WORD OF THE DAY
soporific \ sah-puh-RIFF-ik \ adjective
Definition
1a : causing or tending to cause sleep
1b : tending to dull awareness or alertness
2 : of, relating to, or marked by sleepiness or lethargy
Examples
The soporific effects of the stuffy classroom and the lecturer's droning voice left more than one student fighting to stay awake.
"The prose sparkles at every turn, but that's not to say it's without flaws. Some entire chapters … struck me as wholly soporific."
— Andrew Ervin, The Washington Post, 13 Sept. 2016
Did You Know?
"It is said that the effect of eating too much lettuce is 'soporific.' I have never felt sleepy after eating lettuces; but then I am not a rabbit." In The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies by Beatrix Potter, the children of Benjamin Bunny were very nearly done in by Mr. McGregor because they ate soporific lettuces that put them into a deep sleep. Their near fate can help you recall the history of soporific.
The term traces to the Latin noun sopor, which means "deep sleep." (That root is related to somnus, the Latin word for sleep and the name of the Roman god of sleep.) French speakers used sopor as the basis of soporifique, which was probably the model for the English soporific.
Wednesday, November 30, 2016
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
Cabbage
WORD OF THE DAY
cabbage \ KAB-ij \ verb
Definition
: steal, filch
Examples
"When these ruffians were in a relatively mild mood they were content to chase us off the diamond, but when their glands were flowing freely they also cabbaged our bats, balls and gloves."
— H. L. Mencken, Happy Days, 1940
"More and more people are trying to get their 'news' free from online sources, unreliable as some of these fly-by-night wanna-bes are. In truth, the information is usually cabbaged from the website (or the print edition) of the local paper."
— Kim Poindexter, The Tahlequah (Oklahoma) Daily Press, 24 Aug. 2015
Did You Know?
Does the "filching" meaning of cabbage bring to mind an image of thieves sneaking out of farm fields with armloads of pilfered produce? If so, you're in for a surprise. Today's featured word has nothing to do with the leafy vegetable. It originally referred to the practice among tailors of pocketing part of the cloth given to them to make garments.
The verb was cut from the same cloth as an older British noun cabbage, which meant "pieces of cloth left in cutting out garments and traditionally kept by tailors as perquisites." Both of those ethically questionable cabbages probably derived from cabas, the Middle French word for "cheating or theft." The cabbage found in coleslaw, on the other hand, comes from Middle English caboche, which meant "head."
cabbage \ KAB-ij \ verb
Definition
: steal, filch
Examples
"When these ruffians were in a relatively mild mood they were content to chase us off the diamond, but when their glands were flowing freely they also cabbaged our bats, balls and gloves."
— H. L. Mencken, Happy Days, 1940
"More and more people are trying to get their 'news' free from online sources, unreliable as some of these fly-by-night wanna-bes are. In truth, the information is usually cabbaged from the website (or the print edition) of the local paper."
— Kim Poindexter, The Tahlequah (Oklahoma) Daily Press, 24 Aug. 2015
Did You Know?
Does the "filching" meaning of cabbage bring to mind an image of thieves sneaking out of farm fields with armloads of pilfered produce? If so, you're in for a surprise. Today's featured word has nothing to do with the leafy vegetable. It originally referred to the practice among tailors of pocketing part of the cloth given to them to make garments.
The verb was cut from the same cloth as an older British noun cabbage, which meant "pieces of cloth left in cutting out garments and traditionally kept by tailors as perquisites." Both of those ethically questionable cabbages probably derived from cabas, the Middle French word for "cheating or theft." The cabbage found in coleslaw, on the other hand, comes from Middle English caboche, which meant "head."
Monday, November 28, 2016
Vicissitude
WORD OF THE DAY
vicissitude \ vuh-SISS-uh-tood \ noun
Definition
1 : the quality or state of being changeable : mutability
2a : a favorable or unfavorable event or situation that occurs by chance : a fluctuation of state or condition
2b : a difficulty or hardship usually beyond one's control
Examples
"The vicissitudes of life strike us all. But when life gets difficult for the poor, economically or emotionally, or most often both at once, it can pitch them into complete chaos."
— The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 22 Aug. 2016
"A good coach on tour is at once a friend and a taskmaster, a psychologist and an emotional buffer against the vicissitudes of competing at the highest level of the game."
— Geoff Macdonald, The New York Times, 1 Sept. 2016
Did You Know?
"Change is not made without inconvenience, even from worse to better," wrote British theologian Richard Hooker in the 16th century. That observation may shed some light on vicissitude, a word that can refer simply to the fact of change, or to an instance of it, but that often refers specifically to hardship or difficulty brought about by change.
To survive "the vicissitudes of life" is thus to survive life's ups and downs, with special emphasis on the downs. Vicissitude is a descendant of the Latin noun vicis, meaning "change" or "alternation," and it has been a part of the English language since the 16th century. In contemporary usage, it most often occurs in the plural.
vicissitude \ vuh-SISS-uh-tood \ noun
Definition
1 : the quality or state of being changeable : mutability
2a : a favorable or unfavorable event or situation that occurs by chance : a fluctuation of state or condition
2b : a difficulty or hardship usually beyond one's control
Examples
"The vicissitudes of life strike us all. But when life gets difficult for the poor, economically or emotionally, or most often both at once, it can pitch them into complete chaos."
— The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 22 Aug. 2016
"A good coach on tour is at once a friend and a taskmaster, a psychologist and an emotional buffer against the vicissitudes of competing at the highest level of the game."
— Geoff Macdonald, The New York Times, 1 Sept. 2016
Did You Know?
