic is an adjective that means randomly selected.
Our word of the day comes from the Greek word stokhos (STOKE hose) which means ‘to aim at’ or ‘guess.’ When we guess something we ...
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Rodomontade from 2020-11-04T10:00
Rodomontade is a noun that refers to a bragging speech.
Our word of the day comes from an epic Medieval Italian poem called the Frenzy of Orlando. More specifically, the word rodomontade’...
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Subterfuge from 2020-10-28T10:00
Subterfuge is a noun that refers to deception.
Our word of the day combines the Latin prefix S-U-B-T-E-R, meaning ‘secretly’ with F-U-G-E from the Latin verb for ‘to flee.’ The words toge...
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Intransigent from 2020-10-26T10:00
Intransigent is an adjective that means uncompromising.
The Latin word transigere (tran SEE jare ay) means ‘to come to an agreement.’ As this word evolved into intransigent, it added the ...
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Conflagration from 2020-10-24T09:00
Conflagration is a noun that refers to a large, disastrous fire.
Our word of the day comes almost directly from the Latin word conflagare (con flah GAR ay) which simply means ‘fire.’ But ...
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Lilliputian from 2020-10-23T09:00
Lilliputian is an adjective that means small or petty.
Our word of the day comes from the Jonathan Swift novel Gulliver’s Travels as a reference to a tiny group of people roughly six inch...
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Evanescent from 2020-10-19T09:00
Evanescent is an adjective that means vanishing like vapor.
Our word of the day is derived from the Latin word evanescent (ay ven uh SHENT) which means ‘to disappear.’ Evanescent may be u...
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Reciprocity from 2020-10-15T09:00
Reciprocity is a noun that refers to mutual benefit.
The Latin word reciprocus (ray CHEAP roe coos) means ‘returning the same way.’ Our word of the day may be used to describe a state whe...
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Penetralia from 2020-10-09T09:00
Penetralia is a noun that refers to the innermost part.
Our word of the day comes from the Latin word penetralis (pen ay TRAWL ace) which means ‘innermost.’ It’s where we get the word ‘pe...
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Ultima thule from 2020-10-03T09:00
Ultima thule is a noun that refers to a distant, unknown region.
Our word of the day is a combination of the Latin word Ultima (OOL team uh) which means ‘final’ and thula, a word of Greek...
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Primogenitor from 2020-09-29T09:00
Primogenitor is a noun that refers to one's earliest ancestor.
Our word of the day is from Latin. It combines the word primo (PREE moe) which means ‘first’ with genitor (JEN ee tore) mean...
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Impassible from 2020-09-28T09:00
Impassible is an adjective that means incapable of suffering or of experiencing pain.
The Latin word passio (POSS ee oh) translates roughly to ‘passion’ or ‘suffering.’ By adding the pref...
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Boondoggle from 2020-09-27T09:00
Boondoggle is a noun that refers to a wasteful or impractical project.
The exact origin of our word of the day isn’t clear, but it was initially used by boy scouts to refer to a braided c...
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Quid pro quo from 2020-09-24T09:00
Quid pro quo is a noun that refers to something given or received for something else.
Our word of the day comes directly from the Latin words that mean ‘something for something.’ It is of...
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Saponaceous from 2020-09-16T09:00
Saponaceous is an adjective that means slippery.
The Latin word sapon (SOP on) means ‘soap.’ In time, this word evolved into our word of the day which means ‘soap.’ It may refer literally...
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Recidivate from 2020-09-14T09:00
Recidivate is a verb that means to relapse into a previous condition.
The Latin word recidivus rech ay DEEV ose) means ‘recurring’ or ‘falling back.’ Our word of the day is often used in ...
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Perpetuity from 2020-09-13T09:00
Perpetuity is a noun that refers to the state of being eternal.
Our word of the day comes from the Latin word perpetuus (PAIR pay toos) which means ‘continual.’ Perpetuity is often, but n...
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Eminence grise from 2020-09-10T09:00
Eminence grise is a noun that refers to a person who unofficially has great power.
Our word of the day comes directly from a Latin phrase that once referred to a royal confidant of a powe...
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Impregnable from 2020-09-08T09:00
Impregnable is an adjective that means incapable of being taken or conquered.
Coming from a Middle French word that means ‘to take or capture,’ our word of the day took life by adding the...
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Depreciate from 2020-09-05T09:00
Depreciate is a verb that means to lower in honor or value.
Our word of the day comes from the Latin word pretium (PRAY tee um) which means ‘price.’ With the addition of the prefix D-E, w...
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Contemporaneous from 2020-09-04T09:00
Contemporaneous is an adjective that means occurring or originating at the same time.
Our word of the day comes from the Latin word contempor?neus (cone temp or AHH nay ose) which means ‘...
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Impresario from 2020-08-29T09:00
Impresario is a noun that refers to a promoter of entertainment.
The Italian word impresa (im PRAYS uh) refers to ‘an undertaking.’ An impresario is someone involved in entertainment unde...
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Immemorial from 2020-08-27T09:00
Immemorial is an adjective that means extending beyond the reach of memory.
The Latin word memorialis (mem or ee AL ees) roughly translates to ‘memory.’ With the prefix I-M, we get a word...
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Aforethought from 2020-08-26T09:00
Aforethought is an adjective that means premeditated or deliberate.
Our word of the day combines the prefix A-F-O-R-E, meaning ‘before’ with the common English word ‘thought.’ Together th...
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Ministration from 2020-08-25T09:00
Ministration is a noun that refers to assistance or care.
Our word of the day shares its Latin roots with the word minister. Both refer to the act of service, but while minister is usuall...
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Tangential from 2020-08-18T09:00
Tangential is an adjective that means digressive.
The Latin word tangere (tan JAIR ay) means ‘to touch.’ A tangent is a straight line that touches a curve at a single point. It could be s...
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Calefacient from 2020-08-01T09:00
Calefacient is an adjective that means making warmth.
Our word of the day combines the Latin words for ‘be warm’ and ‘make.’ In addition to being used as an adjective to mean ‘produce war...
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Clodhopper from 2020-07-28T09:00
Clodhopper is a noun that refers to a clumsy and uncouth pumpkin.
Coming from Middle English, the word ‘clod’ referred to an unsophisticated person. The word was soon extended to refer to...
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Polyhistor from 2020-07-26T09:00
Polyhistor is a noun that refers to a person of great or wide learning.
Our word of the day comes from Greek. The prefix P-O-L-Y means ‘much’ or ‘many,’ while histor (HE store) means ‘exp...
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Spendthrift from 2020-07-25T09:00
Spendthrift is a noun that refers to a person who spends money wastefully.
Our word of the day combines the words ‘spend’ and ‘thrift’ to mean someone who spends their money in an irrespo...
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Gregarious from 2020-07-22T09:00
Gregarious is an adjective that means sociable or outgoing.
Our word of the day is often used to describe a friendly, extroverted person who is good in groups or flocks of people. So it m...
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Sententious from 2020-07-21T09:00
Sententious is an adjective that means given to using aphoristic sayings.
The Latin word sententia (sen TENSE ee uh) refers to ‘a thought’ or ‘expression.’ A sententious person is someone...
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Acclamation from 2020-07-19T09:00
Acclamation is a noun that refers to a loud, enthusiastic welcome.
The word acclaim comes from the Latin word acclamare (ock la MARE ay) which means ‘to cry out at.’ When a group of peopl...
