WORD OF THE DAY
woebegone \ WOH-bih-gahn \ adjective
Definition
1a : strongly afflicted with woe
1b: woeful
2 a : exhibiting great woe, sorrow, or misery
2b : being in a sorry state
Examples
"I simply wanted to be left alone to cry. I wanted the opposite of conversation, because for this brief, woebegone interlude, what was there to say?"
— Wesley Morris, The New York Times, 2 Aug. 2016
"On a 68-degree afternoon, the Giants (71-59) took out their frustrations on the Braves' woebegone pitching staff in record-setting fashion. Denard Span added a solo homer and Eduardo Núñez also went deep, giving the Giants their first four-homer game at AT&T Park in six years."
— Andrew Baggarly, The Mercury News (San Jose, California), 28 Aug. 2016
Did You Know?
At first glance, woebegone looks like a word that has its meaning backwards; after all, if begone means "to go away," shouldn't woebegone mean "devoid of woe," or "happy"? Not exactly. The word derives from the Middle English phrase wo begon. The wo in this phrase simply means "woe," but begon (deriving from Old English began) is a past participle meaning "beset." Someone who is woebegone, therefore, is beset with woe. Since the early 19th century, the word has also been used to describe things that appear to express sadness, as in "a woebegone face."
Friday, September 30, 2016
Thursday, September 29, 2016
Cabal
WORD OF THE DAY
cabal \ kuh-BAHL \ noun
Definition
1a : the artifices and intrigues of a group of persons secretly united in a plot (as to overturn a government)
1b: a group engaged in such artifices and intrigues
2 : club, group
Examples
"A 'cabal' of wealthy conservatives has begun using New York State's campaign finance laws to sway local elections…."
— Michael Gormley, Newsday (New York), 24 Aug. 2016
"Looking back, it didn't take a vast conspiracy to replace truth with lies: only a greedy, shameless ghostwriter; another lazy biographer; and a couple of filmmakers who embraced shoddy reporting for its sensationalizing value. That small, self-serving cabal managed to misinform generations of Americans with malicious myths that misshaped history."
— Dana D. Kelley, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 19 Aug. 2016
Did You Know?
In A Child's History of England, Charles Dickens associates the word cabal with a group of five ministers in the government of England's King Charles II. The initial letters of the names or titles of those men (Clifford, Arlington, Buckingham, Ashley, and Lauderdale) spell cabal, and Dickens dubbed them the "Cabal Ministry." These five men were widely regarded as invidious, secretive plotters and their activities may have encouraged English speakers to associate cabal with high-level government intrigue. But their names are not the source of the word cabal, which was in use decades before Charles II ascended the throne. The term can be traced back through French to cabbala, the Medieval Latin name for the Kabbalah, a traditional system of esoteric Jewish mysticism.
cabal \ kuh-BAHL \ noun
Definition
1a : the artifices and intrigues of a group of persons secretly united in a plot (as to overturn a government)
1b: a group engaged in such artifices and intrigues
2 : club, group
Examples
"A 'cabal' of wealthy conservatives has begun using New York State's campaign finance laws to sway local elections…."
— Michael Gormley, Newsday (New York), 24 Aug. 2016
"Looking back, it didn't take a vast conspiracy to replace truth with lies: only a greedy, shameless ghostwriter; another lazy biographer; and a couple of filmmakers who embraced shoddy reporting for its sensationalizing value. That small, self-serving cabal managed to misinform generations of Americans with malicious myths that misshaped history."
— Dana D. Kelley, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 19 Aug. 2016
Did You Know?
In A Child's History of England, Charles Dickens associates the word cabal with a group of five ministers in the government of England's King Charles II. The initial letters of the names or titles of those men (Clifford, Arlington, Buckingham, Ashley, and Lauderdale) spell cabal, and Dickens dubbed them the "Cabal Ministry." These five men were widely regarded as invidious, secretive plotters and their activities may have encouraged English speakers to associate cabal with high-level government intrigue. But their names are not the source of the word cabal, which was in use decades before Charles II ascended the throne. The term can be traced back through French to cabbala, the Medieval Latin name for the Kabbalah, a traditional system of esoteric Jewish mysticism.
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Peculiar
WORD OF THE DAY
peculiar \ pih-KYOOL-yer \ adjective
Definition
1a : characteristic of only one person, group, or thing
1b: distinctive
2 : special, particular
3 : odd, curious
4 : eccentric
Examples
"'I'm not like you. … I'm common, just like my grandfather.' Emma shook her head. 'Is that really what you think?' 'If I could do something spectacular like you, don't you think I would've noticed by now? … There's nothing peculiar about me. I'm the most average person you'll ever meet.'"
— Ransom Riggs, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, 2011
"It's not hard to spot players of the most popular smartphone game of all time. They have a peculiar way of carrying their devices in front of them with one hand, says John Hanke, the technology whiz behind Pokémon Go…."
— Ryan Mac, Forbes, 23 Aug. 2016
Did You Know?
Peculiar comes from Latin peculiaris, an adjective meaning "privately owned" or "special" that is derived from the word for "property," peculium. Those words are cognate with pecu, a word for "cattle" that is also etymologically linked to a few English words related to money. Among these are pecuniary ("of or relating to money"), peculate ("to embezzle"), and impecunious ("having very little or no money").