"Change is not made without inconvenience, even from worse to better," wrote British theologian Richard Hooker in the 16th century. That observation may shed some light on vicissitude, a word that can refer simply to the fact of change, or to an instance of it, but that often refers specifically to hardship or difficulty brought about by change.
To survive "the vicissitudes of life" is thus to survive life's ups and downs, with special emphasis on the downs. Vicissitude is a descendant of the Latin noun vicis, meaning "change" or "alternation," and it has been a part of the English language since the 16th century. In contemporary usage, it most often occurs in the plural.
Friday, November 25, 2016
Cavalcade
WORD OF THE DAY
cavalcade \kav-ul-KAYD \ noun
Definition
1a : a procession of riders or carriages
1b : a procession of vehicles or ships
2a: a dramatic sequence or procession
2b: series
Examples
"Giant helium balloons, beautifully decorated, horse-drawn carriages and antique cars, along with uniformed cavalcades performing their routines, will thrill parade goers."
— San Antonio Magazine, 22 Apr. 2016
"In the first video released by the PAC, a cavalcade of Hollywood's finest appear to underline the importance of voting in November's election. From 'Avengers' alumni Robert Downey Jr. and Scarlett Johansson … to Julianne Moore, Keegan-Michael Key, … and many more …"
— Libby Hill, The Los Angeles Times, 21 Sept. 2016
Did You Know?
When cavalcade was first used in English, it meant "a horseback ride" or "a march or raid made on horseback." Edward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon, used it this way in his 1647 History of the Rebellion and Civil Wars in England: "He had with some Troops, made a Cavalcade or two into the West."
From there came the "procession of riders" meaning and eventual applications to processions in a broader sense. Cavalcade came to English via French from the Old Italian noun cavalcata, which in turn came from an Old Italian verb, cavalcare, meaning "to go on horseback."
Ultimately, these words came from the Latin word caballus, meaning "horse." The combining form –cade also appears in other words describing particular kinds of processions, such as motorcade or the less common aquacade.
cavalcade \kav-ul-KAYD \ noun
Definition
1a : a procession of riders or carriages
1b : a procession of vehicles or ships
2a: a dramatic sequence or procession
2b: series
Examples
"Giant helium balloons, beautifully decorated, horse-drawn carriages and antique cars, along with uniformed cavalcades performing their routines, will thrill parade goers."
— San Antonio Magazine, 22 Apr. 2016
"In the first video released by the PAC, a cavalcade of Hollywood's finest appear to underline the importance of voting in November's election. From 'Avengers' alumni Robert Downey Jr. and Scarlett Johansson … to Julianne Moore, Keegan-Michael Key, … and many more …"
— Libby Hill, The Los Angeles Times, 21 Sept. 2016
Did You Know?
When cavalcade was first used in English, it meant "a horseback ride" or "a march or raid made on horseback." Edward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon, used it this way in his 1647 History of the Rebellion and Civil Wars in England: "He had with some Troops, made a Cavalcade or two into the West."
From there came the "procession of riders" meaning and eventual applications to processions in a broader sense. Cavalcade came to English via French from the Old Italian noun cavalcata, which in turn came from an Old Italian verb, cavalcare, meaning "to go on horseback."
Ultimately, these words came from the Latin word caballus, meaning "horse." The combining form –cade also appears in other words describing particular kinds of processions, such as motorcade or the less common aquacade.
Thursday, November 24, 2016
Sabot
WORD OF THE DAY
sabot \ sa-BOH \ noun
Definition
1a : a wooden shoe worn in various European countries
1b : a strap across the instep in a shoe especially of the sandal type; also : a shoe having a sabot strap
2 : a thrust-transmitting carrier that positions a missile in a gun barrel or launching tube and that prevents the escape of gas ahead of the missile
3 : a dealing box designed to hold several decks of playing cards
Examples
"The spin imparted by rifling lets slugs separate cleanly from the sabot, makes them fly true, and allows them to expand."
— Phil Bourjaily, Field & Stream, November 2014
"The man is a venerable but unprepossessing figure; he rests his hands on a cane, he has sabots on his feet, wears cinched gaiters over his trousers and has two medals on his greatcoat."
— Michael Prodger, The New Statesman, 17 June 2015
Did You Know?
The term sabot may have first been introduced into English in a 1607 translation from French: "wooden shoes," readers were informed, are "properly called sabots." The gun-related sense appeared in the mid-1800s with the invention of a wooden gizmo that kept gun shells from shifting in the gun barrel. Apparently, someone thought the device resembled a wooden shoe and named it sabot (with later generations of this device carrying on the name).
Another kind of French sabot—a metal "shoe" used to secure rails to railway ties—is said to be the origin of the word sabotage, from workers destroying the sabots during a French railway strike in the early 1900s. The word sabot is probably related to savate, a Middle French word for an old shoe.
sabot \ sa-BOH \ noun
Definition
1a : a wooden shoe worn in various European countries
1b : a strap across the instep in a shoe especially of the sandal type; also : a shoe having a sabot strap
2 : a thrust-transmitting carrier that positions a missile in a gun barrel or launching tube and that prevents the escape of gas ahead of the missile
3 : a dealing box designed to hold several decks of playing cards
Examples
"The spin imparted by rifling lets slugs separate cleanly from the sabot, makes them fly true, and allows them to expand."
— Phil Bourjaily, Field & Stream, November 2014
"The man is a venerable but unprepossessing figure; he rests his hands on a cane, he has sabots on his feet, wears cinched gaiters over his trousers and has two medals on his greatcoat."
— Michael Prodger, The New Statesman, 17 June 2015
Did You Know?
The term sabot may have first been introduced into English in a 1607 translation from French: "wooden shoes," readers were informed, are "properly called sabots." The gun-related sense appeared in the mid-1800s with the invention of a wooden gizmo that kept gun shells from shifting in the gun barrel. Apparently, someone thought the device resembled a wooden shoe and named it sabot (with later generations of this device carrying on the name).
