Word of the Day

Brunneous is an adjective that means dark brown.  Our word of the day comes almost directly from the Latin word brunneus (broo NAY oose) which means ‘brown.’ Here’s an example of brunneous in use: The brunneous color of the trees is very different from my surroundings during the week. It would be nice to have that shade when I wake up each day, but it would take forever to paint all the concrete a...

Cerulean is an adjective that means sky blue.  Our word of the day dates back to the mid 17th century and the Latin word caelum (KY loom) which means ‘sky.’ Here’s an example of cerulean in use: Andrea’s striking cerulean eyes were the first thing I noticed when I regained consciousness in the hospital. The second thing I noticed is the way her blue eyes matched her dress. 

Rubricate is a verb that means to color red.  The Latin word rubrica (ROO brick uh) means ‘red.’ By the Late 16th century, this word had been imported to English and turned into a verb which meant to turn something red.’ Here’s an example: The author decided to rubricate the letters that indicated the location of the main character. By having this information in red, there was no chance the reader...

Castaneous is an adjective that means chestnut colored.  The Latin word for ‘chestnut’ is castanea (cass TAN ee uh). By the 17th century, this would branch off into several English words, including ‘castanets,’ a small musical instrument made of wood and our word of the day, an adjective to describe something ‘chestnut colored.’ Here’s an example of castaneous in use: The castaneous tan I acquired...

Heterogenous is an adjective that means ‘diverse in character and content.’  Our word of the day is from the Latin word ‘heteros,’ (HET er ose) which means ‘different’ or ‘other.’ It’s been around since the early 17th century. Here’s an example: The heterogenous nature of the animals in that area makes it difficult for them to get along. By putting together those creatures from such diverse backgr...

Handsel is a noun that refers to a gift for good luck.  Our word of the day dates back to the Middle English period and is occasionally used as a verb just like its synonym ‘gift.’ Here’s an example: When my parents gave me a car as a handsel on my 18th birthday, they didn’t know they were changing my life. That new Toyota may not have given me good luck, but it certainly brought good times. 

Simpatico is an adjective that means having shared characteristics or attributes.  Our word of the day is a loan word that has been borrowed from Italian since the early 20th century. Here’s an example of it.  I had a feeling I’d be simpatico with my new neighbors the minute I saw their lawn sign that declared ‘no Yankees fans’ in front of their door. Nothing brings together strangers like a hatre...

Umbra is a noun that refers to a shadow or darkness.  Our word of the day began life as a Latin word for ‘shade.’ Since the late 16th century, it’s been an English word for ‘shade’ or ‘shadow.’ Here’s an example: The long umbra cast along the lake is a sight to behold. The fact that it’s a shadow of a port-o-potty makes the image a little less romantic. 

Vocable is a noun that refers to a single syllable that carries a meaning despite not being a ‘real’ word.  The Latin word vocabulum ( vo COB oo loom) has given us such English words as ‘vocal’ and ‘vocabulary.’ Our word of the day has been around since the Middle English period. Here’s an example: When my kids are enjoying a meal, they tend to express it in the most vocable terms. They don't...

Lawfare is a noun that refers to the use of lawsuits as a means of intimidation and combat.  Our word of the day is a very recent addition to the English language that combines the common English words ‘law’ and ‘warfare.’ here’s an example: After getting laid off, I tried to bully my former boss Stan with a series of excessive lawsuits, but in retrospect, I may have made a bad decision. It wasn’t...

variform is an adjective that means ‘being different from another in form.  Our word of the day comes from the Latin word varius (VAR ee oos) which means ‘diverse.’ Since the mid-17th century, this word has given birth to a diverse range of descendants, including ‘various,’ ‘variation,’ and the less commonly used variform which could be thought of as a synonym for ‘disparate’ or ‘assorted.’ Here’s...

Borborygmus is a noun that refers to the rumbling or gurgling noise made in the stomach.  Our word of the day comes almost directly from a Greek noun that holds the same meaning. It’s been used mostly in medical circles since the early 18th century. Here’s an example: There’s nothing more embarrassing than having a grumbling stomach in a quiet setting. A few weeks ago, I was in a bookstore when my...