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Blunderbuss from 2020-07-18T09:00
Blunderbuss is an adjective that means a frequently blundering person.
Our word of the day sometimes refers to a firearm with a short muzzle. The word is derived from the Dutch word for ‘...
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Allocution from 2020-07-15T09:00
Allocution is a noun that refers to a formal speech.
Our word of the day’s origin is with the word alloc? (ah LO coo) which is Latin for ‘address.’ Allocution is best used in a formal con...
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Carte blanche from 2020-07-14T09:00
Carte blanche is a noun that refers to unrestricted authority.
Our word of the day comes directly from the French term for ‘blank document.’ In this case, a blank document refers to somet...
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Sufferance from 2020-07-12T09:00
Sufferance is a noun that refers to patient endurance.
Our word of the day’s origin is in the Latin word sufferre (soo FAIR ay) which means to ‘endure’ or ‘to submit to.’ A person w...
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Parisology from 2020-07-11T09:00
Parisiology is a noun that refers to the use of ambiguous language.
The Greek word parisos (PAR ee sose) means ‘evenly balanced,’ and the suffix O-L-O-G-Y denotes something related t...
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Malversation from 2020-07-09T09:00
Malversation is a noun that refers to corrupt behavior.
The Latin word versare (ver SAR ay) means ‘to turn.’ After evolving into a word of English, it took on the prefix M-A-L, meaning ‘b...
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Remonstrate from 2020-07-08T09:00
Remonstrate is a verb that means to say or plead in protest.
The Latin verb monstrare (mon STAR ay) means ‘to show.’ After drifting into the English language, our word of the day added th...
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Chapfallen from 2020-07-05T09:00
Chapfallen is an adjective that means dejected or dispirited.
A person or animal’s chaps refers to their jaw or the fleshy skin covering their jaw. It is basically the same word as ‘chops...
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Roman a clef from 2020-07-01T09:00
Roman a clef is a noun that refers to a work of art that features real people under the guise of fiction.
The French translation of our word of the day is ‘Novel with a key.’ The traditio...
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Catholicity from 2020-06-30T09:00
Catholicity is a noun that refers to broadness or universality.
You may recognize the word ‘catholic’ in our word of the day. This is no coincidence. The Greek origin of the word ‘catholi...
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Refractory from 2020-06-29T09:00
Refractory is an adjective that means hard to manage or stubborn. Refractory is also a noun that refers to a stubborn or resistant or stubborn person.
Our word of the day is derived ...
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Interregnum from 2020-06-24T09:00
Interregnum is a noun that refers to ‘a pause between a continuous series.’
Our word of the day has its basis in the Latin word regnum (RAIN yoom) which refers to a ‘reign’ or ‘a kingdom....
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Permutation from 2020-06-19T09:00
Permutation is a noun that means ‘a major change.’
The Latin word permutare (per myoo TAR ay) means ‘to change thoroughly.’ Our word of the day has changed only slightly after being impor...
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Magnum opus from 2020-06-09T09:00
Magnum opus is a noun that refers to a great work of art.
Our word of the day comes directly from the Latin phrase for ‘great work.’ It’s usually reserved for highly respected artists in ...
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Anthropomorphize from 2020-06-01T09:00
Anthropomorphize is a verb that means to attribute human qualities or personalities to things not human.
Our word of the day is a fairly recent addition to the English language, dati...
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Superficies from 2020-05-31T09:00
Superficies is a noun that refers to the external aspect or appearance of something.
The Latin prefix super (SOO pair) means ‘top’ or ‘surface.’ while facies (FAH chez) means ‘face’ or ‘a...
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Recalcitrant from 2020-05-29T09:00
Recalcitrant is an adjective that means stubbornly resistant.
Although our word of the day is typically used to describe people who are hard to manage and uncooperative, its origin has no...
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Abstemious from 2020-05-28T09:00
Abstemious is an adjective that means marked by restraint with food or alcohol.
Our word of the day combines the Latin prefix A-B-S, meaning ‘from’ or ‘away’ with the suffix
...
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Prepossessing from 2020-05-24T09:00
Prepossessing is an adjective that means creating a favorable impression.
The Latin word possidere (pose ee DARE ay) means ‘to hold.’ From this we get the word ‘possess’ which maintains t...
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Delectation from 2020-05-17T09:00
Delectation is a noun that refers to delight or enjoyment.
Our word of the day has evolved from the Latin word delectare (del eck TAR ay) which means ‘to allure, please or charm.’ Yo...
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Forbearance from 2020-05-16T09:00
Forbearance is a noun that refers to tolerance or patience.
The word forbear, which is derived from Old English, means ‘to hold back’ or ‘refrain.’ Our word of the day is the noun that re...
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Malefactor from 2020-05-14T09:00
Malefactor is a noun that refers to a person who does harm.
Our word of the day combines male (MOLL ay) the Latin word for ‘bad’ or ‘evil,’ with factor, which is derived from facare (fuh ...
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Aposematic from 2020-05-13T09:00
Aposematic is an adjective that means serving as a warning or alarm.
The Greek word sema (SEM uh) which refers to ‘a sign,’ provides the origin of our word of the day. Aposematic means a ...
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Peccadillo from 2020-05-08T09:00
Peccadillo is a noun that refers to a slight offense.
The Spanish word Pecado (pe COD oh) means sin. The addition of the suffix I-L-L-O, which means ‘little’ gives us a word that means ‘s...
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Sequacious from 2020-05-06T09:00
Sequacious is an adjective that means servile or subservient.
A sequacious person is more like to follow than lead, so it makes sense that our word of the day would be derived of the Lati...
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Omnifarious from 2020-05-04T09:00
Omnifarious is an adjective that means of all kinds or forms.
Our word of the day combines the Latin omni (OHM knee) meaning ‘all’ and fariam (FAR ee um) meaning ‘parts.’ Something that i...
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Commensurate from 2020-04-29T09:00
Commensurate is an adjective that means equal in amount or extent.
The Latin word mensura (men SUE ruh) means ‘to measure.’ By adding the prefix C-O-M, we get a word that means ‘measured ...
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Comestible from 2020-04-22T09:00
Comestible is an adjective that means ‘edible.’ It is also a noun that refers to ‘food.’
The Latin word comedere (co may DARE ay) means ‘to eat’ or ‘consume.’ By the 18th century, it...
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Pedagogical from 2020-04-21T09:00
Pedagogical is an adjective that means ‘related to a teacher or education.’
The Greek word paidag?gos (PIE duh go gose) referred to a slave who brought children to school. Over the centur...
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Lackadaisical from 2020-04-20T09:00
Lackadaisical is an adjective that means ‘lacking spirit or zest.’
Our word of the day began life with the popular 17th century phrase ‘alack the day!’ Something said to express sorrow or...
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Loquacious from 2020-04-12T09:00
Loquacious is an adjective that means talkative or fluent.
The Latin word loqu?c (low KWATCH) means ‘verbose.’ A loquacious person talks a lot and is more inclined to be sociable or extro...
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Tenderfoot from 2020-04-11T09:00
Tenderfoot is a noun that refers to an inexperienced beginner.
The English words ‘tender’ and ‘foot’ combine to form our word of the day. A person with no experience in the woods, for exa...
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Mare's Nest from 2020-04-07T09:00
Mare’s nest is a noun that refers to a hoax or an illusion. Our word of the day combines two very familiar English words, ‘mare’ and ‘nest.’ Those conversant with the behavior of horses may know ...