Peculiar borrowed the Latin meanings of peculiaris, but it eventually came to refer to qualities possessed only by a particular individual, group, or thing. That sense is commonly followed by the preposition to, as in "a custom peculiar to America." In time, peculiar was being used specifically for unusual qualities, as well as the individuals that possessed them, which led to the word's "odd," "curious," and "eccentric" senses.
peculiar \ pih-KYOOL-yer \ adjective
Definition
1a : characteristic of only one person, group, or thing
1b: distinctive
2 : special, particular
3 : odd, curious
4 : eccentric
Examples
"'I'm not like you. … I'm common, just like my grandfather.' Emma shook her head. 'Is that really what you think?' 'If I could do something spectacular like you, don't you think I would've noticed by now? … There's nothing peculiar about me. I'm the most average person you'll ever meet.'"
— Ransom Riggs, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, 2011
"It's not hard to spot players of the most popular smartphone game of all time. They have a peculiar way of carrying their devices in front of them with one hand, says John Hanke, the technology whiz behind Pokémon Go…."
— Ryan Mac, Forbes, 23 Aug. 2016
Did You Know?
Peculiar comes from Latin peculiaris, an adjective meaning "privately owned" or "special" that is derived from the word for "property," peculium. Those words are cognate with pecu, a word for "cattle" that is also etymologically linked to a few English words related to money. Among these are pecuniary ("of or relating to money"), peculate ("to embezzle"), and impecunious ("having very little or no money").
Peculiar borrowed the Latin meanings of peculiaris, but it eventually came to refer to qualities possessed only by a particular individual, group, or thing. That sense is commonly followed by the preposition to, as in "a custom peculiar to America." In time, peculiar was being used specifically for unusual qualities, as well as the individuals that possessed them, which led to the word's "odd," "curious," and "eccentric" senses.
Monday, September 26, 2016
Tantivy
WORD OF THE DAY
tantivy \ tan-TIV-ee \ adverb
Definition
: at a gallop
Examples
The horse rushed tantivy over the dirt roads that wound through the fields and pastures.
"Thus it came about that Denby and his man, riding tantivy to the rescue, met the raiders two miles down the trail…."
— Francis Lynde, The Helpers, 1899
Did You Know?
Tantivy is an adverb as well as a noun that refers to a rapid gallop. Although its precise origin isn't known, one theory has it that tantivy represents the sound of a galloping horse’s hooves. The noun does double duty as a word meaning "the blare of a trumpet or horn." This is probably due to confusion with tantara, a word for the sound of a trumpet that came about as an imitation of that sound. Both tantivy and tantara were used during foxhunts; in the heat of the chase, people may have jumbled the two.
tantivy \ tan-TIV-ee \ adverb
Definition
: at a gallop
Examples
The horse rushed tantivy over the dirt roads that wound through the fields and pastures.
"Thus it came about that Denby and his man, riding tantivy to the rescue, met the raiders two miles down the trail…."
— Francis Lynde, The Helpers, 1899
Did You Know?
Tantivy is an adverb as well as a noun that refers to a rapid gallop. Although its precise origin isn't known, one theory has it that tantivy represents the sound of a galloping horse’s hooves. The noun does double duty as a word meaning "the blare of a trumpet or horn." This is probably due to confusion with tantara, a word for the sound of a trumpet that came about as an imitation of that sound. Both tantivy and tantara were used during foxhunts; in the heat of the chase, people may have jumbled the two.
Friday, September 23, 2016
Mettle
WORD OF THE DAY
mettle \ MET-ul \ noun
Definition
1 a : vigor and strength of spirit or temperament
1b : staying quality : stamina
2 : quality of temperament or disposition
Examples
"People aren't trying to hide their prosthetics like they once did. There is a sense of community, being proud of who you are and showing off your mettle."
— Rebekah Spielman, quoted in The San Diego Union Tribune, 21 Aug. 2016
"In the dozen years since Fantasia Barrino claimed victory on 'American Idol,' the singer has more than proved her mettle. She has sold millions of records, released a New York Times best-selling memoir, won a Grammy, anchored a hit reality series and become a Broadway star."
— Gerrick D. Kennedy, The Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2016
mettle \ MET-ul \ noun
Definition
1 a : vigor and strength of spirit or temperament
1b : staying quality : stamina
2 : quality of temperament or disposition
Examples
"People aren't trying to hide their prosthetics like they once did. There is a sense of community, being proud of who you are and showing off your mettle."
— Rebekah Spielman, quoted in The San Diego Union Tribune, 21 Aug. 2016
"In the dozen years since Fantasia Barrino claimed victory on 'American Idol,' the singer has more than proved her mettle. She has sold millions of records, released a New York Times best-selling memoir, won a Grammy, anchored a hit reality series and become a Broadway star."
— Gerrick D. Kennedy, The Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2016
Thursday, September 22, 2016
Palpable
WORD OF THE DAY
palpable \ PAL-puh-bul \ adjective
Definition
1a : capable of being touched or felt
1b: tangible
2a : easily perceptible
2b: noticeable
3a : easily perceptible by the mind
3b: manifest
Examples
The tension in the courtroom was palpable as the jury foreman stood to announce the verdict.
"The beautifully shot, meditative film takes on a palpable sense of urgency after Maria makes a fateful move, leaving both the young woman and her family in a quandary that forces them to deal with the outside world, including a harrowing trip to a hospital where no one understands their language."
— David Lewis, The San Francisco Chronicle, 26 Aug. 2016
Did You Know?
The word palpable has been used in English since the 14th century. It derives from the Latin word palpare, meaning "to stroke" or "to caress"—the same root that gives us the word palpitation. The Latin verb is also a linguistic ancestor of the verb feel. Palpable can be used to describe things that can be felt through the skin, such as a person's pulse, but even more frequently it is used in reference to things that cannot be touched but are still so easy to perceive that it is as though they could be touched—such as "a palpable tension in the air."
palpable \ PAL-puh-bul \ adjective
Definition
1a : capable of being touched or felt
1b: tangible
2a : easily perceptible
2b: noticeable
3a : easily perceptible by the mind
3b: manifest
Examples
The tension in the courtroom was palpable as the jury foreman stood to announce the verdict.