Another kind of French sabot—a metal "shoe" used to secure rails to railway ties—is said to be the origin of the word sabotage, from workers destroying the sabots during a French railway strike in the early 1900s. The word sabot is probably related to savate, a Middle French word for an old shoe.
Wednesday, November 23, 2016
Obfuscate
WORD OF THE DAY
obfuscate \ AHB-fuh-skayt \ verb
Definition
1a : darken
1b : to make obscure
2 : confuse
3 : to be evasive, unclear, or confusing
Examples
"Time and again he has shifted, shaded or obfuscated his policy positions—piling on new ideas, which sometimes didn't fit with the old."
— David Fahrenthold and Katie Zezima, The Washington Post, 23 Apr. 2016
"It was the trademark of San Francisco psychedelia to never put the year on a concert poster, and to obfuscate important details."
— Sam Whiting, The San Francisco Chronicle, 14 Oct. 2016
Did You Know?
To obfuscate something means to make it so that it isn't clear or transparent, much like dirty water makes it hard to see to the bottom of a pond.
The verb shares its ob- root (meaning "over, completely") with obscure, another word that can refer to the act of concealing something or making it more difficult to see or understand.
The rest of obfuscate comes from Latin fuscus, which means "dark brown" and is distantly related to our word dusk.
obfuscate \ AHB-fuh-skayt \ verb
Definition
1a : darken
1b : to make obscure
2 : confuse
3 : to be evasive, unclear, or confusing
Examples
"Time and again he has shifted, shaded or obfuscated his policy positions—piling on new ideas, which sometimes didn't fit with the old."
— David Fahrenthold and Katie Zezima, The Washington Post, 23 Apr. 2016
"It was the trademark of San Francisco psychedelia to never put the year on a concert poster, and to obfuscate important details."
— Sam Whiting, The San Francisco Chronicle, 14 Oct. 2016
Did You Know?
To obfuscate something means to make it so that it isn't clear or transparent, much like dirty water makes it hard to see to the bottom of a pond.
The verb shares its ob- root (meaning "over, completely") with obscure, another word that can refer to the act of concealing something or making it more difficult to see or understand.
The rest of obfuscate comes from Latin fuscus, which means "dark brown" and is distantly related to our word dusk.
Tuesday, November 22, 2016
Protocol
| WORD OF THE DAY protocol \ PROH-tuh-kawl \ noun Definition 1 : an original draft or record of a document or transaction 2 : a preliminary memorandum of diplomatic negotiation 3 : a code prescribing strict adherence to correct etiquette and precedence 4 : a set of conventions for formatting data in an electronic communications system 5 : a detailed plan of a scientific or medical experiment, treatment, or procedure Examples "A protocol that arose from Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel, research has led to U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of a biological drug for the treatment of a certain form of lung cancer." — USA Today, 1 Oct. 2016 "Throughout Obama's first term, critics described him as naïve, particularly in the area of foreign relations—so ignorant of practical realities that he didn't even understand the symbolic protocols of a state visit. In 2009, when he bowed to Emperor Akihito, on a trip to Tokyo, he was referred to on the far right as 'treasonous.'" — Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2016 Did You Know? In Late Greek, the word prōtokollon referred to the first sheet of a papyrus roll bearing the date of its manufacture. In some instances, it consisted of a flyleaf that was glued to the outside of a manuscript's case and provided a description of its contents. Coming from the Greek prefix prōto- ("first") and the noun kolla ("glue"), prōtokollon gave us our word protocol. In its earliest uses in the 15th century, the word referred to a prologue or preface and also to a record of a document or transaction. In the late 19th century, it began to be used in reference to the etiquette observed by the Head of State of France in ceremonies and relations with other dignitaries. This sense has since extended in meaning to cover any code of proper conduct. |
Monday, November 21, 2016
Nictitate
WORD OF THE DAY
nictitate \ NIK-tuh-tayt \ verb
Definition
1a : to close and open quickly : to shut one eye briefly
1b: wink
2 : to close and open the eyelids
Examples
"Dermaq's third eyelids nictitated over his corneas as though to wash away the image, and momentarily he looked away, then back at his superior."
— Charles L. Harness, Firebird, 1981
"The hump shifted, raised a hairless head of chitinous scales. Almond eyes of burning gold nictitated to life. A broad chest of angular plates swelled with breath."
— Ian C. Esslemont, Night of Knives, 2004
Did You Know?
Nictitate didn't just happen in the blink of an eye; it developed over time as an alteration of the older verb nictate, which also means "to wink." Both verbs trace to the Latin word for winking, nictare. The addition of the extra syllable was apparently influenced by Latin verbs ending in -itare, such as palpitare and agitare (which gave us palpitate and agitate, respectively).
Today, nictitate has a special use in the animal world. Since the early 18th century, scientists have used nictitating membrane to describe the so-called "third eyelid": the thin, usually transparent membrane in the eyes of birds, fishes, and other vertebrates that helps keep the eyeball moist and clean.
nictitate \ NIK-tuh-tayt \ verb
Definition
1a : to close and open quickly : to shut one eye briefly
1b: wink
2 : to close and open the eyelids
Examples
"Dermaq's third eyelids nictitated over his corneas as though to wash away the image, and momentarily he looked away, then back at his superior."
— Charles L. Harness, Firebird, 1981
"The hump shifted, raised a hairless head of chitinous scales. Almond eyes of burning gold nictitated to life. A broad chest of angular plates swelled with breath."
— Ian C. Esslemont, Night of Knives, 2004
Did You Know?