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Homologate from 2020-04-02T09:00
Homologate is a verb that means to sanction or approve of.
Our word of the day combines the Greek Homos (HO mose) which means “alike” with the Greek word for “word” logos (LOW gose). Toge...
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Prestidigitation from 2020-03-29T09:00
Prestidigitation is a noun that means sleight of hand.
Our word of the day gets its origin by combining presto (PRESS toe) the Italian word for ‘quick’ and digitus (DEE gee toos) th...
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Bowdlerize from 2020-03-28T10:00
Bowdlerize is a verb that means to expurgate by omit parts considered vulgar.
Our word of the day’s origin begins with a 19th century English physician named Thomas Bowdler. In 1818, Bowd...
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Materfamilias from 2020-03-22T10:00
Materfamilias is a noun that refers to the female head of the household.
Our word is a combination of two Latin words. Mater (MAH ter) meaning ‘mother,’ and familia (fa MEEL ee uh) meanin...
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Periphrasis from 2020-03-21T10:00
Periphrasis is a noun that means the use of more words than necessary.
The Greek word phrazein (FRAH zeen) provides the origin of our word of the day. It means to point out. This evolved ...
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Dilapidated from 2020-03-18T10:00
Dilapidated is an adjective that means decayed or fallen into partial ruin.
Lapis (LAP eese) is the Latin word for stone. By adding the prefix D-I, we get the word for ‘pelt with stones.’...
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Esprit de corps from 2020-03-17T10:00
Esprit de corps is a noun that refers to a spirit of solidarity.
Our word of the day comes directly from French. It is often used to describe sports teams, militaries and other endeavors ...
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Peremptory from 2020-03-16T10:00
Peremptory is an adjective that means dictatorial or not allowing contradictions.
Our word of the day is derived from Latin. The word perimere (per ee MARE ay) means ‘to take entirely.’ A...
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Histrionics from 2020-03-13T10:00
Histrionics is a noun that refers to melodramatic or hysterical behavior.
The Latin word histrio (HISS tree oh) means ‘actor.’ While actors aren’t only ones guilty of using histrionics, t...
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Prudential from 2020-03-05T10:00
Prudential is an adjective that means exercising good judgement.
Behavior that be labelled prudential is usually wise and containing foresight. So it makes sense that our word of the day’...
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Pickwickian from 2020-03-02T10:00
Pickwickian is an adjective that means innocent or naive.
In the 19th century Charles Dickens novel, the Pickwick Papers, the character named Samuel Pickwick was noted for having a childl...
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Contumacious from 2020-03-01T10:00
Contumacious is an adjective that means stubbornly disobedient.
The origin of contumacious is contumax (con TOO mocks) the Latin word for rebellious. In a legal context it can also refer ...
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Propinquity from 2020-02-28T10:00
Propinquity is a noun that means nearness or proximity.
The Latin word prope (PRO pay) which means ‘near’ has given birth to our word of the day and its cousin ‘proximity.’ Propinquity is...
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Imprecation from 2020-02-27T10:00
Imprecation is a noun that refers to a curse.
The Latin word precari (pray CAR ee) means ‘to pray, ask or request.’ The addition of the prefix I-N gets us a word that can be thought of as...
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Phlegmatic from 2020-02-24T10:00
Phlegmatic is an adjective that means having a calm, composed temperament.
You may recognize the word phlegm, as in the bodily fluid, in our word of the day. It turns out there is a conne...
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Overslaugh from 2020-02-19T10:00
Overslaugh is a verb that means to pass over in favor of another. Less commonly, it can also be used as a noun that refers to an exemption from duty from the British armed forces.
Our wor...
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Crestfallen from 2020-02-16T10:00
Crestfallen is an adjective that means dispirited or humiliated.
Our word of the day began life in the late 16th century, originating with a reference to a mammal or bird having a fallen ...
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Sui generis from 2020-02-13T10:00
Sui generis is an adjective that means of its own kind or unique.
Our word of the day is a phrase taken directly from Latin. Its literal translation is ‘of its own kind.’ It’s used to des...
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Pharisaical from 2020-02-08T10:00
Pharisaical is an adjective that means hypocritical.
Our word of the day is derived from the Pharisees, an ancient sect that was known among readers of the Bible for having a strict adher...
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Affranchise from 2020-01-24T10:00
Affranchise is a verb that means to set free.
You may recognize ‘franchise’ as the root of our word of the day. It comes from the Latin word franc (fronk) meaning ‘free.’ With the additio...
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Calliopean from 2020-01-16T10:00
Calliopean is an adjective that means loud and piercing.
In Greek mythology, the muses were nine sisters who presided over various arts and sciences, with each muse having a different are...
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Inosculate from 2020-01-12T10:00
Inosculate is a verb that means to join or unite.
The Latin osculare (oh skoo LAHR ay) means ‘to provide with a mouth or outlet.’ Along with the prefix IN inosculate entered English in th...
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Misprision from 2020-01-09T10:00
Misprision is a noun that means the neglect or wrong performance of official duty.
The Latin word prehendere (PREN dare ay) means ‘to seize’ or ‘to take.’ As the word drifted through Midd...
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Promethean from 2020-01-02T10:00
Promethean is an adjective that means boldly defiant or creative.
Getting its origin from the Greek God Prometheus known for his daring inventiveness and creativity, our word of the day i...
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Chameleonic from 2019-12-26T10:00
Chameleonic is an adjective that means given to quick or frequent change.
A chameleon is a lizard known for its ability to change colors. It gets its name from a combination of the Greek ...
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Percipient from 2019-12-23T10:00
Percipient is an adjective that means having deep insight or understanding. It can also be used as a noun that means ‘one who perceives.’
The Latin word for ‘perceive’ is percipere (PAIR ...
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Malapropism from 2019-12-22T10:00
The word is sometimes shortened to malaprop, which is spelled MALAPROP. Malapropism is a noun that refers to a humorously misused word or phrase.
Our word of the day has its origin in a 1...
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Bon vivant from 2019-12-17T10:00
Bon vivant is a noun that refers to a person who enjoys the good things in life.
Our word of the day comes to us directly from the French, where its literal translation is ‘good liver,’ a...
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Endogenous from 2019-12-03T10:00
Endogenous is an adjective that means originating from within.
The Greek prefix E-N-D-O means ‘from within.’ And Genous (JEN ose) means ‘producing.’ Endogenous is frequently — but not exc...
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Inveterate from 2019-11-30T10:00
Inveterate is an adjective that means stubbornly established by habit.
The Latin word vetus (VAY toos) means ‘old.’ In the past, our word of the day was simply a synonym of ‘long-standing...
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De rigueur from 2019-11-29T10:00
De rigueur is an adjective that means required by custom or etiquette.
Coming directly from French, de rigueur’s literal translation is ‘of strictness,’ but a better way to understand it ...
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Intractable from 2019-11-27T10:00
ntractable is an adjective that means not easily managed or controlled.
The Latin word tractabilis (tract uh BEEL us) roughly translates to ‘manageable.’ With the addition of the prefix I...
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Inexorable from 2019-11-19T10:00
Inexorable is an adjective that means not to be persuaded, moved or stopped.
The Latin word exorabilis (ex or uh BEE lees) means flexible or lenient. If we add the prefix I-N, for ‘not,’ ...
