WORD OF THE DAY
trepidation \ trep-uh-DAY-shun \ noun
Definition
1a: timorous uncertain agitation
1b: apprehension
Examples
Fran's trepidation going into the interview dissipated quickly, and her confidence and poise led her to getting offered the job a week later.
"The couple's trepidation isn't about how the state would handle the rare orchids.… They simply are worried that the state would not pay them what their land is worth, if … officials … decide to try and purchase a portion of their land to widen Route 22."
— Ronnie Wachter, The Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2016
Did You Know?
If you've ever trembled with fright, you know something of both the sensation and etymology of trepidation. The word comes from the Latin verb trepidare, which means "to tremble." When it first appeared in English in the early 1600s, it meant "tremulous motion" or "tremor." Around the same time, English speakers also started using the "nervous agitation" sense of trepidation that we use today.
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
Collude
WORD OF THE DAY
collude \ kuh-LOOD \ verb
Definition
: conspire, plot
Examples
"Two forestry companies colluded for more than a decade to control the prices of toilet paper and other products following a meeting at a golf course to end a price war, according to Chile's competitive practices regulator."
— The Observer-Dispatch (Utica, New York), 30 Oct. 2015
"If you collude in business or if you collude in the stock market, they put you in jail."
— Donald Trump, speaking on MSNBC, 25 Apr. 2016
Did You Know?
Our English "lude" words (allude, collude, delude, elude, and prelude) are based on the Latin verb ludere, meaning "to play." Collude dates back to 1525 and combines ludere and the prefix col-, meaning "with" or "together."
The verb is younger than the related noun collusion, which appeared sometime in the 14th century with the specific meaning "secret agreement or cooperation." Despite their playful history, collude and collusion have always suggested deceit or trickery rather than good-natured fun.
collude \ kuh-LOOD \ verb
Definition
: conspire, plot
Examples
"Two forestry companies colluded for more than a decade to control the prices of toilet paper and other products following a meeting at a golf course to end a price war, according to Chile's competitive practices regulator."
— The Observer-Dispatch (Utica, New York), 30 Oct. 2015
"If you collude in business or if you collude in the stock market, they put you in jail."
— Donald Trump, speaking on MSNBC, 25 Apr. 2016
Did You Know?
Our English "lude" words (allude, collude, delude, elude, and prelude) are based on the Latin verb ludere, meaning "to play." Collude dates back to 1525 and combines ludere and the prefix col-, meaning "with" or "together."
The verb is younger than the related noun collusion, which appeared sometime in the 14th century with the specific meaning "secret agreement or cooperation." Despite their playful history, collude and collusion have always suggested deceit or trickery rather than good-natured fun.
Monday, August 29, 2016
Rarified
WORD OF THE DAY
rarefied \ RAIR-uh-fyde \ adjective
Definition
1 : being less dense
2a : of, relating to, or interesting to a select group
2b: esoteric
3 : very high
Examples
Cartography is one of those rarefied fields at which only a select few can actually earn a living.
"He was known for photographing the most rarefied parties and galas but never partaking of even an hors d'oeuvre or sip of champagne."
— Robin Givhan, The Washington Post, 27 June 2016
Did You Know?
Rarefied was formed from the verb rarefy, which derives from a combination of the Latin rarus ("thin" or "rare") with facere ("to make") and has meant "to make thin" since the 14th century. In its original uses back in the 1500s, the adjective rarefied was on the lean side too; it meant "made less dense" (as in "the fog lifted and we could breathe more easily in the rarefied air"). By the 17th century, rarefy had gained the sense "to refine or purify," and over time rarefied followed suit.
rarefied \ RAIR-uh-fyde \ adjective
Definition
1 : being less dense
2a : of, relating to, or interesting to a select group
2b: esoteric
3 : very high
Examples
Cartography is one of those rarefied fields at which only a select few can actually earn a living.
"He was known for photographing the most rarefied parties and galas but never partaking of even an hors d'oeuvre or sip of champagne."
— Robin Givhan, The Washington Post, 27 June 2016
Did You Know?
Rarefied was formed from the verb rarefy, which derives from a combination of the Latin rarus ("thin" or "rare") with facere ("to make") and has meant "to make thin" since the 14th century. In its original uses back in the 1500s, the adjective rarefied was on the lean side too; it meant "made less dense" (as in "the fog lifted and we could breathe more easily in the rarefied air"). By the 17th century, rarefy had gained the sense "to refine or purify," and over time rarefied followed suit.
Friday, August 26, 2016
Insinuate
WORD OF THE DAY
insinuate \ in-SIN-yuh-wayt \ verb
Definition
1 a : to introduce (as an idea) gradually or in a subtle, indirect, or covert way
1b : to impart or suggest in an artful or indirect way
1c: imply
2 : to introduce (as oneself) by stealthy, smooth, or artful means
Examples
"They are confident buildings, but not boastful ones. They have a way of insinuating themselves into the landscape, behaving as if they’ve always been there."
— Karrie Jacobs, Architect, 18 June 2013
"Pokemon Go players couldn't catch much on Saturday. That's because the game kept crashing. … [A] group called PoodleCorp claimed responsibility for the server crash in a series of tweets. The group also insinuated that another attack on the game was imminent."
— Ahiza Garcia, CNN Wire, 16 July 2016
Did You Know?
The meaning of insinuate is similar to that of another verb, suggest. Whether you suggest or insinuate something, you are conveying an idea indirectly. But although these two words share the same basic meaning, each gets the idea across in a different way. When you suggest something, you put it into the mind by associating it with other ideas, desires, or thoughts. You might say, for example, that a book's title suggests what the story is about. The word insinuate, on the other hand, usually includes a sense that the idea being conveyed is unpleasant, or that it is being passed along in a sly or underhanded way ("She insinuated that I cheated").