"The beautifully shot, meditative film takes on a palpable sense of urgency after Maria makes a fateful move, leaving both the young woman and her family in a quandary that forces them to deal with the outside world, including a harrowing trip to a hospital where no one understands their language."
— David Lewis, The San Francisco Chronicle, 26 Aug. 2016
Did You Know?
The word palpable has been used in English since the 14th century. It derives from the Latin word palpare, meaning "to stroke" or "to caress"—the same root that gives us the word palpitation. The Latin verb is also a linguistic ancestor of the verb feel. Palpable can be used to describe things that can be felt through the skin, such as a person's pulse, but even more frequently it is used in reference to things that cannot be touched but are still so easy to perceive that it is as though they could be touched—such as "a palpable tension in the air."
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
Consigliere
WORD OF THE DAY
consigliere \ kohn-sil-YEH-reh \ noun
Definition
: counselor, adviser
Examples
"Luisi’s goal was to create his own family in Boston, with Guarente as his underboss and Gentile as his consigliere."
— Stephen Kurkjian and Shelley Murphy, The Boston Globe, 26 July 2016
"In any event, it appears that Shari has turned her attention to removing the other impediments to absolute control. She booted Dauman from the Viacom board but kept his consigliere Tom Dooley, Viacom’s chief operating officer, in place."
— William D. Cohan, Vanity Fair, 20 June 2016
Did You Know?
If you're a fan of The Godfather series of movies, the character Tom Hagen may have already come to mind. Hagen, the Corleones' family lawyer, is famously dismissed by the Don's successor and son Michael Corleone because he is not a "wartime consigliere."
The word consigliere comes from Italian and has been a part our language since the 17th century; it was originally used of someone who served on a council in Italy. Currently, it is most commonly used to designate advisers to the Mafia—a use that first appeared in English in a document from a 1963 session of the U.S. Senate. It is also often used generally of a political or financial adviser, or any other trusted adviser for that matter.
consigliere \ kohn-sil-YEH-reh \ noun
Definition
: counselor, adviser
Examples
"Luisi’s goal was to create his own family in Boston, with Guarente as his underboss and Gentile as his consigliere."
— Stephen Kurkjian and Shelley Murphy, The Boston Globe, 26 July 2016
"In any event, it appears that Shari has turned her attention to removing the other impediments to absolute control. She booted Dauman from the Viacom board but kept his consigliere Tom Dooley, Viacom’s chief operating officer, in place."
— William D. Cohan, Vanity Fair, 20 June 2016
Did You Know?
If you're a fan of The Godfather series of movies, the character Tom Hagen may have already come to mind. Hagen, the Corleones' family lawyer, is famously dismissed by the Don's successor and son Michael Corleone because he is not a "wartime consigliere."
The word consigliere comes from Italian and has been a part our language since the 17th century; it was originally used of someone who served on a council in Italy. Currently, it is most commonly used to designate advisers to the Mafia—a use that first appeared in English in a document from a 1963 session of the U.S. Senate. It is also often used generally of a political or financial adviser, or any other trusted adviser for that matter.
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
Nefarious
WORD OF THE DAY
nefarious \ nih-FAIR-ee-us \ adjective
Definition
1a: flagrantly wicked or impious
1b: evil
Examples
"The company will not call you to ask for your Social Security or account number, but nefarious scammers might."
— Ellen Marks, The Albuquerque Journal, 31 July 2016
"Mention the word 'drugs,' and most people think of nefarious, evil substances bought in the dead of night from shadowy figures who carry guns and feed off of the weaknesses of addicts who seek out their poison with shaking, trembling hands."
— Steve Wildsmith, The Daily Times (Maryville, Tennessee), 25 July 2016
Did You Know?
Vicious and villainous are two wicked synonyms of nefarious, and, like nefarious, both mean "highly reprehensible or offensive in character, nature, or conduct." But these synonyms are not used in exactly the same way in all situations. Vicious may imply moral depravity or it may connote malignancy, cruelty, or destructive violence. Villainous applies to any evil, depraved, or vile conduct or characteristic, while nefarious (which derives from the Latin noun nefas, meaning "crime") suggests flagrant breaching of time-honored laws and traditions of conduct.
nefarious \ nih-FAIR-ee-us \ adjective
Definition
1a: flagrantly wicked or impious
1b: evil
Examples
"The company will not call you to ask for your Social Security or account number, but nefarious scammers might."
— Ellen Marks, The Albuquerque Journal, 31 July 2016
"Mention the word 'drugs,' and most people think of nefarious, evil substances bought in the dead of night from shadowy figures who carry guns and feed off of the weaknesses of addicts who seek out their poison with shaking, trembling hands."
— Steve Wildsmith, The Daily Times (Maryville, Tennessee), 25 July 2016
Did You Know?
Vicious and villainous are two wicked synonyms of nefarious, and, like nefarious, both mean "highly reprehensible or offensive in character, nature, or conduct." But these synonyms are not used in exactly the same way in all situations. Vicious may imply moral depravity or it may connote malignancy, cruelty, or destructive violence. Villainous applies to any evil, depraved, or vile conduct or characteristic, while nefarious (which derives from the Latin noun nefas, meaning "crime") suggests flagrant breaching of time-honored laws and traditions of conduct.