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Velutinous from 2019-11-18T10:00
Velutinous is an adjective that means soft and smooth like velvet.
The Latin word for velvet is velutum (vel LOOT oom), which also provides the origin for our word of the day, velutinous....
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Fussbudget from 2019-11-17T10:00
Fussbudget is a noun that refers to a person who worries about unimportant things.
Our word of the day is a combination of the words ‘fuss,’ meaning ‘to show unnecessary concern’ and ‘bud...
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Highbinder from 2019-11-08T10:00
Highbinder is a noun that means a swindler or gangster.
Not much is known about the exact origin of our word of the day, but, highbinder seems to have been the name of a 19th century gang...
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Copper-Bottomed from 2019-11-07T10:00
Copper-bottomed is an adjective that means reliable.
Our word of the day combines two common English words ‘copper’ and ‘bottomed.’ In a literal sense it simply refers to something that i...
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Senectitude from 2019-11-06T10:00
Senectitude is a noun that refers to old age.
Our word of the day is an appropriately old word. The Latin word senectus (SEN eck toos) means old age.
As my parents near their senec...
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Superlunary from 2019-11-04T10:00
Superlunary is an adjective that means beyond the moon.
From the Latin Luna (LOO nah) we get moon. And from the Latin super (SOO pair) we get ‘above’ or ‘beyond.’
As a kid, I wonde...
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Catchpenny from 2019-10-25T09:00
Catchpenny is an that means using sensationalism for appeal.
First coined in the 18th century, catchpenny may be best understood as a synonym of sensationalistic. For example: My grandfat...
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Ben Trovato from 2019-10-23T09:00
Ben Trovato is an adjective that means characteristic and appropriate even if untrue.
Ben Trovato comes directly from Italian where its words mean ‘well found.’
The fact that the a...
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Effrontery from 2019-10-22T09:00
Effrontery is a noun that means insolent and impertinent behavior.
Our word of the day is derived from the Latin word frons (fronce) which means ‘brow’ or ‘forehead’ combined with the pre...
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Tradecraft from 2019-10-17T09:00
Tradecraft is a noun that means the techniques and procedures of espionage.
Our word of the day combines two common English words — ‘trade’ and ‘craft’ — to get a word that may refer broa...
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Bibliolater from 2019-10-16T09:00
Bibliolater is a noun that refers to one who is excessively devoted to books.
You may recognize the word ‘bible’ in bibliolater. That’s because both words come from the Greek biblion (BEE...
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Predaceous from 2019-10-13T09:00
Coming from the Latin word preada, (PRY duh) meaning ‘to prey’ (as in ‘prey on a weak victim),’ our word of the day may be used to describe a number of our friends — or enemies — of the animal k...
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Alliciency from 2019-10-12T09:00
Alliciency is a noun that refers to the power of attracting.
Our word of the day has evolved from the Latin allicere (all ee CHAIR ay) meaning ‘to allure.’ It may be used simply to refer ...
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Appurtenant from 2019-10-03T09:00
Appurtenant is an adjective that means belonging or pertinent.
Coming from the Latin word pertinere (per tin AIR ay) meaning ‘to pertain’ or ‘concern’ our word of the day is similar...
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Widdershins from 2019-09-27T09:00
Widdershins is an adverb that means in a contrary direction.
Our word of the day is of German origin. It evolved from the word widersinnen (VEE der sin en) which means ‘against the way.’ ...
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Thaumaturge from 2019-09-25T09:00
Thaumaturge is a noun that refers to a worker of miracles or a magician.
The Greek word thaumatourgos (THOU mah too gose) refers to a ‘conjuror or worker of wonders.’ The word’s meaning h...
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Cogitation from 2019-09-24T09:00
Cogitation is a noun that refers to the action of thinking deeply about something.
The Latin word cogitare (KOE gee tar ay) means ‘to think’ and has given birth to a number of related Eng...
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Paradisical from 2019-09-23T09:00
Paradisical is an adjective that means related to or befitting paradise.
The concept of paradise is old as time itself. But the word paradise comes from the Greek word paradeisos (par uh ...
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Coriaceous from 2019-09-19T09:00
Coriaceous is an adjective that means resembling or having the texture of leather.
Corium (CORE ee oom) is the Latin word for leather or hide. This is the ancestor of our word of the day ...
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Esemplastic from 2019-09-17T09:00
Esemplastic is an adjective that means moulding into one or unifying.
There’s a good chance you recognize the word ‘plastic’ in our word of the day. Esemplastic emerged in the early 19th ...
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Consanguinity from 2019-09-12T09:00
Consanguinity is a noun that means close relationship or connection.
Our word of the day’s first three letters C-O-N is a prefix meaning ‘with’ or ‘together.’ sanguineus (san GWEEN ...
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Trouvaille from 2019-09-08T09:00
Trouvaille is a noun that means a lucky find.
Our word of the day comes to us directly from the French word trouver (true VAY) meaning ‘find.’ But a trouvaille is lucky, which in some cas...
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Eleemosynary from 2019-09-07T09:00
Eleemosynary is an adjective that means related to charity.
The Greek word eleimosýni (el lee Moe SEE nee) means alms or charity. From there we get our word of the day which may refer to ...
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Apotheosis from 2019-08-25T09:00
Apotheosis is a noun that means the highest point of development.
Our word of the day comes indirectly from the Ancient Greeks who had the interesting habit of ‘granting’ someone in your ...
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Confluence from 2019-08-24T09:00
Confluence is a noun that means an act or process of merging.
The original meaning of confluence stems referred to a joining of rivers. With that in mind, it shouldn’t come as a sur...
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Compendious from 2019-08-19T09:00
Compendious is an adjective that means containing all the essential facts, but concise.
The Latin word compendiosus (com PEN dee oh soos) means ‘advantage, brief.’ From there our word of ...
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Procellous from 2019-08-13T09:00
Procellous is an adjective that means stormy or turbulent.
Procella (pro CHELL uh) is the Latin word for squall or ‘sudden gust of wind.’ From that our word of the day evolved into ...
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Innumerate from 2019-08-12T09:00
Innumerate is an adjective that means without basic mathematics skills.
The Latin word numero (NEW mare oh) means number. By adding the prefix I-N, we get a word that means ‘not num...
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Agglomeration from 2019-08-11T09:00
Agglomeration is a noun that means a large collection.
Our word of the day comes from the Latin agglomerare (a glom ay RAR ay) meaning ‘to wind or add into a ball.’ It may help to t...
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Extemporize from 2019-07-28T09:00
Extemporize is a verb that means to perform without preparation.
Ex tempore (ecks TEM poor ay) is a Latin phrase that means ‘done instantly.’ From this origin we get a word that is ...
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Surreptitious from 2019-07-25T09:00
Surreptitious is an adjective that means done in secret.
Surreptitious comes from surripere (soo re PEER ay) the Latin word for ‘seizing or stealing secretly.’ Surreptitious behavio...
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Ebullience from 2019-07-24T09:00
Ebullience is a noun that means a quality of being full of energy; cheerful.
Ebullience is a quality that may be described as ‘bubbling over’ with enthusiasm or joy. So it makes sen...
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Omnishambles from 2019-07-23T09:00
Omnishambles is a noun that refers to a situation where poor judgement results in chaos.
Emerging in the early 21st century, our word of the day is a very recent addition to English...