Nictitate didn't just happen in the blink of an eye; it developed over time as an alteration of the older verb nictate, which also means "to wink." Both verbs trace to the Latin word for winking, nictare. The addition of the extra syllable was apparently influenced by Latin verbs ending in -itare, such as palpitare and agitare (which gave us palpitate and agitate, respectively).
Today, nictitate has a special use in the animal world. Since the early 18th century, scientists have used nictitating membrane to describe the so-called "third eyelid": the thin, usually transparent membrane in the eyes of birds, fishes, and other vertebrates that helps keep the eyeball moist and clean.
Friday, November 18, 2016
Lambent
WORD OF THE DAY
lambent / LAM-bunt / adjective
Definition
1a: playing lightly on or over a surface
1b: flickering
2 : softly bright or radiant
3 : marked by lightness or brilliance especially of expression
Examples
"It's an early May morning and the air is cool and still and filled with lambent light."
— Christopher Norment, The Chronicle of Higher Education, 4 May 2015
"There's nothing like the swell of a powerful pipe organ in the right room. You can feel the lowest pedal notes in your stomach, or the lambent whisper of the tiniest pipes, with their delicate, shimmering sound."
— T. R. Goldman, The Washington Post, 31 July 2016
Did You Know?
Fire is frequently associated with lapping or licking imagery: flames are often described as "tongues" that "lick." Lambent, which first appeared in English in the 17th century, is a part of this tradition, coming from lambens, the present participle of the Latin verb lambere, meaning "to lick."
In its earliest uses, lambent meant "playing lightly over a surface," "gliding over," or "flickering." These uses were usually applied to flames or light, and by way of that association, the term eventually came to describe things with a radiant or brilliant glow, as Alexander Pope used it in his 1717 poem "Eloisa to Abelard": "Those smiling eyes, attemp'ring ev'ry ray, Shone sweetly lambent with celestial day."
In its earliest uses, lambent meant "playing lightly over a surface," "gliding over," or "flickering." These uses were usually applied to flames or light, and by way of that association, the term eventually came to describe things with a radiant or brilliant glow, as Alexander Pope used it in his 1717 poem "Eloisa to Abelard": "Those smiling eyes, attemp'ring ev'ry ray, Shone sweetly lambent with celestial day."
Wednesday, November 16, 2016
Jejune
WORD OF THE DAY
jejune \ jih-JOON \ adjective
Definition
1 : lacking nutritive value
2a : devoid of significance or interest
2b: dull
3 : juvenile, puerile
Examples
"I have not, however, been a fan of the Broadway singer … in the past, and her jejune performances here—complete with some tap dancing that belied the lyrics of 'I Got Rhythm'—did not convert me."
— Anne Midgette, The Washington Post, 22 Sept. 2015
"He complains about wasting his talent 'writing songs for frogs' (he is a composer of jejune melodies for a children's television show called Mr. Bungee's Lily Pad)."
— Nancy Chen, The Philadelphia Inquirer, 21 Oct. 2016
Did You Know?
Starved for excitement? You won't get it from something jejune. That term derives from the Latin jejunus, which means "empty of food," "meager," or "hungry." Back in the 1600s, English speakers used jejune in senses very similar to those of its Latin parent, lamenting "jejune appetites" and "jejune morsels."
Something that is meager rarely satisfies, and before long jejune was being used not only for meager meals or hunger, but for things wanting in intellectual or emotional substance. The word most likely gained its "childish" sense when people confused it with the look-alike French word jeune, which means "young."
jejune \ jih-JOON \ adjective
Definition
1 : lacking nutritive value
2a : devoid of significance or interest
2b: dull
3 : juvenile, puerile
Examples
"I have not, however, been a fan of the Broadway singer … in the past, and her jejune performances here—complete with some tap dancing that belied the lyrics of 'I Got Rhythm'—did not convert me."
— Anne Midgette, The Washington Post, 22 Sept. 2015
"He complains about wasting his talent 'writing songs for frogs' (he is a composer of jejune melodies for a children's television show called Mr. Bungee's Lily Pad)."
— Nancy Chen, The Philadelphia Inquirer, 21 Oct. 2016
Did You Know?
Starved for excitement? You won't get it from something jejune. That term derives from the Latin jejunus, which means "empty of food," "meager," or "hungry." Back in the 1600s, English speakers used jejune in senses very similar to those of its Latin parent, lamenting "jejune appetites" and "jejune morsels."
Something that is meager rarely satisfies, and before long jejune was being used not only for meager meals or hunger, but for things wanting in intellectual or emotional substance. The word most likely gained its "childish" sense when people confused it with the look-alike French word jeune, which means "young."
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
Facetious
WORD OF THE DAY
facetious \ fuh-SEE-shuss \ adjective
Definition
1a : joking or jesting often inappropriately
1b: waggish
2a : meant to be humorous or funny
2b: not serious
Examples
"My proposal to tax estates heavily is neither entirely serious nor wholly facetious."
— Martha Viehmann, The Cincinnati (Ohio) Enquirer, 17 Aug. 2016
"When I was a kid, I wanted to be a garbage man. I'm not being facetious or silly…. As a four-year-old, my room window faced the street, and I remember being mesmerized by these wild guys waking me up twice a week. They were raucous and loud, they yelled and threw things around with reckless abandon, they dangerously climbed on and hung off a large moving vehicle…."
— Andy Nulman, quoted in The Globe and Mail, 11 Sept. 2016
Did You Know?
Facetious—which puzzle fans know is one of the few English words containing the vowels a, e, i, o, u in order—came to English from the Middle French word facetieux, which traces to the Latin word facetia, meaning "jest." Facetia seems to have made only one other lasting contribution to the English language: facetiae, meaning "witty or humorous writings or sayings."