Thursday, August 25, 2016
Plinth
WORD OF THE DAY
plinth \ PLINTH \ noun
Definition
1 : the lowest part of the base of an architectural column
2a : a usually square block serving as a base; broadly
2b: any of various bases or lower parts
3 : a course of stones forming a continuous foundation or base course
Examples
An empty plinth remains where the statue of the toppled dictator once commanded.
"Fabio Mauri (1926-2009) grew up in Mussolini-era Italy and his art consistently examines the ways in which the traumas of war and fascism are assimilated by history. For the most part it's the simpler works that resonate—such as a lone artillery shell on a plinth."
— Time Out, 26 Jan. 2016
Did You Know?
"These ivy-clad arcades — / These mouldering plinths ... are they all — / All of the famed, and the colossal left…?" In these lines from "The Coliseum," Edgar Allan Poe alludes to a practical feature of classical architecture. The plinth serves the important purpose of raising the base of the column it supports above the ground, thus protecting it from dampness and mold. The humble plinth is usually a mere thick block. It's humbly named, too, for the Greek word plinthos means simply "tile" or "brick." English writers have used plinth, a shortened version of the Latin form plinthus, since the mid-16th century. The word's meaning was later extended to bases for statues, vases, or busts.
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
Embellish
WORD OF THE DAY
embellish \ im-BELL-ish \ verb
Definition
1 : to make beautiful with ornamentation : decorate
2 : to heighten the attractiveness of by adding decorative or fanciful details : enhance
Examples
Kevin later admitted that he may have embellished the truth about the size of the dog that chased him out of the yard.
"On Snapchat, where users embellish their selfies with emoji, crayon scribbles, and elaborate 'lenses' that cover their faces with virtual masks, marketers like McDonalds are seizing the opportunity to write their messages across people’s faces."
— Amanda Hess, The New York Times, 20 June 2016
Did You Know?
Like its synonyms adorn, ornament, and garnish, embellish means to make something beautiful by the addition of a decorative or fanciful feature. Traditionally, the word is used specifically to stress the addition of superfluous or adventitious ornament, as in "The printer embellished the page with a floral border." Embellish differs from its synonyms, however, in that it is sometimes used in a euphemistic way to refer to the inclusion of details that are not necessarily true to make a story sound more appealing. The word derives via Middle English from the Anglo-French verb embelir, from en- and bel ("beautiful").
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
Journeyman
WORD OF THE DAY
journeyman \ JER-nee-mun \ noun
Definition
1 : a worker who has learned a trade and works for another person usually by the day
2 : an experienced reliable worker, athlete, or performer especially as distinguished from one who is brilliant or colorful
Examples
"I started working exclusively as an actor when I was 25 years old…. I was a journeyman actor, working here and there. And I loved it."
— Bryan Cranston, quoted in The Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2016
"Rich Hill is 36 and likely to be the most sought-after pitcher on the trade market, but he claims he doesn't see it that way. The transformation from journeyman to a pitcher with electric stuff has been stunning at his age."
— Nick Cafardo, The Boston Globe, 10 July 2016
Did You Know?
The journey in journeyman refers to a sense of the familiar word not often used anymore: "a day's labor." This sense of journey was first used in the 14th century. When journeyman appeared the following century, it originally referred to a person who, having learned a handicraft or trade through an apprenticeship, worked for daily wages. In the 16th century, journeyman picked up a figurative (and mainly deprecatory) sense; namely, "one who drudges for another." These days, however, journeyman has little to do with drudgery, and lots to do with knowing a trade inside out.
Monday, August 22, 2016
Lenient
WORD OF THE DAY
lenient \ LEEN-yunt \ adjective
Definition
1a : exerting a soothing or easing influence
1b: relieving pain or stress
2a : of mild and tolerant disposition; especially
2b: indulgent
Examples
Because Kevin didn't have any past violations on his driving record, the officer decided to be lenient and let him off with a written warning.
"In February, he pleaded guilty to a bribery count and a tax count. His attorney … has said federal prosecutors have recommended a lenient sentence in exchange for his cooperation."
— Jimmie E. Gates, The Clarion-Ledger (Jackson, Mississippi), 18 July 2016
Did You Know?
Lenient is a word with a soothing history. It derives from the Latin verb lenire, meaning "to soothe" or "to soften" (itself from lenis, meaning "soft or mild"). The first, now archaic, sense of lenient referred to something soothing that relieved pain and stress. That meaning was shared by lenitive, an earlier derivative of lenire that was commonly used with electuary (a "lenitive electuary" being a medicated paste prepared with honey or another sweet and used by veterinarians to alleviate pain in the mouth). Linguists also borrowed lenis to describe speech sounds that are softened—for instance, the "t" sound in gutter is lenis. By way of comparison, the "t" sound in toe is fortis.
lenient \ LEEN-yunt \ adjective
Definition
1a : exerting a soothing or easing influence
1b: relieving pain or stress
2a : of mild and tolerant disposition; especially
2b: indulgent
Examples
Because Kevin didn't have any past violations on his driving record, the officer decided to be lenient and let him off with a written warning.
"In February, he pleaded guilty to a bribery count and a tax count. His attorney … has said federal prosecutors have recommended a lenient sentence in exchange for his cooperation."
— Jimmie E. Gates, The Clarion-Ledger (Jackson, Mississippi), 18 July 2016
Did You Know?