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Kenspeckle from 2019-07-17T09:00
Kenspeckle is an adjective that means easily recognizable.
The exact origin of kenspeckle is uncertain, but the word appears to have Scandinavian roots, perhaps through the Old Nors...
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Alimentary from 2019-07-16T09:00
Alimentary is an adjective that means related to nourishment or sustenance.
Alimentum (ah lee MENT oom) is Latin for nourishment. After morphing a little, the word entered English i...
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Metamorphic from 2019-07-01T09:00
Metamorphic is an adjective that means ‘related to a change or a metamorphosis.’
Our word of the day combines the Greek prefix ‘meta’ meaning ‘change’ with ‘morph’ meaning ‘form.’ This is...
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Ameliorate from 2019-06-27T09:00
Ameliorate is a verb that means to make something better.
The French word meilleur (me YARE) beans ‘better.’ This is where our word of the day comes from. Ameliorated is often, but ...
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Swimmingly from 2019-06-26T09:00
Swimmingly is an adverb that means smoothly or without problems.
The Dutch word zvem (ZVEM) is where we get swim from, but how do we get from that to a synonym of smoothly? Swimming...
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Variegated from 2019-06-24T09:00
Variegated is an adjective that means exhibiting different colors.
The Latin word varius (VAR ee oos) means various, and it’s given birth to many words like variety, varied, and of ...
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Stentorian from 2019-06-20T09:00
Stentorian is an adjective that means loud or powerful in sound.
Our word of the day is one of many words that have its origin in Greek mythology. In the classic work known of The Il...
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Taradiddle from 2019-06-15T09:00
Taradiddle is a noun that means a petty lie.
Jeremy Diddler was a character from an early 19th century play called Raising the Wind. From that we get the word diddle, which means to...
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Compunction from 2019-06-13T09:00
Compunction is a noun that means guilt or remorse.
The Latin word pungere (POON Jay ray) means ‘to prick.’ This was combined with C-O-M, a suffix that implies excessive force. That ...
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Presentiment from 2019-06-11T09:00
Presentiment is a noun that means a feeling that something is about to happen.
The French word pressentiment (press SAHN tee mon) is the origin of our word of the day, which describes an ...
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Moonstruck from 2019-06-04T09:00
Moonstruck is an adjective that means dreamily romantic or bemused by love.
Our word of the day combines the familiar word ‘moon’ with the past participle of strike, to give us a way to d...
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Simon-Pure from 2019-06-02T09:00
Simon-pure is a noun that means a completely authentic person.
Our word of the day comes from 18th century satirical play called Bold Stroke for a Wife. The name Simon-pure came to ...
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Holophrase from 2019-05-26T09:00
Holophrase is a noun that means a single word that expresses a sentence.
Our word of the day combines the Greek prefix ‘holo’ meaning whole and the Latin phrasis (pee ROCK sees) mea...
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Tendentious from 2019-05-22T09:00
Tendentious is an adjective than means intending to advance a particular cause or point of view.
Tendentious is a word that comes from the German tendenzios (ten den SYOOS) that means in ...
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Scapegrace from 2019-05-21T09:00
Scapegrace is a noun that means a mischievous young person.
Our word of the day is a good old portmanteau, a word that is formed by combining two different terms. In ...
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Opprobrium from 2019-05-19T09:00
Opprobrium is a noun that means public disgrace.
Our word of the day comes directly from Latin. It combines the prefix ‘O-B,’ meaning ‘against’ with probrum (PRO broom) which means ‘disgr...
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Nettlesome from 2019-05-18T09:00
Nettlesome is an adjective that means irritable or difficult.
A plant called the nettle has jagged leaves covered with stinging hairs. And this irritable plant naturally gave birth ...
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Rebarbative from 2019-05-09T09:00
Rebarbative is an adjective that means causing annoyance or irritation.
The Latin word for beard is barba (BAR buh) which may seem like an odd origin for a word that means ‘causing ...
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Irresolute from 2019-05-01T09:00
Irresolute is an adjective that means uncertain.
The Latin word resolvere (ray sol VAIR ay) means resolved. From this we get resolute, meaning ‘determined’ and ‘unwavering.’ Our wor...
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Acquisitive from 2019-04-30T09:00
Acquisitive is an adjective that means excessively interested in acquiring money or material things.
In Latin, acquiro (ah KWEE roe) means ‘to get’ or ‘obtain.’ The word’s distant relativ...
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Ineluctable from 2019-04-18T09:00
Ineluctable is an adjective that means not to be avoided or resisted.
The Latin word luctari (LUKE tar ay) means to struggle. From this root comes ineluctable, which means something you c...
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Pontificate from 2019-04-13T09:00
Pontificate is a verb that means to express one's opinion in a pompous way.
Our word of the day comes to us from the Catholic Church through the Latin word pontifex (PONE tee fecks)...
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Skeuomorph from 2019-04-04T09:00
Skeuomorph is a noun that means a digital object or feature that imitates a physical object.
Our word of the day has its roots in Greek. It’s a combination of the word skeuos (SKYOO ohss)...
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Remuneration from 2019-04-01T09:00
Remuneration is a noun that means payment for a service or work.
Our word of the day takes root in the Latin word remunera (ray MOON ay ruh) which means reward. Remuneration can mea...
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Peripeteia from 2019-03-27T07:00
Peripeteia (PAIR uh puh tay uh) is a noun that refers to a sudden reversal of fortune.
Our word of the day comes directly from the Greeks. It’s derived from the words that mea...
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Mettlesome from 2019-03-26T07:00
Mettlesome is an adjective that means full of vigor and stamina.
The root of our word of the day is mettle M-E-T-T-L-E. a 16th century, variation of metal — M-E-T-A-L, that me...
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Pugnacious from 2019-03-23T07:00
Pugnacious is an adjective that means likely to fight or quarrel.
Pugno (POON yo) is the Latin word for ‘fight.’ It’s where we get words like pugilist, impugn and of course, our wor...
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Paramnesia from 2019-03-18T07:00
Paramnesia is a noun that means a confusion of fact and fantasy.
Paramnesia is a combination of a Greek word you’re probably already familiar with — Amnesia, meaning ‘loss of memory...
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Mondegreen from 2019-03-17T07:00
"Alexa, open Volley FM"
Today’s word of the day is mondegreen. It’s spelled M-O-N-D-E-G-R-E-E-N. Mondegreen is a noun that means a misheard or misunderstood phrase. ...
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Comportment from 2019-03-16T07:00
"Alexa, open Volley FM"
Today’s word of the day is comportment, C-O-M-P-O-R-T-M-E-N-T. Comportment is a noun that means carriage or bearing.
Our word of the...
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Polychromatic from 2019-03-12T07:00
Today’s word of the day is polychromatic, P-O-L-Y-C-H-R-O-M-A-T-I-C. Polychromatic is an adjective that means multicolored.
The Greek word polykhromos (poe lee CRO mose)...
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Voluptuary from 2019-03-11T07:00
Today’s word of the day is voluptuary, V-O-L-U-P-T-U-A-R-Y. Voluptuary is a noun that refers to a person devoted to a life of luxury and pleasure.
The Latin word voluptu...
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Pliskie - #533 from 2019-03-07T08:00
Today’s word of the day is Pliskie, P-L-I-S-K-I-E. Pliskie is a noun that means a mischievous trick.
The origin of pliskie is unknown, but we do know it’s commonly used to describe ...