Facetiae, which comes from the plural of facetia and is pronounced \fuh-SEE-shee-ee\ or \fuh-SEE-shee-eye\, is a far less common word than facetious, but it does show up occasionally.
For example, American essayist Louis Menand used it in his 2002 book American Studies to describe the early days of The New Yorker. "The New Yorker," he wrote, "started as a hectic book of gossip, cartoons, and facetiae."
facetious \ fuh-SEE-shuss \ adjective
Definition
1a : joking or jesting often inappropriately
1b: waggish
2a : meant to be humorous or funny
2b: not serious
Examples
"My proposal to tax estates heavily is neither entirely serious nor wholly facetious."
— Martha Viehmann, The Cincinnati (Ohio) Enquirer, 17 Aug. 2016
"When I was a kid, I wanted to be a garbage man. I'm not being facetious or silly…. As a four-year-old, my room window faced the street, and I remember being mesmerized by these wild guys waking me up twice a week. They were raucous and loud, they yelled and threw things around with reckless abandon, they dangerously climbed on and hung off a large moving vehicle…."
— Andy Nulman, quoted in The Globe and Mail, 11 Sept. 2016
Did You Know?
Facetious—which puzzle fans know is one of the few English words containing the vowels a, e, i, o, u in order—came to English from the Middle French word facetieux, which traces to the Latin word facetia, meaning "jest." Facetia seems to have made only one other lasting contribution to the English language: facetiae, meaning "witty or humorous writings or sayings."
Facetiae, which comes from the plural of facetia and is pronounced \fuh-SEE-shee-ee\ or \fuh-SEE-shee-eye\, is a far less common word than facetious, but it does show up occasionally.
For example, American essayist Louis Menand used it in his 2002 book American Studies to describe the early days of The New Yorker. "The New Yorker," he wrote, "started as a hectic book of gossip, cartoons, and facetiae."
Monday, November 14, 2016
Hoke
WORD OF THE DAY
hoke \ HOHK \ verb
Definition
: to give a contrived, falsely impressive, or hokey quality to — usually used with up
Examples
"Its okay that everybody looks great, though certain scenes seem hoked up. A black cat crossing the path of a motorcade about to explode feels more like Hollywood moviemaking than truth telling…."
— D.J. Palladino, The Santa Barbara Independent, 10 Jan. 2013
"'Concussion' has the sober, patient earnestness of a lawyer preparing a major case—it's a dramatization of true events and occasionally hoked up in the finest Hollywood tradition, but it wants to stir you into being convinced instead of the other way around."
— Ty Burr, The Boston Globe, 25 Dec. 2015
Did You Know?
Hoke is a back-formation of hokum, which was probably created as a blend of hocus-pocus and bunkum. Hokum is a word for the theatrical devices used to evoke a desired audience response. The verb hoke appeared in the early 20th century and was originally used (as it still can be today) when actors performed in an exaggerated or overly sentimental way.
Today, it is often used adjectivally in the form hoked-up, as in "hoked-up dialogue." The related word hokey was coined soon after hoke to describe things that are corny or phony.
hoke \ HOHK \ verb
Definition
: to give a contrived, falsely impressive, or hokey quality to — usually used with up
Examples
"Its okay that everybody looks great, though certain scenes seem hoked up. A black cat crossing the path of a motorcade about to explode feels more like Hollywood moviemaking than truth telling…."
— D.J. Palladino, The Santa Barbara Independent, 10 Jan. 2013
"'Concussion' has the sober, patient earnestness of a lawyer preparing a major case—it's a dramatization of true events and occasionally hoked up in the finest Hollywood tradition, but it wants to stir you into being convinced instead of the other way around."
— Ty Burr, The Boston Globe, 25 Dec. 2015
Did You Know?
Hoke is a back-formation of hokum, which was probably created as a blend of hocus-pocus and bunkum. Hokum is a word for the theatrical devices used to evoke a desired audience response. The verb hoke appeared in the early 20th century and was originally used (as it still can be today) when actors performed in an exaggerated or overly sentimental way.
Today, it is often used adjectivally in the form hoked-up, as in "hoked-up dialogue." The related word hokey was coined soon after hoke to describe things that are corny or phony.
Friday, November 11, 2016
Mollify
WORD OF THE DAY
mollify \ MAH-luh-fye \ verb
Definition
1a : to soothe in temper or disposition
1b: appease
2a : to reduce the rigidity of
2b: soften
3a : to reduce in intensity
3b: assuage, temper
Examples
"To some extent, the delay also was intended to mollify the concerns of county leaders that police and fire service responsibilities were being shoved at them on an abrupt timetable, potentially to the detriment of affected residents."
— Lawrence Specker, AL.com, 30 Aug. 2016
"If there were any doubt that Roark, with his 15 wins and top-five ERA, could be a reliable No. 2 starter if Stephen Strasburg cannot pitch in October, he has done all he could to mollify it. He has now thrown 200 innings for the first time. He still leads the league with nine starts of seven or more scoreless innings."
— Chelsea Janes, The Washington Post, 21 Sept. 2016
Did You Know?
Mollify, pacify, appease, and placate all mean "to ease the anger or disturbance of," although each implies a slightly different way of pouring oil on troubled waters. Pacify suggests the restoration of a calm or peaceful state, while appease implies the quieting of insistent demands by making concessions; you can appease appetites and desires as well as persons.
Placate is similar to appease, but it often indicates a more complete transformation of bitterness to goodwill. Mollify, with its root in Latin mollis, meaning "soft," implies soothing hurt feelings or anger.
Thursday, November 10, 2016
Elicit
WORD OF THE DAY
elicit \ ih-LISS-it \ verb
Definition
1 : to draw forth or bring out (something latent or potential)
2 : to call forth or draw out (as information or a response)
Examples
The announcement of the final amount raised by the charity walk elicited many cheers from the crowd.