Lenient is a word with a soothing history. It derives from the Latin verb lenire, meaning "to soothe" or "to soften" (itself from lenis, meaning "soft or mild"). The first, now archaic, sense of lenient referred to something soothing that relieved pain and stress. That meaning was shared by lenitive, an earlier derivative of lenire that was commonly used with electuary (a "lenitive electuary" being a medicated paste prepared with honey or another sweet and used by veterinarians to alleviate pain in the mouth). Linguists also borrowed lenis to describe speech sounds that are softened—for instance, the "t" sound in gutter is lenis. By way of comparison, the "t" sound in toe is fortis.
Friday, August 19, 2016
Fret
WORD OF THE DAY
fret \ FRET \ verb
Definition
1 a : to eat or gnaw into : wear, corrode; also : fray
1b : rub, chafe
1c : to make by wearing away
2 : to become vexed or worried
3 : agitate, ripple
Examples
"You shouldn't fret so much over your wardrobe," Liza said. "You look great no matter what you wear."
"Not so long ago independent booksellers fretted about the Nooks and the Kindles and the iPad—digital reading devices. And if that didn't scare them, the trend of reading everything on a phone was worrisome."
— Darrell Ehrlick, The Billings (Montana) Gazette, 22 July 2016
Did You Know?
Since its first use centuries ago, fret has referred to an act of eating, especially when done by animals—in particular, small ones. You might speak, for example, of moths fretting your clothing. Like eat, fret also developed figurative senses to describe actions that corrode or wear away. A river could be said to "fret away" at its banks or something might be said to be "fretted out" with time or age. Fret can also be applied to emotional experiences so that something that "eats away at us" might be said to "fret the heart or mind." This use developed into the specific meaning of "vex" or "worry" with which we often use fret today.
fret \ FRET \ verb
Definition
1 a : to eat or gnaw into : wear, corrode; also : fray
1b : rub, chafe
1c : to make by wearing away
2 : to become vexed or worried
3 : agitate, ripple
Examples
"You shouldn't fret so much over your wardrobe," Liza said. "You look great no matter what you wear."
"Not so long ago independent booksellers fretted about the Nooks and the Kindles and the iPad—digital reading devices. And if that didn't scare them, the trend of reading everything on a phone was worrisome."
— Darrell Ehrlick, The Billings (Montana) Gazette, 22 July 2016
Did You Know?
Since its first use centuries ago, fret has referred to an act of eating, especially when done by animals—in particular, small ones. You might speak, for example, of moths fretting your clothing. Like eat, fret also developed figurative senses to describe actions that corrode or wear away. A river could be said to "fret away" at its banks or something might be said to be "fretted out" with time or age. Fret can also be applied to emotional experiences so that something that "eats away at us" might be said to "fret the heart or mind." This use developed into the specific meaning of "vex" or "worry" with which we often use fret today.
Thursday, August 18, 2016
Panoptic
WORD OF THE DAY
panoptic \ pan-OP-tik \ adjective
Definition
: being or presenting a comprehensive or panoramic view
Examples
The new security cameras installed in the jewelry store capture panoptic views of the entrance and display cases.
"Interweaving the narratives of an aristocratic uptown family, an underground punk band, a Long Island adolescent, a black gay aspiring writer, and a journalist determined to uncover the obscure connections between them all, the more-than-900-page novel … casts a panoptic lens on 1970s New York City…."
— Lauren Christensen, Vanity Fair, October 2015
Did You Know?
The establishment of panoptic in the English language can be attributed to two inventions known as panopticons. The more well-known panopticon was conceived by the English philosopher Jeremy Bentham in 1787. Bentham’s panopticon was a circular prison with cells arranged around a central tower from which guards could see the inmates at all times. The other panopticon, also created in the 18th century, was a device containing pictures of attractions, such as European capitals, that people viewed through an opening. Considering the views that both inventions gave, it is not hard to see why panoptic (a word derived from Greek panoptēs, meaning "all-seeing") was being used by the early 19th century.
panoptic \ pan-OP-tik \ adjective
Definition
: being or presenting a comprehensive or panoramic view
Examples
The new security cameras installed in the jewelry store capture panoptic views of the entrance and display cases.
"Interweaving the narratives of an aristocratic uptown family, an underground punk band, a Long Island adolescent, a black gay aspiring writer, and a journalist determined to uncover the obscure connections between them all, the more-than-900-page novel … casts a panoptic lens on 1970s New York City…."
— Lauren Christensen, Vanity Fair, October 2015
Did You Know?
The establishment of panoptic in the English language can be attributed to two inventions known as panopticons. The more well-known panopticon was conceived by the English philosopher Jeremy Bentham in 1787. Bentham’s panopticon was a circular prison with cells arranged around a central tower from which guards could see the inmates at all times. The other panopticon, also created in the 18th century, was a device containing pictures of attractions, such as European capitals, that people viewed through an opening. Considering the views that both inventions gave, it is not hard to see why panoptic (a word derived from Greek panoptēs, meaning "all-seeing") was being used by the early 19th century.
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
Dunnage
WORD OF THE DAY
dunnage \ DUN-ij \ noun
Definition
1a : loose materials used to support and protect cargo in a ship's hold
1b: padding in a shipping container
2 : baggage
Examples
The listed weight on the shipping order did not account for the container and dunnage.
"There are … efforts to reduce impact on the environment, with employees reusing as much of the packing material as possible. Boxes can be reused or turned into dunnage to use in packing."
— The Crossville (Tennessee) Chronicle, 26 Nov. 2012
Did You Know?