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Fusty - #532 from 2019-03-06T08:00
Today’s word of the day is fusty, F-U-S-T-Y. Fusty is an adjective than means old-fashioned or out-of-date.
Fusty comes from an Old French word Fuste (fyoost) which meant “sme...
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Dekko - #531 from 2019-03-05T08:00
Today’s word of the day is dekko, D-E-K-K-O. Dekko is a noun that means a quick look or glance.
Dekko has its origin in the Hindi word, Dekho (DE ko) that means ‘a look....
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Funambulism - #530 from 2019-03-04T08:00
Today's word of the day is funambulism, F-U-N-A-M-B-U-L-I-S-M. Funambulism is a noun that means tightrope walking or a display of mental agility.
Tightrope walking was a highl...
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Supererogation - #529 from 2019-03-03T21:00
Today's word of the day is supererogation. It's spelled S-U-P-E-R-E-R-O-G-A-T-I-O-N. Supererogation is a noun that means the act of performing more than is required.
The Latin...
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Numinous - #528 from 2019-03-02T08:00
Today's word of the day is numinous, N-U-M-I-N-O-U-S. Numinous is an adjective that means supernatural or mysterious.
The Latin word numen (NOO men) for 'divine will' got thin...
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Vermicular - #527 from 2019-03-01T08:00
Today's word of the day is vermicular. It's spelled V-E-R-M-I-C-U-L-A-R. Vermicular is an adjective that means resembling a worm.
If you look closely you'll find a worm hidden...
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Comity - #526 from 2019-02-28T08:00
Today's word of the day is comity, C-O-M-I-T-Y. Comity is a noun that means Friendly civility.
Coming from the Latin word Comitus (KAAM uh tus) meaning courteousness, comity i...
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Alterity - #525 from 2019-02-27T08:00
Today's word of the day is alterity. It's spelled A-L-T-E-R-I-T-Y. Alterity is a noun that means otherness.
The Latin word alter (AHL ter) means the other and it has given us ...
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Sylvan - #524 from 2019-02-26T08:00
Today's word of the day is sylvan, S-Y-L-V-A-N. Sylvan is an adjective that means located in the woods or Forrest.
A sylvan creature is one that lurks in the forrest. If you'r...
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Ululate - #523 from 2019-02-25T08:00
Today's word of the day is ululate. It's spelled U-L-U-L-A-T-E. Ululate is a verb that means to howl or wail.
It's very likely that the sound of wailing birds inspired t...
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Pungle - #522 from 2019-02-24T08:00
Today’s word of the day is pungle. P-U-N-G-L-E. Pungle is a verb that means to make a payment or contribution of money.
Derived from the Spanish word pongale (pon GAHL ay) pun...
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Psephology - #521 from 2019-02-23T08:00
Today’s Word of the day is Psephology. It’s spelled P-S-E-P-H-O-L -O-G-Y. Psephology ia a noun that means the scientific study of elections.
The Greeks gave us the word ...
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Supercilious - #520 from 2019-02-22T08:00
Today's word of the day is supercilious, S-U-P-E-R-C-I-L-I-O-U-S. Supercilious is an adjective that means behaving as if one thinks one is superior to others.
Super is o...
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Uxorial - #519 from 2019-02-21T08:00
Today's word of the day is uxorial. It's spelled U-X-O-R-I-A-L. Uxorial is an adjective that means related to the characteristics of a wife.
The Latin word for wife is uxor (O...
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Jocund - #518 from 2019-02-20T19:59:14
Today's word of the day is jocund, J-O-C-U-N-D. Jocund is an adjective that means marked by high spirits.
A good way to remember the meaning of jocund is to recall that the wo...
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Manumit - #517 from 2019-02-19T08:00
Today's word of the day manumit. It's spelled M-A-N-U-M-I-T. Manumit is a verb that means to release from slavery.
The origin of manumit comes from two Latin words. There's ma...
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Carrefour - #516 from 2019-02-18T08:00
Today's word of the day is carrefour, C-A-R-R-E-F-O-U-R. Carrefour is a noun that refers to a crossroads or a plaza.
The key to grasping carrefour's meaning and proper use is ...
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Plenary - #515 from 2019-02-17T08:00
Today's word of the day is plenary. It's spelled P-L-E-N-A-R-Y. Plenary is an adjective that means complete in every aspect.
Derived from the Latin word plenus (PLEE noos) mea...
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Cupidity - #514 from 2019-02-16T08:00
Today's word of the day is cupidity, C-U-P-I-D-I-T-Y. Cupidity is a noun that means an inordinate desire for wealth.
There's a good chance that you spotted Cupid, the Ro...
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Domiciliary - #513 from 2019-02-15T20:00
Today's word of the day is domiciliary. It's spelled D-O-M-I-C-I-L-I-A-R-Y. Domiciliary is an adjective that means related to or taking place in the home.
You may recogn...
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Aggrandize - #512 from 2019-02-15T01:00
Today's word of the day is aggrandize, A-G-G-R-A-N-D-I-Z-E. Aggrandize is a verb that means to enlarge.
Recognizing the word 'grand' in aggrandize is the key to understa...
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Scintilla - #511 from 2019-02-13T20:00
Today's word of the day is Scintilla. It's spelled S-C-I-N-T-I-L-L-A. Scintilla is a noun that means a brief spark.
Scintilla is a direct descendant of the the Latin word for ...
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Saporific - #510 from 2019-02-12T08:00
Today’s word of the day is saporific, S-A-P-O-R-I-F-I-C. Saporific is an adjective that means having the power to produce the sensation of taste.
Sapor (SAP or) is the Latin w...
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Thrasonical - #509 from 2019-02-11T08:00
Today’s word of the day is thrasonical. It’s spelled T-H-R-A-S-O-N-I-C-A-L. Thrasonical is an adjective that means boastful or vainglorious.
An Ancient Greek comedic play call...
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Transmogrify - #508 from 2019-02-10T08:00
Today’s word of the day is transmogrify, T-R-A-N-S-M-O-G-R-I-F-Y. Transmogrify is a verb that means to completely alter the form of.
The precise origin of transmogrify is uncl...
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Coxcomb - #507 from 2019-02-09T08:00
Today’s word of the day is coxcomb. It’s spelled C-O-X-C-O-M-B. Coxcomb is a noun that means a foolish or conceited man.
This word of Middle English descent refers to the comb...
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Commodious - #506 from 2019-02-08T08:00
Today’s word of the day is commodious, C-O-M-M-O-D-I-O-U-S. Commodious is an adjective that means roomy and spacious.
The Latin word Commodus (COM oh doos) means ‘useful...
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Volitant - #505 from 2019-02-07T08:00
Today’s word of the day is volitant. It’s spelled V-O-L-I-T-A-N-T. Volitant is an adjective that means having the power of flight.
Believe it or not, a word that describes a c...
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Resplendent - #504 from 2019-02-06T08:00
Today’s word of the day is resplendent, R-E-S-P-L-E-N-D-E-N-T. Resplendent is an adjective that means shiny and colorful; pleasing to the eye.
The Latin splendere (splen DARE ...
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Matutinal - #503 from 2019-02-04T08:00
Today’s word of the day is matutinal, M-A-T-U-T-I-N-A-L. Matutinal is an adjective that means related to or occurring in the early morning.
Matuta (Ma TOO ta) is the Rom...