Monday, September 19, 2016
Eclogue
WORD OF THE DAY
eclogue \ ECK-log \ noun
Definition
: a poem in which shepherds converse
Examples
Modern critics tend to have little tolerance for the idealized world of the old eclogues, in which poverty is bathed in golden light.
"[Matt] Pavelich begins his novel with an excerpt from W. H. Auden's Pulitzer Prize-winning poem, 'Age of Anxiety.' Auden's is a fascinating and hair-raising eclogue that affects the novel throughout its long journey."
— The Missoula (Montana) Independent, 27 May 2004
Did You Know?
Although the eclogue appears in the Idylls of the Greek poet Theocritus, it was the 10 Eclogues (or Bucolics) of the Roman poet Virgil that gave us the word eclogue. (The Latin title Eclogae literally means "selections.") The eclogue was popular in the Renaissance and through the 17th century, when less formal eclogues were written. The poems traditionally depicted rural life as free from the complexity and corruption of more citified realms. The eclogue fell out of favor when the poets of the Romantic period rebelled against the artificiality of the pastoral. In more modern times, though, the term eclogue has been applied to pastoral poems involving the conversations of people other than shepherds, often with heavy doses of irony.
Friday, September 16, 2016
Juggernaut
WORD OF THE DAY
juggernaut \ JUG-er-nawt \ noun
Definition
1 : (chiefly British) a large heavy truck
2 : a massive inexorable force, campaign, movement, or object that crushes whatever is in its path
Examples
Led by their talented shooting guard, the high school's basketball team was a juggernaut, winning the state championship three years in a row.
"Under [Helen Gurley] Brown's editorship, Cosmo became a cultural juggernaut. Its articles covered just about every topic its young female readers wanted to read about…."
— Kate Tuttle, The Arizona (Tucson) Daily Star, 21 Aug. 2016
Did You Know?
In the early 14th century, Franciscan missionary Friar Odoric brought to Europe the story of an enormous carriage that carried an image of the Hindu god Vishnu (whose title was Jagannath, literally, "lord of the world") through the streets of India in religious processions. Odoric reported that some worshippers deliberately allowed themselves to be crushed beneath the vehicle's wheels as a sacrifice to Vishnu.
That story was probably an exaggeration or misinterpretation of actual events, but it spread throughout Europe anyway. The tale caught the imagination of English listeners, and by the 19th century, they were using juggernaut to refer to any massive vehicle (such as a steam locomotive) or to any other enormous entity with powerful crushing capabilities.
juggernaut \ JUG-er-nawt \ noun
Definition
1 : (chiefly British) a large heavy truck
2 : a massive inexorable force, campaign, movement, or object that crushes whatever is in its path
Examples
Led by their talented shooting guard, the high school's basketball team was a juggernaut, winning the state championship three years in a row.
"Under [Helen Gurley] Brown's editorship, Cosmo became a cultural juggernaut. Its articles covered just about every topic its young female readers wanted to read about…."
— Kate Tuttle, The Arizona (Tucson) Daily Star, 21 Aug. 2016
Did You Know?
In the early 14th century, Franciscan missionary Friar Odoric brought to Europe the story of an enormous carriage that carried an image of the Hindu god Vishnu (whose title was Jagannath, literally, "lord of the world") through the streets of India in religious processions. Odoric reported that some worshippers deliberately allowed themselves to be crushed beneath the vehicle's wheels as a sacrifice to Vishnu.
That story was probably an exaggeration or misinterpretation of actual events, but it spread throughout Europe anyway. The tale caught the imagination of English listeners, and by the 19th century, they were using juggernaut to refer to any massive vehicle (such as a steam locomotive) or to any other enormous entity with powerful crushing capabilities.
Thursday, September 15, 2016
Implacable
WORD OF THE DAY
implacable \ im-PLAK-uh-bul \ adjective
Definition
1a: not placable
1b: not capable of being appeased, significantly changed, or mitigated
Examples
"I am studying physics at a small graduate school because the implacable laws of the universe are of interest to me."
— Fiona Maazel, Ploughshares, Summer 2015
"Through his audacity, his vision, and his implacable faith in his future success, Philip Michael Thomas can say that he gave the most accomplished artists in history something to strive for."
— Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 9 June 2016
Did You Know?
Implacable is based on the Latin verb placare, meaning "to calm" or "to soothe." It joins the negative im- to the root to describe something that cannot be calmed or soothed or altered. The root placare also gave us placate. You may ask, what about the similar-looking words placid and placebo? These words are related to implacable and placate, but not as closely as you might suspect. They come from the Latin verb placēre, a relative of placare that means "to please."
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
Hare
WORD OF THE DAY
hare \ HAIR \ verb (1); noun (2)
Definition
1a: to go swiftly
1b: tear
2: A solitary leporid mammal of the genus Lepus, such as L. europaeus (European hare). Hares are larger than rabbits, having longer ears and legs, and live in shallow nests (forms).
Examples
Andrew hared along the country road on his motorbike.
"Pilgrims to the holy site now have to pay for the privilege of leaving their cars at the bottom, taking off their shoes and socks and haring up the mountain."
— Nuala McCann, The Irish News, 22 May 2010
Did You Know?
No doubt you've heard Aesop's fable about the speedy hare and the plodding tortoise. The hare may have lost that race due to a tactical error (stopping to take a nap before reaching the finish line), but the long-eared mammal's overall reputation for swiftness remains intact. It's no surprise, then, that hare is used as a verb meaning "to move quickly." The noun hare (which refers, in its most specific zoological sense, to a member of the genus Lepus, whose young are usually able to hop a few minutes after birth) is a very old word. It first appeared as hara in a Latin-Old English glossary around the year 700. The verb was in use by the end of the 19th century, and people have been "haring off" and "haring about" ever since.
hare \ HAIR \ verb (1); noun (2)
Definition
1a: to go swiftly
1b: tear
2: A solitary leporid mammal of the genus Lepus, such as L. europaeus (European hare). Hares are larger than rabbits, having longer ears and legs, and live in shallow nests (forms).