Etymologists don't know the exact origin of dunnage. Some have pointed out the similarity of the word to dünne twige, a Low German term meaning "brushwood," but no one has ever proven the two are related. Others have speculated that it derives from Dunlop, the name of a famous cheese-making town in Scotland; however, neither the town nor the cheese has any connection to dunnage. Truth be told, though dunnage has been with us since the 15th century, its etymological history remains a mystery.
dunnage \ DUN-ij \ noun
Definition
1a : loose materials used to support and protect cargo in a ship's hold
1b: padding in a shipping container
2 : baggage
Examples
The listed weight on the shipping order did not account for the container and dunnage.
"There are … efforts to reduce impact on the environment, with employees reusing as much of the packing material as possible. Boxes can be reused or turned into dunnage to use in packing."
— The Crossville (Tennessee) Chronicle, 26 Nov. 2012
Did You Know?
Etymologists don't know the exact origin of dunnage. Some have pointed out the similarity of the word to dünne twige, a Low German term meaning "brushwood," but no one has ever proven the two are related. Others have speculated that it derives from Dunlop, the name of a famous cheese-making town in Scotland; however, neither the town nor the cheese has any connection to dunnage. Truth be told, though dunnage has been with us since the 15th century, its etymological history remains a mystery.
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
Dedication
WORD OF THE DAY
dedication \ ded-ih-KAY-shun \ noun
Definition
1 : a devoting or setting aside for a particular purpose or use
2 : a name and often a message prefixed to a literary, musical, or artistic production in tribute to a person or cause
3 : self-sacrificing devotion
4 : a ceremony to mark the official completion or opening of something (as a building)
Examples
"Each of my days with my children embodies my dedication when I am open to them. Sitting around our kitchen table over dinner … we are giving thanks, talking to each other, laughing…."
— Kathryn Black, in The Imperfect Mom, 2006
"My wife would say my best habit is ... my work ethic. She's impressed by my dedication."
— Jimmie Johnson, quoted in Good Housekeeping, April 2012
Did You Know?
The word dedication first appears in the 14th century as a name for the solemn act of dedicating something, such as a calendar day or a church, to a divine being or to a sacred use. The word—formed from the Latin past participle of dedicare, meaning "to dedicate"—did not take hold in secular contexts until a few centuries later when English speakers began using it to refer to the act of devoting time and energy to a particular purpose. One of the earliest writers to do so is William Shakespeare. "His life I gave him, and did thereto ad / My love without retention or restraint, / All his in dedication….," proclaims his character Antonio in Twelfth Night. Dedication has also come to describe the quality of being loyal or devoted to a cause, ideal, or purpose. Nowadays, people are commonly spoken of as having a dedication to his or her family or work.
dedication \ ded-ih-KAY-shun \ noun
Definition
1 : a devoting or setting aside for a particular purpose or use
2 : a name and often a message prefixed to a literary, musical, or artistic production in tribute to a person or cause
3 : self-sacrificing devotion
4 : a ceremony to mark the official completion or opening of something (as a building)
Examples
"Each of my days with my children embodies my dedication when I am open to them. Sitting around our kitchen table over dinner … we are giving thanks, talking to each other, laughing…."
— Kathryn Black, in The Imperfect Mom, 2006
"My wife would say my best habit is ... my work ethic. She's impressed by my dedication."
— Jimmie Johnson, quoted in Good Housekeeping, April 2012
Did You Know?
The word dedication first appears in the 14th century as a name for the solemn act of dedicating something, such as a calendar day or a church, to a divine being or to a sacred use. The word—formed from the Latin past participle of dedicare, meaning "to dedicate"—did not take hold in secular contexts until a few centuries later when English speakers began using it to refer to the act of devoting time and energy to a particular purpose. One of the earliest writers to do so is William Shakespeare. "His life I gave him, and did thereto ad / My love without retention or restraint, / All his in dedication….," proclaims his character Antonio in Twelfth Night. Dedication has also come to describe the quality of being loyal or devoted to a cause, ideal, or purpose. Nowadays, people are commonly spoken of as having a dedication to his or her family or work.
Monday, August 15, 2016
Zest
WORD OF THE DAY
zest \ ZEST \ noun
Definition
1 : a piece of the peel of a citrus fruit (such as an orange or lemon) used as flavoring
2a : an enjoyably exciting quality
2b: piquancy
3a : keen enjoyment
3b: relish, gusto
Examples
Healthy and active as a senior citizen, Richard had a zest for life, a desire to travel and see the world, and a perpetual interest in trying new things.
"Basically, chocolate powder gets sprinkled on top of your cappuccino. It may not seem like much, but the sugary bitterness from the chocolate adds zest to the beverage."
— Jean Trinh, The Los Angeles Magazine, 24 June 2016
Did You Know?
Zest can spice up your life—fitting for a word that we learned from the world of cooking. We borrowed the term from a source that has given English speakers many culinary delights: French cuisine. The French used the form zest (nowadays they spell it zeste) to refer to orange or lemon peel used to flavor food or drinks. English speakers developed a taste for the fruit flavoring and adopted the term zest in the late 1600s. By the early 1700s, they had started using the word to refer to any quality that adds enjoyment to something in the same way that the zest of an orange or lemon adds flavor to food.
zest \ ZEST \ noun
Definition
1 : a piece of the peel of a citrus fruit (such as an orange or lemon) used as flavoring
2a : an enjoyably exciting quality
2b: piquancy
3a : keen enjoyment
3b: relish, gusto
Examples
Healthy and active as a senior citizen, Richard had a zest for life, a desire to travel and see the world, and a perpetual interest in trying new things.