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Autoschediasm - #502 from 2019-02-03T08:00
Today’s word of the day is autoschediasm. It’s spelled A-U-T-O-S-C-H-E-D-I-A-S-M. Autoschediasm is a noun that means anything done with little forethought or preparation.
The Greek word f...
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Aegis - #501 from 2019-02-02T08:00
Today’s word of the day is aegis, A-E-G-I-S. Aegis is a noun that means protection.
Although aegis comes directly from Latin, its true origin is in Greek mythology. The word began life as...
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Degust - #500 from 2019-02-01T23:37:01
Today’s word of the day is degust. It’s spelled D-E-G-U-S-T. Degust is a verb that means to savor something fully.
The Latin word for taste is degusto (DAY goose toe). But how do we decid...
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Knavery - #499 from 2019-02-01T00:00
Today’s word of the day is knavery, K-N-A-V-E-R-Y. Knavery is a noun that means a roguish or mischievous act.
If you’re familiar with Shakespeare, you’ve heard many people ref...
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Selcouth - #498 from 2019-01-31T00:00
Today’s word of the day selcouth. It’s spelled S-E-L-C-O-U-T-H. Selcouth is an adjective that means unusual, strange.
Selcouth is derived from an Old English combination of wo...
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Pleonasm - #497 from 2019-01-30T00:00
Today’s word of the day is pleonasm, P-L-E-O-N-A-S-M. Pleonasm is a noun that means the excessive use of words.
Our word of the day began in Ancient Greece. The word pleonasmó...
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Sibylline - #496 from 2019-01-29T00:00
Today’s word of the day is sibylline. It’s spelled S-I-B-Y-L-L-I-NE. Sibylline is an adjective that means mysterious.
History buffs may recall a figure known as the Cumaean Sy...
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Adust - #495 from 2019-01-28T00:00
Today’s word of the day is adust, A-D-U-S-T. Adust is an adjective that means scorched or burned.
Adustus (AHH doos toos) is the Latin word for scorched. It has traditionally ...
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Lucubration - #494 from 2019-01-27T00:00
Today’s word of the day is lucubration. It’s spelled L-U-C-U-B-R-A-T-I-O-N. Lucubration is a noun that means laborious or intensive study.
The Latin word Lucubro (loo COO bro)...
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Riant - #493 from 2019-01-25T23:00
Today’s word of the day is giant, R-I-A-N-T. Riant is an adjective that means cheerful or happy.
Riant comes directly from France where it means ‘laughing.’ The word hap...
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Gallinaceous - #492 from 2019-01-24T23:00
Today’s word of the day is gallinaceous. It’s spelled G-A-L-L-I-N-A-C-E-O-U-S. Gallinaceous is an adjective that means related to or resembling turkeys, chicken or other domestic fowl.
Etiolate - #491 from 2019-01-23T23:00
Today's word of the day is etiolate, E-T-I-O-L-A-T-E. Etiolate is a verb that means to drain or make weak.
The French have generously donated the word etiolator (ay tee oh LAY...
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Iconoclast - #490 from 2019-01-22T23:00
Today's word of the day is iconoclast. It's spelled I-C-O-N-O-C-L-A-S-T. Iconoclast is a noun that means a person who attacks settled customs or institutions.
You may you know...
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Byzantine - #489 from 2019-01-21T23:00
Today's word of the day is Byzantine, B-Y-Z-A-N-T-I-N-E. Byzantine is an adjective that means elaborate and complex.
Historian recall the Byzantine empire as one riddled...
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Lenity - #488 from 2019-01-20T23:00
Today's word of the day is lenity. It's spelled L-E-N-I-T-Y. Lenity is a noun that means the state of being mild or gentle.
The Latin word lenitas (lay NEE tas) means mild or ...
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Sisyphean - #487 from 2019-01-19T23:00
Today's word of the day is sisyphean, S-I-S-Y-P-H-E-A-N. Sisyphean is an adjective that means endless.
The myth of Sisyphus is an ancient Greek tale of a King whose punishment...
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Eximious - #486 from 2019-01-18T23:00
Today's word of the day is eximous. It's spelled E-X-I-M-I-O-U-S. Eximious is an adjective that means distinguished.
The Latin word eximius (ex EEM ee oos) means 'set apart' o...
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Burble - #485 from 2019-01-17T23:00
Today's word of the day is burble, B-U-R-B-L-E. Burble is a verb that means to speak in an excited manner.
The Middle English word for bubble is burblen. From there our word o...
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Beamish - #484 from 2019-01-16T23:00
Today's word of the day is beamish. It's spelled B-E-A-M-I-S-H. Beamish is an adjective that means bright with optimism.
Coming from the English word beam, which may refer to ...
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Agrapha - #483 from 2019-01-15T23:00
Today's word of the day is agrapha, A-G-R-A-P-H-A. Agrapha is a noun that means famous sayings that are falsely attributed.
A word borrowed from Greek that referred to sayings...
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Garboil - #482 from 2019-01-14T23:00
Today's word of the day is garboil. It's spelled G-A-R-B-O-I-L. Garboil is a noun that means a confused or disordered state.
The Latin word bullire (boo LEE ray) means to boil...
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Agog - #481 from 2019-01-13T23:00
Today's word of the day is agog. It's spelled A-G-O-G. Agog is an adjective that means full of interest or excitement.
The origin of agog seems to be the French phrase en gogu...
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Legerity - #480 from 2019-01-12T23:00
Today's word of the day is legerity, L-E-G-E-R-I-T-Y. Legerity is a noun that means alert quickness of mind and body.
The Latin word Levis (LEV ees) means light, as in 'light ...
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Instantiate - #479 from 2019-01-11T23:00
Today's word of the day is instantiate. It's spelled I-N-S-T-A-N-T-I-A-T-E. Instantiate is a verb that means to represent by a concrete example.
Instantiate is derived from a ...
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Crocodilian - #478 from 2019-01-10T23:00
Today's word of the day is crocodilian, C-R-O-C-O-D-I-L-I-A-N. Crocodilian is an adjective that means hypocritical or insincere.
If you recognize the word crocodile in our wor...
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Esperance - #477 from 2019-01-09T23:00
Today's word of the day is esperance. It's spelled E-S-P-E-R-A-N-C-E. Esperance is a noun that means hope or expectation.
The French word esperance (es pair AHHNS) is the ance...
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Flackery - #476 from 2019-01-08T23:00
Today's word of the day is flackery, F-L-A-C-K-E-R-Y. Flackery is a noun that means promotion or publicity.
The exact origin of flack, meaning 'a press agent' or 'one who prov...
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Oscitant - #475 from 2019-01-07T23:00
Today's word of the day is oscitant. It's spelled O-S-C-I-T-A-N-T. Oscitant is an adjective that means drowsy.
Coming directly from the Latin word Oscitans (Oh ski TAN) which ...
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Catholicon - #474 from 2019-01-05T23:00
Today's word of the day is catholicon, C-A-T-H-O-L-I-C-O-N. Catholicon is a noun that means a panacea or cure-all.
Although our word of the day has nothing to do with religion...
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Vespertine - #473 from 2019-01-05T23:00
Today's word of the day is vespertine. It's spelled V-E-S-P-E-R-T-I-N-E. Vespertine is an adjective that means happening in the evening.
Vespertinus (ves pair TEEN oos) the La...