Vegetate is a verb that means to live or spend time in a dull, inactive way.  Our word of the day comes from the Latin word vegere (way GARE ay) which means ‘to be active.’ By the early 17th century, the word had morphed into the English word vegetable. More recently, vegetate has come to mean ‘to be inactive.’ Here's an example: I was so tired from running that marathon, I wanted to vegetate...

Comely is an adjective that means pleasant or attractive to look at.  Our word of the day comes from the Old English period and once meant ‘frail’ or ‘weak.’ Its meaning has been modified more recently and it can now be thought of as a synonym for handsome or beautiful.  When I entered the ballroom, I thought all those people were gawking at me because my tuxedo made me look particularly comely. I...

Benthic is an adjective that means occurring at the bottom of a body of water.  The Greek word ‘benthos.’ (VEN thos) means ‘depth of the sea.’ Since the early 20th century, our word of the day has been used to describe the landscape and activity at those depths. Here’s an example: One of the joys of diving is being able to observe all those creatures on the ocean floor. You’d be shocked at all the...

Grum is an adjective that means sullen or gloomy.  The origin of our word of the day is in the Old English period where it meant ‘fierce.’ In time, grum came to take on a meaning similar to words like ‘morose’ and ‘surly.’ Here’s an example: Tommy’s grum demeanor told me it would be a tough day for anybody who tried to talk to him. When he gets in a foul mood, it’s best to stay away. 

Kairos is a noun that refers to a propitious moment for a decision or action.  Our word of the day comes directly from the Greek word that means ‘opportunity.’ It’s been around since the 1930s. Here’s an example of kairos in use: When the mayor faced a kairos in his first term, the result was a catastrophic failure to act. If the same happens in his second term, he may not get a second opportunity...

Beatitude is a noun that refers to supreme happiness.  Our word of the day has been around since the late Middle English period and comes from the Latin word beatus (bee AW toos) meaning ‘blessed.’ Here’s an example of it: The sense of beatitude I feel while rock climbing is unlike any other. The only thing that makes me happier is when we finally reach the summit of those majestic mountains. 

Communique is a verb that refers to an official announcement or statement, especially one made to the media.  The Latin word communis (KOE moo noose) means ‘common,’ and it’s given us words as wide-ranging as ‘Communism’ and ‘communication.’ It’s also given us our word of the day which refers to a specific communication made to one or many media outlets. Here’s an example: When I quit my job at Pa...

Verbing is a noun that refers to the practice of using a noun as a verb.  The Latin word ‘verbum’ (VARE boom) gives us the word verb and also our word of the day ‘verbing.’ It’s been around for about a century. Here’s an example: Holly’s verbing can get a little confusing at times. The other day she told me was going to go shoeing at the mall and I thought she was going to drive away some botherso...

Skookum is an adjective that means strong, brave or impressive.  Our word of the day has its origin in the language of the indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest. It’s been used since the late 19th century. Here’s an example of skookum in use: I found our boss particularly skookum last Thursday when he stood up to his supervisor in defense of his parking spot. He might have impressed me as eve...

Barratry is a noun that refers to the act of frequently instigating lawsuits.  The Old Norse word for ‘contest’ provides the origin of several words related to the law, such as barrister and bar, as in ‘passing the bar.’ Our word of the day has been around since the Late Middle English period to describe the bahavior of those who like to sue people a little too much. Here’s an example: Kevin’s bar...

Virago is a noun that refers to a screaming woman or a hellcat.  The Latin word uirago (we RAHG oh) means ‘female warrior.’ Its descendent, virago, dates back to the Old English period. Here’s an example: When my daughter dressed up as a virago for Halloween, she frightened everybody in the neighborhood. On top of everything else, my little hellcat got more candy than anybody else. 

Raft is a noun that refers to a large number.  Our word of the day has been around since the mid-19th century. It’s thought to be derived from the Scandinavian word for ‘abundance.’ Here’s an example of it in use: Coming home after a rough day at work, I was delighted to see a raft of candy bars on the dining room table. But I was disappointed to learn that this cornucopia of sweetness wasn’t for...

Audiology is a noun that refers to the medicine concerned with the sense of hearing.  Our word of the day combines the Latin word ‘audire,’ (OW dee ray) which means ‘hear’ with the Greek suffix O-L-O-G-Y, meaning ‘study of.’ A fairly recent addition to the language, audiology is a study that can assist someone hoping to learn more about the science of hearing.  Even after all those classes in audi...