"Basically, chocolate powder gets sprinkled on top of your cappuccino. It may not seem like much, but the sugary bitterness from the chocolate adds zest to the beverage."
— Jean Trinh, The Los Angeles Magazine, 24 June 2016
Did You Know?
Zest can spice up your life—fitting for a word that we learned from the world of cooking. We borrowed the term from a source that has given English speakers many culinary delights: French cuisine. The French used the form zest (nowadays they spell it zeste) to refer to orange or lemon peel used to flavor food or drinks. English speakers developed a taste for the fruit flavoring and adopted the term zest in the late 1600s. By the early 1700s, they had started using the word to refer to any quality that adds enjoyment to something in the same way that the zest of an orange or lemon adds flavor to food.
Friday, August 12, 2016
Vestige
WORD OF THE DAY
vestige \ VESS-tij \ noun
Definition
1 a : a trace, mark, or visible sign left by something (such as an ancient city or a condition or practice) vanished or lost
1b : the smallest quantity or trace
2 : a bodily part or organ that is small and degenerate or imperfectly developed in comparison to one more fully developed in an earlier stage of the individual, in a past generation, or in closely related forms
Examples
There was not a vestige of doubt in the jurors' minds that the defendant was guilty.
"The United States is fully lifting the ban on the sale of military equipment to Vietnam that has been in place for some 50 years.… [T]his change will ensure that Vietnam has access to the equipment it needs to defend itself and removes a lingering vestige of the Cold War."
— Barack Obama, quoted on CNN International, 23 May 2016
Did You Know?
Vestige is derived via Middle French from the Latin noun vestigium, meaning "footstep, footprint, or track." Like trace and track, vestige can refer to a perceptible sign made by something that has now passed. Of the three words, vestige is the most likely to apply to a tangible reminder, such as a fragment or remnant of what is past and gone. Trace, on the other hand, may suggest any line, mark, or discernible effect ("the snowfield is pockmarked with the traces of caribou"). Track implies a continuous line that can be followed ("the fossilized tracks of dinosaurs").
vestige \ VESS-tij \ noun
Definition
1 a : a trace, mark, or visible sign left by something (such as an ancient city or a condition or practice) vanished or lost
1b : the smallest quantity or trace
2 : a bodily part or organ that is small and degenerate or imperfectly developed in comparison to one more fully developed in an earlier stage of the individual, in a past generation, or in closely related forms
Examples
There was not a vestige of doubt in the jurors' minds that the defendant was guilty.
"The United States is fully lifting the ban on the sale of military equipment to Vietnam that has been in place for some 50 years.… [T]his change will ensure that Vietnam has access to the equipment it needs to defend itself and removes a lingering vestige of the Cold War."
— Barack Obama, quoted on CNN International, 23 May 2016
Did You Know?
Vestige is derived via Middle French from the Latin noun vestigium, meaning "footstep, footprint, or track." Like trace and track, vestige can refer to a perceptible sign made by something that has now passed. Of the three words, vestige is the most likely to apply to a tangible reminder, such as a fragment or remnant of what is past and gone. Trace, on the other hand, may suggest any line, mark, or discernible effect ("the snowfield is pockmarked with the traces of caribou"). Track implies a continuous line that can be followed ("the fossilized tracks of dinosaurs").
Thursday, August 11, 2016
Filial
WORD OF THE DAY
filial \ FIL-ee-ul \ adjective
Definition
1 : of, relating to, or befitting a son or daughter
2 : having or assuming the relation of a child or offspring
Examples
Margaret's sense of filial responsibility is only part of her motivation for carrying on her parents' business; she also loves the work.
"Though initially reluctant, the old champ agrees to coach the young boxer, and they form a filial bond that grows in tandem with the stakes they face."
— Sandy Cohen, The Post & Courier (Charleston, South Carolina), 24 Nov. 2016
Did You Know?
Filial is descended from Latin filius, meaning "son," and filia, meaning "daughter," and in English (where it has been used since at least the 14th century) it has always applied to both sexes. The word has long carried the dutiful sense "owed to a parent by a child," as found in such phrases as "filial respect" and "filial piety."
These days it can also be used more generally for any emotion or behavior of a child to a parent. You might suspect that filia is also the source of the word filly, meaning "a young female horse" or "a young girl," but it isn't. Rather, filly is from Old Norse fylja
filial \ FIL-ee-ul \ adjective
Definition
1 : of, relating to, or befitting a son or daughter
2 : having or assuming the relation of a child or offspring
Examples
Margaret's sense of filial responsibility is only part of her motivation for carrying on her parents' business; she also loves the work.
"Though initially reluctant, the old champ agrees to coach the young boxer, and they form a filial bond that grows in tandem with the stakes they face."
— Sandy Cohen, The Post & Courier (Charleston, South Carolina), 24 Nov. 2016
Did You Know?
Filial is descended from Latin filius, meaning "son," and filia, meaning "daughter," and in English (where it has been used since at least the 14th century) it has always applied to both sexes. The word has long carried the dutiful sense "owed to a parent by a child," as found in such phrases as "filial respect" and "filial piety."
These days it can also be used more generally for any emotion or behavior of a child to a parent. You might suspect that filia is also the source of the word filly, meaning "a young female horse" or "a young girl," but it isn't. Rather, filly is from Old Norse fylja
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
Resilience
WORD OF THE DAY
resilience \ rih-ZIL-yunss \ noun
Definition
1 : the capability of a strained body to recover its size and shape after deformation caused especially by compressive stress
2 : an ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change
Examples
Terry and Rayanne were proud of their daughter's resilience during her search for a summer job—after being passed over for one positon, she immediately applied to five more.