"But the big question is whether fragments of pottery, fraying textiles and decaying manuscripts can elicit excitement these days when people are glued to technology."
— Ruth Eglash, The Washington Post, 26 Oct. 2016
Did You Know?
Elicit derives from the past participle of the Latin verb elicere, formed by combining the prefix e- (meaning "away") with the verb lacere, meaning "to entice by charm or attraction." It is not related to its near-homophone, the adjective illicit—that word, meaning "unlawful," traces back to another Latin verb, licēre, meaning "to be permitted." Nor is elicit related to the verb solicit, even though it sounds like it should be. Solicit derives from Latin sollicitare ("to disturb"), formed by combining the adjective sollus, meaning "whole," with the past participle of the verb ciēre, meaning "to move."
elicit \ ih-LISS-it \ verb
Definition
1 : to draw forth or bring out (something latent or potential)
2 : to call forth or draw out (as information or a response)
Examples
The announcement of the final amount raised by the charity walk elicited many cheers from the crowd.
"But the big question is whether fragments of pottery, fraying textiles and decaying manuscripts can elicit excitement these days when people are glued to technology."
— Ruth Eglash, The Washington Post, 26 Oct. 2016
Did You Know?
Elicit derives from the past participle of the Latin verb elicere, formed by combining the prefix e- (meaning "away") with the verb lacere, meaning "to entice by charm or attraction." It is not related to its near-homophone, the adjective illicit—that word, meaning "unlawful," traces back to another Latin verb, licēre, meaning "to be permitted." Nor is elicit related to the verb solicit, even though it sounds like it should be. Solicit derives from Latin sollicitare ("to disturb"), formed by combining the adjective sollus, meaning "whole," with the past participle of the verb ciēre, meaning "to move."
Wednesday, November 9, 2016
Triptych
WORD OF THE DAY
triptych \ TRIP-tik \ noun
Definition
1 : an ancient Roman writing tablet with three waxed leaves hinged together
2a : a picture (such as an altarpiece) or carving in three panels side by side
2b : something composed or presented in three parts or sections; especially : trilogy
Examples
The panels of the triptych illustrated the three theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity.
"'Certain Women,' her latest film and arguably the most precise expression of [Kelly] Reichardt's vision to date, is a triptych based on three short stories by the Montana-raised author Maile Meloy."
— Alice Gregory, The New York Times, 16 Oct. 2016
Did You Know?
A painted or carved triptych typically has three hinged panels, and the two outer panels can be folded in towards the central one. A literary or musical triptych generally consists of three closely related or contrasting themes or parts. Triptych derives from the Greek triptychos ("having three folds"), formed by combining tri- ("three") and ptychē ("fold" or "layer").
Although triptych originally described a specific type of Roman writing tablet that had three hinged sections, it is not surprising that the idea was generalized first to a type of painting, and then to anything composed of three parts.
triptych \ TRIP-tik \ noun
Definition
1 : an ancient Roman writing tablet with three waxed leaves hinged together
2a : a picture (such as an altarpiece) or carving in three panels side by side
2b : something composed or presented in three parts or sections; especially : trilogy
Examples
The panels of the triptych illustrated the three theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity.
"'Certain Women,' her latest film and arguably the most precise expression of [Kelly] Reichardt's vision to date, is a triptych based on three short stories by the Montana-raised author Maile Meloy."
— Alice Gregory, The New York Times, 16 Oct. 2016
Did You Know?
A painted or carved triptych typically has three hinged panels, and the two outer panels can be folded in towards the central one. A literary or musical triptych generally consists of three closely related or contrasting themes or parts. Triptych derives from the Greek triptychos ("having three folds"), formed by combining tri- ("three") and ptychē ("fold" or "layer").
Although triptych originally described a specific type of Roman writing tablet that had three hinged sections, it is not surprising that the idea was generalized first to a type of painting, and then to anything composed of three parts.
Tuesday, November 8, 2016
Bully Pulpit
WORD OF THE DAY
bully pulpit \ BULL-ee-PULL-pit \ noun
Definition
: a prominent public position (as a political office) that provides an opportunity for expounding one's views
Examples
"Candidates for governor like to make people think they set the vision. But the governor has a bully pulpit and little else. He or she may be in a position to push or prod or convene a task force or two, but nothing happens if the other players don't agree."
— Jay Evensen, The Deseret News (Salt Lake City, Utah), 28 Sept. 2016
"Land use is a local responsibility, and the federal government has limited power to make cities build more housing. Still, the Obama administration is increasingly using the bully pulpit to tell urban progressives that if they care about income inequality, they ought to care about building more housing.'"
— Kerry Cavanaugh, The Los Angeles Times, 26 Sept. 2016
Did You Know?
Bully pulpit comes from the 26th U.S. President, Theodore Roosevelt, who observed that the White House was a bully pulpit. For Roosevelt, bully was an adjective meaning "excellent" or "first-rate"—not the noun bully ("a blustering, browbeating person") that's so common today.
Roosevelt understood the modern presidency's power of persuasion and recognized that it gave the incumbent the opportunity to exhort, instruct, or inspire. He took full advantage of his bully pulpit, speaking out about the danger of monopolies, the nation's growing role as a world power, and other issues important to him. Since the 1970s, bully pulpit has been used as a term for an office—especially a political office—that provides one with the opportunity to share one's views
bully pulpit \ BULL-ee-PULL-pit \ noun
Definition
: a prominent public position (as a political office) that provides an opportunity for expounding one's views
Examples
"Candidates for governor like to make people think they set the vision. But the governor has a bully pulpit and little else. He or she may be in a position to push or prod or convene a task force or two, but nothing happens if the other players don't agree."