Examples
Andrew hared along the country road on his motorbike.
"Pilgrims to the holy site now have to pay for the privilege of leaving their cars at the bottom, taking off their shoes and socks and haring up the mountain."
— Nuala McCann, The Irish News, 22 May 2010
Did You Know?
No doubt you've heard Aesop's fable about the speedy hare and the plodding tortoise. The hare may have lost that race due to a tactical error (stopping to take a nap before reaching the finish line), but the long-eared mammal's overall reputation for swiftness remains intact. It's no surprise, then, that hare is used as a verb meaning "to move quickly." The noun hare (which refers, in its most specific zoological sense, to a member of the genus Lepus, whose young are usually able to hop a few minutes after birth) is a very old word. It first appeared as hara in a Latin-Old English glossary around the year 700. The verb was in use by the end of the 19th century, and people have been "haring off" and "haring about" ever since.
Tuesday, September 13, 2016
Kibosh
WORD OF THE DAY
kibosh \ KYE-bahsh \ noun
Definition
: something that serves as a check or stop
Examples
Heavy rains put the kibosh on many of the activities scheduled for the day.
"Yet every time a new idea takes root, old-guard companies that feel threatened, and politicians and regulators who like to control things, put the kibosh on the upstarts. They don't always succeed."
— Steven Greenhut, The Orange County Register (California), 3 July 2016
Did You Know?
For almost two centuries, kibosh has taxed the ingenuity of etymologists. It was prominent enough in lower-class London speech to attract the attention of Charles Dickens, who used it in 1836 in an early sketch, but little else is certain. Claims were once made that it was Yiddish, despite the absence of a plausible Yiddish source.
Another hypothesis points to Gaelic caidhp bháis—pronounced similarly to, and meaning, "coif of death"—explained as headgear a judge put on when pronouncing a death sentence, or as a covering pulled over the face of a corpse when a coffin was closed. But evidence for any metaphorical use of this phrase in Irish is lacking, and kibosh is not recorded as spoken in Ireland until decades after Dickens' use.
kibosh \ KYE-bahsh \ noun
Definition
: something that serves as a check or stop
Examples
Heavy rains put the kibosh on many of the activities scheduled for the day.
"Yet every time a new idea takes root, old-guard companies that feel threatened, and politicians and regulators who like to control things, put the kibosh on the upstarts. They don't always succeed."
— Steven Greenhut, The Orange County Register (California), 3 July 2016
Did You Know?
For almost two centuries, kibosh has taxed the ingenuity of etymologists. It was prominent enough in lower-class London speech to attract the attention of Charles Dickens, who used it in 1836 in an early sketch, but little else is certain. Claims were once made that it was Yiddish, despite the absence of a plausible Yiddish source.
Another hypothesis points to Gaelic caidhp bháis—pronounced similarly to, and meaning, "coif of death"—explained as headgear a judge put on when pronouncing a death sentence, or as a covering pulled over the face of a corpse when a coffin was closed. But evidence for any metaphorical use of this phrase in Irish is lacking, and kibosh is not recorded as spoken in Ireland until decades after Dickens' use.
Monday, September 12, 2016
Myrmidon
WORD OF THE DAY
myrmidon \ MER-muh-dahn \ noun
Definition
: a loyal follower; especially : a subordinate who executes orders unquestioningly or unscrupulously
Examples
"… when [Howard] Cosell came to TV he was utterly in contrast to the toothy myrmidons who reigned at the microphone and who spoke no evil save for the mayhem they regularly perpetrated upon the English language."
— Frank Deford, Sports Illustrated, 8 Aug. 1983
"Britain's National Health Service is a socialized system, and Marsh chafes at new rigid rules imposed by its administrators. He … is shadowed on ward rounds by a bureaucrat who takes notes on his dress and behavior. The reign of the emperor is ending, but Marsh refuses to comply and serve as a myrmidon."
— Jerome Groopman, The New York Times, 24 May 2015
Did You Know?
The Myrmidons, legendary inhabitants of Thessaly in Greece, were known for their fierce devotion to Achilles, the king who led them in the Trojan War. Myrmex means "ant" in Greek, an image that evokes small and insignificant workers mindlessly fulfilling their duties.
Whether the original Myrmidons were given their name for that reason is open to question. The "ant" association is strong, however. Some say the name is from a legendary ancestor who once had the form of an ant; others say the Myrmidons were actually transformed from ants. In any case, since the 1400s, we've employed myrmidon in its not-always-complimentary, ant-evoking, figurative sense.
myrmidon \ MER-muh-dahn \ noun
Definition
: a loyal follower; especially : a subordinate who executes orders unquestioningly or unscrupulously
Examples
"… when [Howard] Cosell came to TV he was utterly in contrast to the toothy myrmidons who reigned at the microphone and who spoke no evil save for the mayhem they regularly perpetrated upon the English language."
— Frank Deford, Sports Illustrated, 8 Aug. 1983
"Britain's National Health Service is a socialized system, and Marsh chafes at new rigid rules imposed by its administrators. He … is shadowed on ward rounds by a bureaucrat who takes notes on his dress and behavior. The reign of the emperor is ending, but Marsh refuses to comply and serve as a myrmidon."