"Meet three ordinary women who reached the end of their rope. But instead of giving up—after a tough adoption, drug addiction and a financial nightmare—they came back. Not just fighting, but thriving. Their inspiring stories will make you cheer for their resilience and want to learn from their life lessons."
— Amanda Robb, Good Housekeeping, April 2014
Did You Know?
In physics, resilience is the ability of an elastic material (such as rubber or animal tissue) to absorb energy (such as from a blow) and release that energy as it springs back to its original shape. The recovery that occurs in this phenomenon can be viewed as analogous to a person's ability to bounce back after a jarring setback. Author P. G. Wodehouse took note of this when he wrote:
"There is in certain men … a quality of resilience, a sturdy refusal to acknowledge defeat, which aids them as effectively in affairs of the heart as in encounters of a sterner and more practical kind." The word resilience derives from the present participle of the Latin verb resilire, meaning "to jump back" or "to recoil." The base of resilire is salire, a verb meaning "to leap" that also pops up in the etymologies of such sprightly words as sally and somersault.
resilience \ rih-ZIL-yunss \ noun
Definition
1 : the capability of a strained body to recover its size and shape after deformation caused especially by compressive stress
2 : an ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change
Examples
Terry and Rayanne were proud of their daughter's resilience during her search for a summer job—after being passed over for one positon, she immediately applied to five more.
"Meet three ordinary women who reached the end of their rope. But instead of giving up—after a tough adoption, drug addiction and a financial nightmare—they came back. Not just fighting, but thriving. Their inspiring stories will make you cheer for their resilience and want to learn from their life lessons."
— Amanda Robb, Good Housekeeping, April 2014
Did You Know?
In physics, resilience is the ability of an elastic material (such as rubber or animal tissue) to absorb energy (such as from a blow) and release that energy as it springs back to its original shape. The recovery that occurs in this phenomenon can be viewed as analogous to a person's ability to bounce back after a jarring setback. Author P. G. Wodehouse took note of this when he wrote:
"There is in certain men … a quality of resilience, a sturdy refusal to acknowledge defeat, which aids them as effectively in affairs of the heart as in encounters of a sterner and more practical kind." The word resilience derives from the present participle of the Latin verb resilire, meaning "to jump back" or "to recoil." The base of resilire is salire, a verb meaning "to leap" that also pops up in the etymologies of such sprightly words as sally and somersault.
Tuesday, August 9, 2016
Rectify
WORD OF THE DAY
rectify \ REK-tuh-fye \ verb
Definition
1 : to set right : remedy
2 : to purify (as alcohol) especially by repeated or fractional distillation
3 : to correct by removing errors
Examples
After Jennifer pointed out to the store manager that she was not charged the sale price for her purchase, he promised to rectify the situation and refund her the difference.
"'At the time I couldn't say that there was a place in all of Asia that made real, slow-cooked barbecue,' he said. So Walker rectified that; he opened Bubba’s in 2006, a Texas-style barbecue joint."
— Joshua Hunt, The Texas Monthly, 4 July 2016
Did You Know?
Which of the following words does not share its ancestry with rectify—direct, regimen, obstruct, correct, or resurrection? Like rectify, four of these words ultimately come from Latin regere, which can mean "to lead straight," "to direct," or "to rule." Correct and direct come from regere via Latin corrigere and dirigere, respectively. Resurrection comes from Latin resurgere, whose stem surgere, meaning "to rise," is a combination of sub- and regere.
Regimen is from Latin regimen ("position of authority," "direction," "set of rules"), itself from regere. And rectify is from regere by way of Latin rectus ("right"). Obstruct is the only one of the set that has no relation to rectify. It traces back to Latin struere, meaning "to build" or "to heap up."
rectify \ REK-tuh-fye \ verb
Definition
1 : to set right : remedy
2 : to purify (as alcohol) especially by repeated or fractional distillation
3 : to correct by removing errors
Examples
After Jennifer pointed out to the store manager that she was not charged the sale price for her purchase, he promised to rectify the situation and refund her the difference.
"'At the time I couldn't say that there was a place in all of Asia that made real, slow-cooked barbecue,' he said. So Walker rectified that; he opened Bubba’s in 2006, a Texas-style barbecue joint."
— Joshua Hunt, The Texas Monthly, 4 July 2016
Did You Know?
Which of the following words does not share its ancestry with rectify—direct, regimen, obstruct, correct, or resurrection? Like rectify, four of these words ultimately come from Latin regere, which can mean "to lead straight," "to direct," or "to rule." Correct and direct come from regere via Latin corrigere and dirigere, respectively. Resurrection comes from Latin resurgere, whose stem surgere, meaning "to rise," is a combination of sub- and regere.
Regimen is from Latin regimen ("position of authority," "direction," "set of rules"), itself from regere. And rectify is from regere by way of Latin rectus ("right"). Obstruct is the only one of the set that has no relation to rectify. It traces back to Latin struere, meaning "to build" or "to heap up."
Monday, August 8, 2016
Misanthrope
WORD OF THE DAY
misanthrope \ MISS-un-throhp \ noun
Definition
: a person who hates or distrusts humankind
Examples
"The conventional image of Groucho [Marx] was that he was on the side of the little guy, and he spoke defiantly and insolently to powerful people and wealthy people. But my feeling is that Groucho was out to deflate everybody—that he was a thoroughgoing misanthrope."