— Jay Evensen, The Deseret News (Salt Lake City, Utah), 28 Sept. 2016
"Land use is a local responsibility, and the federal government has limited power to make cities build more housing. Still, the Obama administration is increasingly using the bully pulpit to tell urban progressives that if they care about income inequality, they ought to care about building more housing.'"
— Kerry Cavanaugh, The Los Angeles Times, 26 Sept. 2016
Did You Know?
Bully pulpit comes from the 26th U.S. President, Theodore Roosevelt, who observed that the White House was a bully pulpit. For Roosevelt, bully was an adjective meaning "excellent" or "first-rate"—not the noun bully ("a blustering, browbeating person") that's so common today.
Roosevelt understood the modern presidency's power of persuasion and recognized that it gave the incumbent the opportunity to exhort, instruct, or inspire. He took full advantage of his bully pulpit, speaking out about the danger of monopolies, the nation's growing role as a world power, and other issues important to him. Since the 1970s, bully pulpit has been used as a term for an office—especially a political office—that provides one with the opportunity to share one's views
Monday, November 7, 2016
Auriferous
WORD OF THE DAY
auriferous \ aw-RIF-uh-russ \ adjective
Definition
: containing gold
Examples
The mining company has discovered many auriferous deposits throughout the region.
"Development … on the east flank of the Huachuca Mountains occurred after the 1911 discovery of a gold nugget weighing 22 ounces, probably originating from auriferous quartz veins found in the granite beds upstream."
— William Ascarza, The Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, AZ), 26 Sept. 2016
Did You Know?
Students in chemistry class learn that the chemical symbol for gold is Au. That symbol is based on aurum, the Latin word for the element. In the 17th century, English speakers coined auriferous by appending the -ous ending to the Latin adjective aurifer, an offspring of aurum that means "containing gold" or "producing gold." (The -fer is from ferre, a Latin verb meaning "to produce" or "to bear.")
Not surprisingly, auriferous is a term that shows up in geological contexts. Some other descendants of aurum include aureate ("of a golden color" or "marked by grandiloquent style"), auric ("of, relating to, or derived from gold"), and the noun or ("the heraldic color gold or yellow").
auriferous \ aw-RIF-uh-russ \ adjective
Definition
: containing gold
Examples
The mining company has discovered many auriferous deposits throughout the region.
"Development … on the east flank of the Huachuca Mountains occurred after the 1911 discovery of a gold nugget weighing 22 ounces, probably originating from auriferous quartz veins found in the granite beds upstream."
— William Ascarza, The Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, AZ), 26 Sept. 2016
Did You Know?
Students in chemistry class learn that the chemical symbol for gold is Au. That symbol is based on aurum, the Latin word for the element. In the 17th century, English speakers coined auriferous by appending the -ous ending to the Latin adjective aurifer, an offspring of aurum that means "containing gold" or "producing gold." (The -fer is from ferre, a Latin verb meaning "to produce" or "to bear.")
Not surprisingly, auriferous is a term that shows up in geological contexts. Some other descendants of aurum include aureate ("of a golden color" or "marked by grandiloquent style"), auric ("of, relating to, or derived from gold"), and the noun or ("the heraldic color gold or yellow").
Friday, November 4, 2016
Titivate
WORD OF THE DAY
titivate \ TIH-tuh-vayt \ verb
Definition
: to make or become smart or spruce
Examples
"It was instantly clear, however, that she had not been idle, but busy titivating: painting her nails, washing her hair, doing her face…."
— Rosamunde Pilcher, September, 1990
"I came here as a student …, but I spent more time in Cannon Hill Park two miles from the city centre. I clearly remember watching the gardeners titivate the flower beds and strolling past the lake through the many choice trees."
— Val Bourne, The Daily Telegraph (London), 21 May 2016
Did You Know?
Titivate, spruce, smarten, and spiff all mean "to make a person or thing neater or more attractive." Titivate often refers to making small additions or alterations in attire ("titivate the costume with sequins and other accessories"), but it can also be used figuratively (as in "titivating the script for Broadway"). Spruce up is sometimes used for cosmetic changes or renovations that give the appearance of newness ("spruce up the house with new shutters and fresh paint before trying to sell it").
Smarten up and spiff up both mean to improve in appearance often by making more neat or stylish ("the tailor smartened up the suit with minor alterations"; "he needed some time to spiff himself up for the party"). The origins of titivate are uncertain, but it may have been formed from the English words tidy and renovate.
Thursday, November 3, 2016
Echelon
WORD OF THE DAY
echelon \ ESH-uh-lahn \ noun
Definition
1 : a steplike arrangement (as of troops or airplanes)
2a : one of a series of levels or grades in an organization or field of activity
2b : a group of individuals at a particular level or grade in an organization
Examples
"And I think that … there are more conservatives in Hollywood than one would think in all echelons, even among the actors."
— Jon Voight, speaking on the Fox News Network, 9 Sept. 2016
"There were those in the upper echelons of network news who caught a bit of that altitude sickness and thought it was their job to massage the news on behalf of a greater good only they could see."
— Dalton Delan, The Berkshire Eagle (Pittsfield, Massachusetts), 23 Sept. 2016
Did You Know?
Echelon is a useful word for anyone who is climbing the ladder of success. It traces back to scala, a Late Latin word meaning "ladder" that was the ancestor of the Old French eschelon, meaning "rung of a ladder." Over time, the French word (which is échelon in Modern French) came to mean "step," "grade," or "level."