— Jerome Groopman, The New York Times, 24 May 2015
Did You Know?
The Myrmidons, legendary inhabitants of Thessaly in Greece, were known for their fierce devotion to Achilles, the king who led them in the Trojan War. Myrmex means "ant" in Greek, an image that evokes small and insignificant workers mindlessly fulfilling their duties.
Whether the original Myrmidons were given their name for that reason is open to question. The "ant" association is strong, however. Some say the name is from a legendary ancestor who once had the form of an ant; others say the Myrmidons were actually transformed from ants. In any case, since the 1400s, we've employed myrmidon in its not-always-complimentary, ant-evoking, figurative sense.
Friday, September 9, 2016
Sylvan
WORD OF THE DAY
sylvan \ SILL-vun \ adjective
Definition
1 a : living or located in the woods or forest
1b : of, relating to, or characteristic of the woods or forest
2 a : made from wood : wooden
2b : abounding in woods, groves, or trees : wooded
Examples
"The climb up the hill … was a short, hot pilgrimage to a sylvan glade, where the reading tents and outlets for drinks, falafels, crêpes and so on were situated."
— Hugo Williams, The Times Literary Supplement, 13 Aug. 2004
"With Serenbe’s strong focus on sustainability and organic farming, Claudia and Rod Hoxsey wanted their new cottage there to be a modern version of a classic farmhouse. … The open floor plan embraces its sylvan setting, seen through 16-foot-tall metal windows."
— Lisa Mowry, Atlanta Magazine, August 2016
Did You Know?
In Latin, sylva means "wood" or "forest," and the related Sylvanus is the name of the Roman god of the woods and fields—a god sometimes identified with the Greek god Pan. These words gave rise to English sylvan in the 16th century. The English word was first used as a noun meaning "a mythological deity of the woods," eventually taking on the broader meaning "one who frequents the woods." The adjective sylvan followed soon after the noun and is now the more common word. Some other offspring of sylva (which can also be spelled silva) include silviculture ("a branch of forestry dealing with the development and care of forests"), sylvatic (a synonym of sylvan that can also mean "occurring in or affecting wild animals"), and the first name Sylvia.
sylvan \ SILL-vun \ adjective
Definition
1 a : living or located in the woods or forest
1b : of, relating to, or characteristic of the woods or forest
2 a : made from wood : wooden
2b : abounding in woods, groves, or trees : wooded
Examples
"The climb up the hill … was a short, hot pilgrimage to a sylvan glade, where the reading tents and outlets for drinks, falafels, crêpes and so on were situated."
— Hugo Williams, The Times Literary Supplement, 13 Aug. 2004
"With Serenbe’s strong focus on sustainability and organic farming, Claudia and Rod Hoxsey wanted their new cottage there to be a modern version of a classic farmhouse. … The open floor plan embraces its sylvan setting, seen through 16-foot-tall metal windows."
— Lisa Mowry, Atlanta Magazine, August 2016
Did You Know?
In Latin, sylva means "wood" or "forest," and the related Sylvanus is the name of the Roman god of the woods and fields—a god sometimes identified with the Greek god Pan. These words gave rise to English sylvan in the 16th century. The English word was first used as a noun meaning "a mythological deity of the woods," eventually taking on the broader meaning "one who frequents the woods." The adjective sylvan followed soon after the noun and is now the more common word. Some other offspring of sylva (which can also be spelled silva) include silviculture ("a branch of forestry dealing with the development and care of forests"), sylvatic (a synonym of sylvan that can also mean "occurring in or affecting wild animals"), and the first name Sylvia.
Thursday, September 8, 2016
Bevy
WORD OF THE DAY
bevy \ BEV-ee \ bevy
Definition
1 : a large group or collection
2 : a group of animals and especially quail
Examples
"… Prince William admits his son George is 'far too spoiled' after getting a bevy of gifts for his 3rd birthday."
— The Daily News (New York), 25 July 2016
"Many cereals contain whole grains and a bevy of nutritious ingredients, but many are also high in sugar and other refined grains that aren’t nutritionally sound."
— The Laramie (Wyoming) Boomerang, 21 July 2016
Did You Know?
What do you call a group of crows? Or swine? Or leopards? Well-educated members of the medieval gentry seem to have been expected to know the answers: a murder of crows, a sounder of swine, and a leap of leopards. They would also have been expected to know that bevy referred specifically to a group of deer, quail, larks, or young ladies. Scholars aren't certain why bevy was chosen for those groups (though they have theories). What is known for sure is that bevy first appeared in the 15th century and was used as a highly specific collective for many years. Today, however, bevies can include anything from football players to toaster ovens.
bevy \ BEV-ee \ bevy
Definition
1 : a large group or collection
2 : a group of animals and especially quail
Examples
"… Prince William admits his son George is 'far too spoiled' after getting a bevy of gifts for his 3rd birthday."
— The Daily News (New York), 25 July 2016
"Many cereals contain whole grains and a bevy of nutritious ingredients, but many are also high in sugar and other refined grains that aren’t nutritionally sound."
— The Laramie (Wyoming) Boomerang, 21 July 2016
Did You Know?
What do you call a group of crows? Or swine? Or leopards? Well-educated members of the medieval gentry seem to have been expected to know the answers: a murder of crows, a sounder of swine, and a leap of leopards. They would also have been expected to know that bevy referred specifically to a group of deer, quail, larks, or young ladies. Scholars aren't certain why bevy was chosen for those groups (though they have theories). What is known for sure is that bevy first appeared in the 15th century and was used as a highly specific collective for many years. Today, however, bevies can include anything from football players to toaster ovens.