— Lee Siegel, speaking on NPR, 23 Jan. 2016
"Many feared that we would become asocial creatures, misanthropes who would rather hide behind the safety of a screen than face the intimacy of a spoken conversation."
— Jenna Wortham, The New York Times, 22 May 2016
Did You Know?
The word misanthrope is human to the core—literally. One of its parents is the Greek noun anthrōpos, meaning "human being." Its other parent is the Greek verb misein, meaning "to hate." Misein also gave English misogamy ("a hatred of marriage"), misogyny ("hatred of women"), misology ("a hatred of argument, reasoning, or enlightenment"), and misoneism ("a hatred, fear, or intolerance of innovation or change"). Anthrōpos also joined forces with phil- (a combining form meaning "loving") to form the Greek ancestor of philanthropy ("active effort to help other people"). We also find anthrōpos when we delve into the foundations of the word anthropology.
Friday, August 5, 2016
Kith
WORD OF THE DAY
kith \ KITH \ noun
Definition
: familiar friends, neighbors, or relatives
Examples
"The joy of returning to kith and kin was greater than all her former joys. … Never before … had Shelby seen such an outpouring of affection."
— Dorothy West, The Wedding, 1995
"Cooking and sharing food are inseparable. Our labor in the kitchen culminates not in profit but in praise … and it makes sweating in the kitchen worth it—the more so when kith and kin … gather around a holiday table."
— Ken Albala, The San Francisco Chronicle, 23 Nov. 2014
Did You Know?
Kith has had many meanings over the years. In its earliest uses it referred to knowledge of something, but that meaning died out in the 1400s. Another sense, "one's native land," had come and gone by the early 1500s. The sense "friends, fellow countrymen, or neighbors" developed before the 12th century and was sometimes used as a synonym of kinsfolk.
That last sense got kith into hot water after people began using the word in the alliterative phrase "kith and kin." Over the years, usage commentators have complained that kith means the same thing as kin, so "kith and kin" is redundant. Clearly, they have overlooked some other historical definitions, but if you want to avoid redundancy charges, be sure to include friends as well as relatives among your "kith and kin."
kith \ KITH \ noun
Definition
: familiar friends, neighbors, or relatives
Examples
"The joy of returning to kith and kin was greater than all her former joys. … Never before … had Shelby seen such an outpouring of affection."
— Dorothy West, The Wedding, 1995
"Cooking and sharing food are inseparable. Our labor in the kitchen culminates not in profit but in praise … and it makes sweating in the kitchen worth it—the more so when kith and kin … gather around a holiday table."
— Ken Albala, The San Francisco Chronicle, 23 Nov. 2014
Did You Know?
Kith has had many meanings over the years. In its earliest uses it referred to knowledge of something, but that meaning died out in the 1400s. Another sense, "one's native land," had come and gone by the early 1500s. The sense "friends, fellow countrymen, or neighbors" developed before the 12th century and was sometimes used as a synonym of kinsfolk.
That last sense got kith into hot water after people began using the word in the alliterative phrase "kith and kin." Over the years, usage commentators have complained that kith means the same thing as kin, so "kith and kin" is redundant. Clearly, they have overlooked some other historical definitions, but if you want to avoid redundancy charges, be sure to include friends as well as relatives among your "kith and kin."
Thursday, August 4, 2016
Edify
WORD OF THE DAY
edify \ ED-uh-fye \ verb
Definition
1: to instruct and improve especially in moral and religious knowledge
2: uplift
3: enlighten, inform
Examples
"Reading Lawrence, I am amazed and edified by the raw emotional intensity of his characters. I’m looking for ways to internalize this rich, untamed emotion and try to impart something of it to the characters who come to life in my keyboard."
— A. B. Yehoshua, quoted in The New York Times Book Review, 16 June 2016
"He said he hopes the group takes away the community they began to build, so they can unify and edify each other to do the work of recovery."
— Taylor Stuck, The Herald-Dispatch (Huntington, West Virginia), 15 May 2016
Did You Know?
The Latin noun aedes, meaning "house" or "temple," is the root of aedificare, a verb meaning "to erect a house." Generations of speakers built on that meaning, and by the Late Latin period, the verb had gained the figurative sense of "to instruct or improve spiritually."
The word eventually passed through Anglo-French before Middle English speakers adopted it as edify during the 14th century. Two of its early meanings, "to build" and "to establish," are now considered archaic; the only current sense of edify is essentially the same as that figurative meaning in Late Latin, "to instruct and improve in moral and religious knowledge."
edify \ ED-uh-fye \ verb
Definition
1: to instruct and improve especially in moral and religious knowledge
2: uplift
3: enlighten, inform
Examples
"Reading Lawrence, I am amazed and edified by the raw emotional intensity of his characters. I’m looking for ways to internalize this rich, untamed emotion and try to impart something of it to the characters who come to life in my keyboard."
— A. B. Yehoshua, quoted in The New York Times Book Review, 16 June 2016
"He said he hopes the group takes away the community they began to build, so they can unify and edify each other to do the work of recovery."
— Taylor Stuck, The Herald-Dispatch (Huntington, West Virginia), 15 May 2016
Did You Know?
The Latin noun aedes, meaning "house" or "temple," is the root of aedificare, a verb meaning "to erect a house." Generations of speakers built on that meaning, and by the Late Latin period, the verb had gained the figurative sense of "to instruct or improve spiritually."
The word eventually passed through Anglo-French before Middle English speakers adopted it as edify during the 14th century. Two of its early meanings, "to build" and "to establish," are now considered archaic; the only current sense of edify is essentially the same as that figurative meaning in Late Latin, "to instruct and improve in moral and religious knowledge."