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Adscititious - #472 from 2019-01-04T23:00
Today’s word of the day is adscititious. It’s spelled A-D-S-C-I-T-I-T-I-O-U-S. Adscititious means coming from the outside.
Adscititious is derived from the Latin word adscsice...
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Dulcet - #471 from 2019-01-03T23:00
Today’s word of the day is dulcet, D-U-L-C-E-T. Dulcet is an adjective that means pleasing to taste or hear.
Our word of the day is a versatile one that may be used in a wide ...
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Perquisite - #470 from 2019-01-02T23:00
Today’s word of the day is perquisite. It’s spelled P-E-R-Q-U-I-S-I-T-E. Perquisite is a noun that means a privilege or profit made in addition to regular pay.
The Latin verb ...
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Raillery - #469 from 2019-01-01T23:00
Today’s word of the day is raillery, R-A-I-L-L-E-R-Y. Raillery is a noun that means good natured ridicule.
You may have noticed the word rail embedded in our word of the day. ...
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Emblazon - #468 from 2018-12-31T23:00
Today’s word of the day is emblazon. It’s spelled E-M-B-L-A-Z-O-N. Emblazon is a verb that means to celebrate or extol.
Emblazon got its start with the Anglo-French word blazon (BLAY son)...
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Impute - #467 from 2018-12-30T23:00
Today’s word of the day is impute, I-M-P-U-T-E. Impute is a verb that means to lay the responsibility or blame for.
The latin word imputo (eem POO toe) means to lay to a charge. Impute is...
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Trammel - #466 from 2018-12-29T23:00
Today’s word of the day is trammel, T-R-A-M-M-E-L Trammel is a verb that means to restraint freedom.
The Latin word for three, tr?s (tray ss) may seem like an unusual origin for tra...
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Lachrymose - #465 from 2018-12-29T23:00
Today’s word of the day is lachrymose. It’s spelled L-A-C-H-R-Y-M-O-S-E. Lachrymose is an adjective that means tending to cause tears.
Our word of the day has its origin in la...
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Sublimate - #464 from 2018-12-27T23:00
Today’s word of the day is sublimate, S-U-B-L-I-M-A-T-E Sublimate is a verb that means to direct the expression of a desire or an impulse to a more socially acceptable one.
When a person ...
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Aesopian - #463 from 2018-12-26T23:00
Today’s word of the day is Aesopian. It’s spelled A-E-S-O-P-I-A-N. Aesopian is an adjective that means conveying an innocent meaning to an outsider but a hidden meaning to others.
Aesop’s...
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Climacteric - #462 from 2018-12-25T22:00
Today’s word of the day is climacteric. It’s spelled C-L-I-M-A-C-T-E-R-I-C. Climacteric is a noun that means a major turning point.
The word klimakter (KLEE mack ter) comes from Anc...
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Ruction - #461 from 2018-12-24T22:00
Today’s word of the day is ruction, R-U-C-T-I-O-N. Ruction is a noun that means a disturbance.
The precise origin of ruction is unclear. It seems to be a shortening of insurrection....
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Doughty - #460 from 2018-12-23T22:00
Today’s word of the day is doughty. It’s spelled D-O-U-G-H-T-Y. Doughty is an adjective that means valiant.
A word of Old English derivation, doughty may sound out of place
I...
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Perpend - #459 from 2018-12-22T21:00
Today’s word of the day is perpend, P-E-R-P-E-N-D. Perpend is a verb that means to ponder.
The Latin word word perpendere (Per PEN dare ay), which means ‘to weigh’ may seem like a s...
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Megrim - #456 from 2018-12-21T21:00
Today’s word of the day is megrim. It’s spelled M-E-G-R-I-M. Megrim is a noun that means dizziness or vertigo.
Although it’s often used as a synonym of migraine, megrim is actually ...
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Marginalia - #457 from 2018-12-20T20:33:27
Today’s word of the day is marginalia, M-A-R-G-I-N-A-L-I-A. Marginalia is a noun that means nonessential items. You probably recognize the word margin, a word that, when used figuratively, may ref...
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Pelf - #456 from 2018-12-19T20:00
Today’s word of the day is pelf. It’s spelled P-E-L-F. Pelf is a noun that means money or riches. Pelf is derived from the Anglo-French word pelfre (PEL free) which means ‘stolen money.’ The Engli...
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Perspicacious - #455 from 2018-12-18T19:23:10
Today’s word of the day is perspicacious, P-E-R-S-P-I-C-A-C-I-O-U-S. Perspicacious is an adjective that means keen or of acute mental vision. The Latin word perspicere (PAIR spee care ay) got thi...
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Homiletic -#454 from 2018-12-18T01:00
Today’s word of the day is homiletic. It’s spelled H-O-M-I-E-T-I-C. Homiletic is an adjective that means related to preaching. Our word of the day’s journey begins with the Ancient Greek word homi...
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Predial - #453 from 2018-12-16T08:00
Today’s word of the day is predial, P-R-E-D-I-A-L. Predial is an adjective that means related to land or its products. Derived from the Latin word for estate, Praedium (PRAY dee um), predial is fr...
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Cassandra - #452 from 2018-12-15T08:00
Today’s word of the day us Cassandra. It’s spelled C-A-S-S-A-N-D-R-A. Cassandra means one who predicts misfortune. Understanding the origin of the word Cassandra, requires a quick lesson in Greek ...
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Harbinger - #451 from 2018-12-15T00:22:46
Today’s word of the day is harbinger, H-A-R-B-I-N-G-E-R. Harbinger is a noun that means one that foreshadows what is about to come. In Medieval English the word harbinger referred to a person who...
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Unctuous - #450 from 2018-12-13T08:00
Today’s word of the day is unctuous. It’s spelled U-N-C-T-U-O-U-S. Unctuous is an adjective that means insincerely smooth. The Latin word for anoint, Unguere (oon GWAY ray) is where unctuous’s jou...
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Tutelage - #449 from 2018-12-12T08:00
Today’s word of the day is tutelage, T-U-T-E-L-A-G-E. Tutelage is a noun that means guiding influence. The Latin word tueri (too AIR ee) means to guard. But as often happens to words of ancient or...
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Bathetic - #448 from 2018-12-11T23:25
Today’s word of the day is bathetic. It’s spelled B-A-T-H-E-T-I-C. Bathetic means trite or sentimental. Loosely connected to the similar sounding pathetic, bathetic has its roots in Ancient Greek....
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Deportment - #424 from 2018-11-19T20:00
Today's word of the day is deportment. It's spelled D-E-P-O-R-T-M-E-N-T. Deportment is a noun that means behavior; the way one conducts oneself. The French word for 'to carry away,' deporter (day ...
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Blithesome - #423 from 2018-11-18T20:00
Today's word of the day is blithesome, B-L-I-T-H-E-S-O-M-E. Blithesome is an adjective that means cheerful and happy. A combination of the Old English word blithe that simply means happy and the s...
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Nimiety - #411 from 2018-11-08T01:00
Today's word of the day is nimiety. It's spelled N-I-M-I-E-T-Y. Nimiety is a noun that means an excess or redundancy (of something). The Latin word for 'excessive' is nimietas (nuh MY uh tus) but ...
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Allegiant - #285 from 2018-07-01T23:00
Today’s word of the day is allegiant. Allegiant is an adjective that means faithful or loyal. It’s spelled A-L-L-E-G-I-A-N-T.
Fred is an allegiant employee. He’s been with us ...
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