Wednesday, September 7, 2016
Untoward
WORD OF THE DAY
untoward \ un-TOH-erd \ adjective
Definition
1a : difficult to guide, manage, or work with
1b: unruly, intractable
2 a : marked by trouble or unhappiness
2b: unlucky
2c : not favorable or propitious : adverse
3 : improper, indecorous
Examples
I eyed the stranger suspiciously, but I had to admit that there was nothing untoward about his appearance.
"The circulation staff will no longer be able to process credit card payments at the front desk…. There are too many possible legal and financial fraud issues for the library if something untoward were to occur."
— The Milford (Massachusetts) Daily News, 5 July 2016
Did You Know?
More than 700 years ago, English speakers began using the word toward for "forward-moving" youngsters, the kind who showed promise and were open to listening to their elders. After about 150 years, the use was broadened somewhat to mean simply "docile" or "obliging." The opposite of this toward is froward, meaning "perverse" or "ungovernable." Today, froward has fallen out of common use, and the cooperative sense of toward is downright obsolete, but the newcomer to this series—untoward—has kept its toehold. Untoward first showed up as a synonym of unruly in the 1500s, and it is still used, just as it was then, though it has since acquired other meanings as well.
untoward \ un-TOH-erd \ adjective
Definition
1a : difficult to guide, manage, or work with
1b: unruly, intractable
2 a : marked by trouble or unhappiness
2b: unlucky
2c : not favorable or propitious : adverse
3 : improper, indecorous
Examples
I eyed the stranger suspiciously, but I had to admit that there was nothing untoward about his appearance.
"The circulation staff will no longer be able to process credit card payments at the front desk…. There are too many possible legal and financial fraud issues for the library if something untoward were to occur."
— The Milford (Massachusetts) Daily News, 5 July 2016
Did You Know?
More than 700 years ago, English speakers began using the word toward for "forward-moving" youngsters, the kind who showed promise and were open to listening to their elders. After about 150 years, the use was broadened somewhat to mean simply "docile" or "obliging." The opposite of this toward is froward, meaning "perverse" or "ungovernable." Today, froward has fallen out of common use, and the cooperative sense of toward is downright obsolete, but the newcomer to this series—untoward—has kept its toehold. Untoward first showed up as a synonym of unruly in the 1500s, and it is still used, just as it was then, though it has since acquired other meanings as well.
Tuesday, September 6, 2016
Will-o'-the-wisp
WORD OF THE DAY
will-o'-the-wisp \ will-uh-thuh-WISP \ noun
Definition
1 : a light that appears at night over marshy ground
2 : a misleading or elusive goal or hope
Examples
"Why don't you try to communicate with your boyfriend and see if you can find the root of the dissatisfaction? Perhaps you can repair it before you go and dismantle your life. If the relationship has run its course, you know what you have to do. But do it for yourself, not for a 23-year-old will-o’-the-wisp."
— Molly Ringwald, The Guardian, 12 December 2014
"While a company's purpose generally doesn't change, strategies and organizational structures do, which can make chasing 'alignment' between strategy and the organization feel like chasing an elusive will-o'-the-wisp."
— Jonathan Trevor and Barry Varcoe, Harvard Business Review (hbr.org), 16 May 2016
Did You Know?
The will-o'-the-wisp is a flame-like phosphorescence caused by gases from decaying plants in marshy areas. In olden days, it was personified as "Will with the wisp," a sprite who carried a fleeting "wisp" of light. Foolish travelers were said to try to follow the light and were then led astray into the marsh.
(An 18th-century fairy tale described Will as one "who bears the wispy fire to trail the swains among the mire.") The light was first known, and still also is, as ignis fatuus, which in Latin means "foolish fire." Eventually, the name will-o’-the-wisp was extended to any impractical or unattainable goal.
will-o'-the-wisp \ will-uh-thuh-WISP \ noun
Definition
1 : a light that appears at night over marshy ground
2 : a misleading or elusive goal or hope
Examples
"Why don't you try to communicate with your boyfriend and see if you can find the root of the dissatisfaction? Perhaps you can repair it before you go and dismantle your life. If the relationship has run its course, you know what you have to do. But do it for yourself, not for a 23-year-old will-o’-the-wisp."
— Molly Ringwald, The Guardian, 12 December 2014
"While a company's purpose generally doesn't change, strategies and organizational structures do, which can make chasing 'alignment' between strategy and the organization feel like chasing an elusive will-o'-the-wisp."
— Jonathan Trevor and Barry Varcoe, Harvard Business Review (hbr.org), 16 May 2016
Did You Know?
The will-o'-the-wisp is a flame-like phosphorescence caused by gases from decaying plants in marshy areas. In olden days, it was personified as "Will with the wisp," a sprite who carried a fleeting "wisp" of light. Foolish travelers were said to try to follow the light and were then led astray into the marsh.
(An 18th-century fairy tale described Will as one "who bears the wispy fire to trail the swains among the mire.") The light was first known, and still also is, as ignis fatuus, which in Latin means "foolish fire." Eventually, the name will-o’-the-wisp was extended to any impractical or unattainable goal.
Monday, September 5, 2016
Sagacious
WORD OF THE DAY
sagacious \ suh-GAY-shus \ adjective
Definition
1 : of keen and farsighted penetration and judgment : discerning
2 : caused by or indicating acute discernment
Examples
"Star's limitless patience and unconditional support …, coupled with the sagacious advice and guidance he gave me through the many years, elevates him to a very special position on my list."