Wednesday, August 3, 2016
Amity
WORD OF THE DAY
amity \ AM-uh-tee \ noun
Definition
1: friendship
2: friendly relations between nations
Examples
"Cousin friendships really are special. They provide an unmatched level of amity and support, without the rivalries that often exist between siblings."
— Helaine Becker, Today's Parent, June 2006
"The amity between the two leaders was palpable from the start as Mr. Modi broke with protocol to greet Mr. Obama at the airport with a warm handshake and hug."
— Peter Baker and Ellen Barry, The New York Times, 26 Jan. 2015
Did You Know?
Amity has been used in English to describe friendship or friendliness for well over 500 years. It is derived from the Latin word for "friend," amicus, and has come to be used especially for relationships between political leaders and nations in which goodwill is shown despite differences that might exist between the two parties.
Amicus is also the root of the adjectives amiable and amicable.
Amiable implies having qualities that make one liked and easy to deal with—for example, "The owners of the bed-and-breakfast were very amiable." Amicable is closer in meaning to amity: it implies friendliness and politeness with the desire to avoid disagreement and argument. A relationship between coworkers might be described as amicable. Other family members of amicus are the Spanish borrowing amigo ("friend") and the antonymous enemy, which developed from the Latin combination of the prefix in- ("not") with amicus
Tuesday, August 2, 2016
Glower
WORD OF THE DAY
glower \ GLOUR \ verb
Definition
: to look or stare with sullen annoyance or anger
Examples
Kelly glowered at me after I sided with Brenda in their dispute about the chores.
"Outside the subway stop, he glowered for each photo, then bade each of his fans farewell with a stately handshake. He never spoke a word."
— Steven Borowiec, The Orlando (Florida) Sentinel, 1 May 2016
Did You Know?
Do words of uncertain origin make you scowl? If so, glower may put a frown on your face because only part of its history can be validated. The well-established part of its story leads us to Scotland, where glower (or glowren, to use the older Scottish form of the word) has been used since the late Middle Ages.
Originally, the word meant simply "to look intently" or "to stare in amazement," but by the late 1700s, glowering stares were being associated with anger instead of astonishment. Beyond that, however, the history of the word is murky. The most we can say is that glower is a distant relative of Middle Low German glūren, which means "to be overcast," and of Middle Dutch gloeren, meaning "to leer."
glower \ GLOUR \ verb
Definition
: to look or stare with sullen annoyance or anger
Examples
Kelly glowered at me after I sided with Brenda in their dispute about the chores.
"Outside the subway stop, he glowered for each photo, then bade each of his fans farewell with a stately handshake. He never spoke a word."
— Steven Borowiec, The Orlando (Florida) Sentinel, 1 May 2016
Did You Know?
Do words of uncertain origin make you scowl? If so, glower may put a frown on your face because only part of its history can be validated. The well-established part of its story leads us to Scotland, where glower (or glowren, to use the older Scottish form of the word) has been used since the late Middle Ages.
Originally, the word meant simply "to look intently" or "to stare in amazement," but by the late 1700s, glowering stares were being associated with anger instead of astonishment. Beyond that, however, the history of the word is murky. The most we can say is that glower is a distant relative of Middle Low German glūren, which means "to be overcast," and of Middle Dutch gloeren, meaning "to leer."
Monday, August 1, 2016
Kerfuffle
WORD OF THE DAY
kerfuffle \ ker-FUFF-ul \ noun
Definition
: (chiefly British) disturbance, fuss
Examples
I didn't mean to start such a kerfuffle when I suggested that we hold the company picnic at a different location this year.
"… there was quite a kerfuffle (in visual-arts circles, anyway) this fall when the Jeff Wall show that was supposed to open the museum was suddenly cancelled by the artist. The works had become unavailable."
— Marsha Lederman, The Globe and Mail (Toronto, Ontario), 4 Dec. 2015
Did You Know?
Fuffle was first used in Scottish English, as early as the 16th century, as a verb meaning "to dishevel." The addition of the prefix car- (possibly derived from a Scottish Gaelic word meaning "wrong" or "awkward") didn't change the meaning of the word considerably. In the 19th century carfuffle, with its variant curfuffle, became a noun, and in the 20th century it was embraced by a broader population of English speakers and standardized to kerfuffle. There is some dispute among language historians over how the altered spelling came to be favored. One theory holds that it might have been influenced by imitative words like kerplunk, where the syllable ker- is simply added for emphasis.
kerfuffle \ ker-FUFF-ul \ noun
Definition
: (chiefly British) disturbance, fuss
Examples
I didn't mean to start such a kerfuffle when I suggested that we hold the company picnic at a different location this year.
"… there was quite a kerfuffle (in visual-arts circles, anyway) this fall when the Jeff Wall show that was supposed to open the museum was suddenly cancelled by the artist. The works had become unavailable."
— Marsha Lederman, The Globe and Mail (Toronto, Ontario), 4 Dec. 2015
Did You Know?
Fuffle was first used in Scottish English, as early as the 16th century, as a verb meaning "to dishevel." The addition of the prefix car- (possibly derived from a Scottish Gaelic word meaning "wrong" or "awkward") didn't change the meaning of the word considerably. In the 19th century carfuffle, with its variant curfuffle, became a noun, and in the 20th century it was embraced by a broader population of English speakers and standardized to kerfuffle. There is some dispute among language historians over how the altered spelling came to be favored. One theory holds that it might have been influenced by imitative words like kerplunk, where the syllable ker- is simply added for emphasis.
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