Merriam-webster's Word Of The Day

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Recent episodes from Merriam-webster's Word Of The Day

  • Published: Aug 29, 08
    Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 29, 2008 is:bumptious • \BUMP-shus\  • adjective : presumptuously, obtusely, and often noisily self-assertive : obtrusive Example sentence:"I wish the DJs on this station weren't so bumptious," said Andrea. "I'd prefer to just listen to the music."Did you know?Etymologists believe that "bumptious" was probably coined, perhaps playfully, from the noun "bump" plus "-tious." When "bump
     
  • Published: Aug 28, 08
    Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 28, 2008 is:refractory • \rih-FRAK-tuh-ree\  • adjective*1 : resisting control or authority : stubborn, unmanageable 2 a : resistant to treatment or cureb : unresponsive to stimulusc : immune, insusceptible 3 : difficult to fuse, corrode, or draw out; especially : capable of enduring high temperature Example sentence:Refractory students may be disciplined, suspended, or expelled, depending on the seriousness of their offense.D
     
  • Published: Aug 27, 08
    Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 27, 2008 is:pejorative • \pih-JOR-uh-tiv\  • adjective : having negative connotations; especially : tending to disparage or belittle : depreciatory Example sentence:The team's star player has come under fire for making pejorative remarks about women during a magazine interview.Did you know?"If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." Moms have given that good advice for years, but unfortunately many people hav
     
  • Published: Aug 26, 08
    Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 26, 2008 is:sophistry • \SAH-fuh-stree\  • noun*1 : subtly deceptive reasoning or argumentation 2 : an argument apparently correct in form but actually invalid; especially : such an argument used to deceive Example sentence:The senatorial candidate argued that his opponent was using sophistry in an effort to distort his plan for education reform.Did you know?The original Sophists were ancient Greek teachers of rhetoric and philos
     
  • Published: Aug 25, 08
    Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 25, 2008 is:dilapidate • \dih-LAP-uh-dayt\  • verb*1 : to bring into a condition of decay or partial ruin 2 : to become decayed or partially ruined Example sentence:Although years of abandonment had dilapidated the old warehouse, Stuart still thought it could be salvaged and remade into an apartment building.Did you know?Something that is dilapidated may not have been literally pummeled with stones, but it might look that way. &q
     
  • Published: Aug 24, 08
    Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 24, 2008 is:aggregate • \AG-rih-gut\  • noun1 : a mass or body of units or parts somewhat loosely associated with one another *2 : the whole sum or amount : sum total Example sentence:"The aggregate of incriminating details unmistakably points towards a conviction," said the prosecuting attorney.Did you know?We added "aggregate" to our flock of Latin borrowings in the 15th century. It descends from "aggre
     
  • Published: Aug 23, 08
    Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 23, 2008 is:callow • \KAL-oh\  • adjective : lacking adult sophistication : immature Example sentence:"Back when I was a callow college student," said Emma, "I paid little attention to the advice given to me by my professors."Did you know?You might not expect a relationship between "callow" and baldness, but that connection does in fact exist. "Callow" comes from "calu," a word that mean
     
  • Published: Aug 22, 08
    Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 22, 2008 is:idée fixe • \ee-day-FEEKS\  • noun : an idea that dominates one's mind especially for a prolonged period : obsession Example sentence:The fear that he was going to be fired became such an idée fixe for Toby that he could think of nothing else.Did you know?According to The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, the term "idée fixe" was coined by French composer Hector Berlioz in 1830, who
     
  • Published: Aug 21, 08
    Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 21, 2008 is:trepidation • \trep-uh-DAY-shun\  • noun : timorous uncertain agitation : apprehension Example sentence:As she boarded the plane for her first flight, Corrine felt a mixture of trepidation and excitement.Did you know?If you've ever trembled with fright, you know something of both the sensation and etymology of "trepidation." The word "trepidation" comes from the Latin verb "trepidare," which mea
     
  • Published: Aug 20, 08
    Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 20, 2008 is:rapporteur • \ra-por-TER\  • noun : a person who gives reports (as at a meeting of a learned society) Example sentence:The rapporteur compiled the available evidence into a report and presented it to the full committee.Did you know?"Rapporteur" was adopted into English in the early 16th century and is a descendant of the Middle French verb "rapporter," meaning "to bring back, report, or refer."
     
  • Published: Aug 19, 08
    Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 19, 2008 is:beleaguer • \bih-LEE-gur\  • verb1 : besiege *2 : trouble, harass Example sentence:The new programming chief was hired to revamp the schedule for the network, which was consistently beleaguered by low ratings.Did you know?English speakers created "beleaguer" from the Dutch word "belegeren" in the 16th century. "[Military men] will not vouchsafe . . . to use our ancient terms belonging to matte
     
  • Published: Aug 18, 08
    Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 18, 2008 is:metronome • \MET-ruh-nohm\  • noun : an instrument designed to mark exact time by a regularly repeated tick Example sentence:After practicing the drums with a metronome, Lars had a better feel for tempo and kept time better.Did you know?The patent for the metronome was entered in 1816: "John Malzl [sic], of Poland-street, Middlesex, Machinist; for an instrument . . . which he denominates a Metronome, or musical time-kee
     
  • Published: Aug 17, 08
    Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 17, 2008 is:spavined • \SPAV-ind\  • adjective1 : affected with spavin *2 : old and decrepit : over-the-hill Example sentence:There is no point in expecting the spavined Arts Council to do more than sponsor the same stale events and shopworn fund-raisers.Did you know?"His horse [is] . . . troubled with the lampas, infected with the fashions, full of windgalls, sped with spavins. . . ." Petruchio's poor, decrepit horse i
     
  • Published: Aug 16, 08
    Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 16, 2008 is:farce • \FAHRSS\  • noun1 : a light dramatic composition marked by broadly satirical comedy and improbable plot 2 : the broad humor characteristic of farce or pretense 3 a : ridiculous or empty show*b : mockery Example sentence:"No wonder we're late -- the management of traffic in this city is a farce!" Lyle complained.Did you know?When "farce" first appeared in English, it had to do with cookery
     
  • Published: Aug 15, 08
    Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 15, 2008 is:innocuous • \ih-NAH-kyuh-wus\  • adjective1 : producing no injury : harmless *2 : not likely to give offense or to arouse strong feelings or hostility : inoffensive, insipid Example sentence:Bella was surprised when her seemingly innocuous remark enraged her classmates.Did you know?"Innocuous" has harmful roots -- it comes to us from the Latin adjective "innocuus," which was formed by combining the