— Vincent Bugliosi, Four Days in November, 2007
"… I would like to be young again—for the obvious dermatological advantages, and because I would like to recapture who I was before the clutter of experience made me a bit more sagacious and exhausted."
— Andrew Solomon, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2015
Did You Know?
You might expect the root of sagacious to be sage, which means "wise" or "wise man," but that wouldn't be a wise assumption. Despite their similarities, the two words are not all that closely related. Sagacious traces back to sagire, a Latin verb meaning "to perceive keenly." It's also related to the Latin adjective sagus ("prophetic"), which is the ancestor of our verb seek. Etymologists believe that sage comes from a different Latin verb, sapere, which means "to taste," "to have good taste," or "to be wise."
Friday, September 2, 2016
Quodlibet
WORD OF THE DAY
quodlibet \ KWAHD-luh-bet \ noun
Definition
1a : a philosophical or theological point proposed for disputation
1b: a disputation on such a point
2 : a whimsical combination of familiar melodies or texts
Examples
"In Part II the orchestral interlude is Happy Voices, which Del Tredici took in punning fashion and created a raucous fugue followed by a 'quodlibet' of all the tunes from the piece."
— Vance R. Koven, The Boston Musical Intelligencer, 27 Mar. 2016
"Of the many musicals I've attended in recent years, among the most enjoyable and perhaps the funniest was Monty Python's Spamalot. The music cues come fast and furious, and in all varieties, from classical quodlibets to Spike Jones-like punctuations—a true challenge for the music director to keep up and maintain the comic timing."
— Joseph Church, OUPBlog, 15 Feb. 2015
Did You Know?
"Whatever." Try to get philosophical nowadays and that may be the response you hear. We don't know if someone quibbling over a minor philosophical or theological point 600 years ago might have gotten a similar reaction, but we do know that Latin quodlibet, meaning "any whatever," was the name given to such academic debates. Quodlibet is a form of quilibet, from qui, meaning "what," and libet, meaning "it pleases." We can't say with certainty how quodlibet went from disputations to musical conglomerations, but English speakers have been using quodlibet for light musical mélanges since the early 19th century.
quodlibet \ KWAHD-luh-bet \ noun
Definition
1a : a philosophical or theological point proposed for disputation
1b: a disputation on such a point
2 : a whimsical combination of familiar melodies or texts
Examples
"In Part II the orchestral interlude is Happy Voices, which Del Tredici took in punning fashion and created a raucous fugue followed by a 'quodlibet' of all the tunes from the piece."
— Vance R. Koven, The Boston Musical Intelligencer, 27 Mar. 2016
"Of the many musicals I've attended in recent years, among the most enjoyable and perhaps the funniest was Monty Python's Spamalot. The music cues come fast and furious, and in all varieties, from classical quodlibets to Spike Jones-like punctuations—a true challenge for the music director to keep up and maintain the comic timing."
— Joseph Church, OUPBlog, 15 Feb. 2015
Did You Know?
"Whatever." Try to get philosophical nowadays and that may be the response you hear. We don't know if someone quibbling over a minor philosophical or theological point 600 years ago might have gotten a similar reaction, but we do know that Latin quodlibet, meaning "any whatever," was the name given to such academic debates. Quodlibet is a form of quilibet, from qui, meaning "what," and libet, meaning "it pleases." We can't say with certainty how quodlibet went from disputations to musical conglomerations, but English speakers have been using quodlibet for light musical mélanges since the early 19th century.
Thursday, September 1, 2016
Oenophile
WORD OF THE DAY
oenophile \ EE-nuh-fyle \ noun
Definition
: a lover or connoisseur of wine
Examples
Serious oenophiles will not be impressed with this particular wine, but it should be up to the standards of less-discriminating consumers.
"Founded in 1992, New Orleans Wine and Food Experience has definitely earned its place as an vent that oenophiles, gourmets and any combination thereof mark on their to-do list each year."
— Sue Strachan, The Times-Picayune (New Orleans, Louisiana), 28 May 2016
Did You Know?
"It has become quite a common proverb that in wine there is truth," wrote the 1st-century A.D. Roman scholar, Pliny the Elder. The truth about the word wine is that it goes back to Latin vinum, but it is also a distant relative of the Greek word for wine, which is oinos.
Indeed, Latin borrowed from the Greek to create a combining form that means "wine," oeno-. Modern French speakers combined oeno- with -phile (Greek for "lover of") to create oenophile before we adopted it from them in the mid-1800s. Oenophiles are sure to know oenology (now more often spelled enology) as the science of wine making and oenologist (now more often enologist) for one versed in oenology.
oenophile \ EE-nuh-fyle \ noun
Definition
: a lover or connoisseur of wine
Examples
Serious oenophiles will not be impressed with this particular wine, but it should be up to the standards of less-discriminating consumers.
"Founded in 1992, New Orleans Wine and Food Experience has definitely earned its place as an vent that oenophiles, gourmets and any combination thereof mark on their to-do list each year."
— Sue Strachan, The Times-Picayune (New Orleans, Louisiana), 28 May 2016
Did You Know?
"It has become quite a common proverb that in wine there is truth," wrote the 1st-century A.D. Roman scholar, Pliny the Elder. The truth about the word wine is that it goes back to Latin vinum, but it is also a distant relative of the Greek word for wine, which is oinos.
Indeed, Latin borrowed from the Greek to create a combining form that means "wine," oeno-. Modern French speakers combined oeno- with -phile (Greek for "lover of") to create oenophile before we adopted it from them in the mid-1800s. Oenophiles are sure to know oenology (now more often spelled enology) as the science of wine making and oenologist (now more often enologist) for one versed in oenology.
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