When it was first borrowed into English in the 18th century, echelon referred specifically to a steplike arrangement of troops, but it now usually refers to a level or category within an organization or group of people
echelon \ ESH-uh-lahn \ noun
Definition
1 : a steplike arrangement (as of troops or airplanes)
2a : one of a series of levels or grades in an organization or field of activity
2b : a group of individuals at a particular level or grade in an organization
Examples
"And I think that … there are more conservatives in Hollywood than one would think in all echelons, even among the actors."
— Jon Voight, speaking on the Fox News Network, 9 Sept. 2016
"There were those in the upper echelons of network news who caught a bit of that altitude sickness and thought it was their job to massage the news on behalf of a greater good only they could see."
— Dalton Delan, The Berkshire Eagle (Pittsfield, Massachusetts), 23 Sept. 2016
Did You Know?
Echelon is a useful word for anyone who is climbing the ladder of success. It traces back to scala, a Late Latin word meaning "ladder" that was the ancestor of the Old French eschelon, meaning "rung of a ladder." Over time, the French word (which is échelon in Modern French) came to mean "step," "grade," or "level."
When it was first borrowed into English in the 18th century, echelon referred specifically to a steplike arrangement of troops, but it now usually refers to a level or category within an organization or group of people
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
Temerarious
WORD OF THE DAY
temerarious \ tem-uh-RAIR-ee-us \ adjective
Definition
1a: marked by temerity
1b: rashly or presumptuously daring
Examples
"Nissan execs are proud of their new 'flagship crossover,' as they call the 2015 Murano, throwing around further clichés like 'concept car for the street' and talking about how much the interior resembles a 'lounge on wheels.' Which is by an appropriate measure less temerarious than the concept's press release, which proclaimed that designers had drawn inspiration from 'the futuristic allure of hypersonic travel.'"
— Jeff Sabatini, CarandDriver.com, December 2014
"More important still—and here he is perceived as either temerarious or feckless—[Pope] Francis has departed radically from his predecessors in that he actively encourages his bishops … to speak boldly when addressing him and in assembly…."
— Michael W. Higgins, The Globe and Mail, 13 Mar. 2015
Did You Know?
If you have guessed that temerarious may be related to the somewhat more common word temerity, you are correct.
Temerarious was borrowed into English in the early 16th century from Latin temerarius, which in turn derives from Latin temere, meaning "blindly" or "recklessly." Temerity, which arrived in English over a century earlier, also derives from temere; another descendant is the rare word intemerate,meaning "pure" or "undefiled."
Temere itself is akin to Old High German demar, Latin tenebrae, and Sanskrit tamas, all of which have associations with darkness.
temerarious \ tem-uh-RAIR-ee-us \ adjective
Definition
1a: marked by temerity
1b: rashly or presumptuously daring
Examples
"Nissan execs are proud of their new 'flagship crossover,' as they call the 2015 Murano, throwing around further clichés like 'concept car for the street' and talking about how much the interior resembles a 'lounge on wheels.' Which is by an appropriate measure less temerarious than the concept's press release, which proclaimed that designers had drawn inspiration from 'the futuristic allure of hypersonic travel.'"
— Jeff Sabatini, CarandDriver.com, December 2014
"More important still—and here he is perceived as either temerarious or feckless—[Pope] Francis has departed radically from his predecessors in that he actively encourages his bishops … to speak boldly when addressing him and in assembly…."
— Michael W. Higgins, The Globe and Mail, 13 Mar. 2015
Did You Know?
If you have guessed that temerarious may be related to the somewhat more common word temerity, you are correct.
Temerarious was borrowed into English in the early 16th century from Latin temerarius, which in turn derives from Latin temere, meaning "blindly" or "recklessly." Temerity, which arrived in English over a century earlier, also derives from temere; another descendant is the rare word intemerate,meaning "pure" or "undefiled."
Temere itself is akin to Old High German demar, Latin tenebrae, and Sanskrit tamas, all of which have associations with darkness.
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Gravid
WORD OF THE DAY
gravid \ GRAV-id \ adjective
Definition
1 : pregnant
2 : distended with or full of eggs
Examples
"We know by intuition and study that great books approach a condition both above and below human … and our job is to place ourselves somewhere on the continuum between those shifting poles, to welcome a gravid agitation …; to have our personhood both threatened and amplified."
— William Giraldi, The New York Times, 26 Jan. 2014
"Her laugh overtakes her.… It's restorative; it brings light into her eyes and her high, round cheekbones into sharp relief. She has a radiance sometimes, almost gravid, and it's usually when she's been laughing."
— Tom Junod, Esquire, 1 Feb. 2016
Did You Know?
Gravid comes from Latin gravis, meaning "heavy." It can refer to a female who is literally pregnant, and it also has the figurative meanings of pregnant: "full or teeming" and "meaningful." Thus, a writer may be gravid with ideas as she sits down to write; a cloud may be gravid with rain; or a speaker may make a gravid pause before announcing his remarkable findings
gravid \ GRAV-id \ adjective
Definition
1 : pregnant
2 : distended with or full of eggs
Examples
"We know by intuition and study that great books approach a condition both above and below human … and our job is to place ourselves somewhere on the continuum between those shifting poles, to welcome a gravid agitation …; to have our personhood both threatened and amplified."
— William Giraldi, The New York Times, 26 Jan. 2014
"Her laugh overtakes her.… It's restorative; it brings light into her eyes and her high, round cheekbones into sharp relief. She has a radiance sometimes, almost gravid, and it's usually when she's been laughing."
— Tom Junod, Esquire, 1 Feb. 2016
Did You Know?
Gravid comes from Latin gravis, meaning "heavy." It can refer to a female who is literally pregnant, and it also has the figurative meanings of pregnant: "full or teeming" and "meaningful." Thus, a writer may be gravid with ideas as she sits down to write; a cloud may be gravid with rain; or a speaker may make a gravid pause before announcing his remarkable findings
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