Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 24, 2018 is: glade \GLAYD\ noun : an open space surrounded by woods Examples: "Whenever they got a glimpse of the sun in an open glade they seemed unaccountably to have veered eastwards." — J. R. R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring, 1954 "Park on the side of the road near the sign where possible, but try to avoid going too far off into the mud. Wa...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 23, 2018 is: biannual \bye-AN-yuh-wul\ adjective 1 : occurring twice a year 2 : occurring every two years Examples: "The first is status quo: We could leave current daylight saving time in place, and continue to set our clocks an hour forward in spring and an hour back in fall. But some Californians want to end those biannual clock shifts, in part be...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 22, 2018 is: viva voce \vye-vuh-VOH-see\ adverb : by word of mouth : orally Examples: "He was examined according to standard inquisitorial procedures derived from Roman law and medieval practice. Interrogators put questions to the accused who answered viva voce, in writing, or both, as demanded." — Donald Weinstein, Savonarola: The Rise and Fall of a...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 21, 2018 is: panoply \PAN-uh-plee\ noun 1 a : a full suit of armor b : ceremonial attire 2 : something forming a protective covering 3 a : a magnificent or impressive array b : a display of all appropriate appurtenances Examples: "Like many of the islands of the Caribbean, Jamaica is home to a cuisine that combines a heady mixture of flavors, spices,...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 20, 2018 is: milieu \meel-YOO\ noun : the physical or social setting in which something occurs or develops : environment Examples: "In researching my second film, Peggy Guggenheim: Art Addict, I learned just how much independence and bravery it took for Guggenheim to step away from her very traditional roots and move at the age of 20 to Paris, where...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 19, 2018 is: atone \uh-TOHN\ verb 1 : to make amends : to provide or serve as reparation or compensation for something bad or unwelcome — usually + for 2 : to make reparation or supply satisfaction for : expiate — used in the passive voice with for Examples: James tried to atone for the mistakes of his youth by devoting his life to helping others. "T...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 18, 2018 is: lenitive \LEN-uh-tiv\ adjective : alleviating pain or harshness : soothing Examples: Peppermint, chamomile, and ginger are all reputed to have a lenitive effect on the digestive system. "The air in Eastbourne … is melancholy with the sweet memories of childhood, and the promises it breathes are prayerful and lenitive: all shall be well,...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 17, 2018 is: chiliad \KILL-ee-ad\ noun 1 : a group of 1000 2 : a period of 1000 years; especially : one reckoned from the beginning of the Christian era Examples: Erin's pursuit of an MD degree felt like it took a chiliad, but she achieved her goal and is now running her own pediatric clinic. "While teachers may offer children some new vocab words, t...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 16, 2018 is: resplendent \rih-SPLEN-dunt\ adjective : shining brilliantly : characterized by a glowing splendor Examples: His eyes were drawn to his elegant wife—resplendent in a fashionable evening gown—who had just appeared at the top of the stairway. "The princes, all of whom have served in some capacity in the British armed forces, were resplende...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 15, 2018 is: melancholia \mel-un-KOH-lee-uh\ noun : a mental condition and especially a manic-depressive condition characterized by extreme depression, bodily complaints, and often hallucinations and delusions Examples: "Nevertheless, wakened out of her melancholia and called to the dinner table, she changed her mind. A little food in the stomach doe...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 14, 2018 is: advert \ad-VERT\ verb 1 : to turn the mind or attention — used with to 2 : to call attention in the course of speaking or writing : make reference — used with to Examples: "He also adverted to the practice of demanding that producers take back unsold produce as an 'unfair' practice that concerns the commission." — Patrick Smyth, The Iris...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 13, 2018 is: taradiddle \tair-uh-DID-ul\ noun 1 : a trivial or childish lie : fib 2 : pretentious nonsense Examples: "The time came when she not only told her taradiddle about having 'hunted quite a lot,' she even came near believing it." — George Orwell, Burmese Days, 1934 "As truths go, the history of Miss Rossiter she had laid out was unimpressive...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 12, 2018 is: enigmatic \en-ig-MAT-ik\ adjective : of, relating to, or resembling an enigma : mysterious Examples: "The magic of the Mona Lisa's smile is that it seems to react to our gaze. What is she thinking? She smiles back mysteriously. Look again. Her smile seems to flicker. We glance away, and the enigmatic smile lingers in our minds, as it doe...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 11, 2018 is: deportment \dih-PORT-munt\ noun : the manner in which one conducts oneself : behavior Examples: The candidate chosen for the position had an exceptional resume, but it was her deportment and personality as exhibited during interviews that were the deciding factors. "The one artisanal, teachable thing is outer conduct. You can't restructu...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 10, 2018 is: fathom \FA-thum\ verb 1 : probe 2 : to take soundings : to measure by a sounding line 3 : to penetrate and come to understand Examples: Even those close to him couldn't always fathom why he repeatedly risked his life to climb the world's tallest mountains. "It was hard to fathom that this canyon was carved not by natural forces, but by h...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 9, 2018 is: wanderlust \WAHN-der-lust\ noun : strong longing for or impulse toward wandering Examples: "The trip inspired a new commitment to working with artisans from around the world. It also reanimated her genetic sense of wanderlust. She recently went back to Peru, to meet with a weaver she's been working with since that first trip." — Olivia St...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 8, 2018 is: periphrasis \puh-RIFF-ruh-sis\ noun 1 : use of a longer phrasing in place of a possible shorter form of expression 2 : an instance of periphrasis Examples: "There are countless passages of asinine periphrasis: 'The accelerant enzymes her image infuses in Bob create a chemical cocktail he can only counter with self-preservational condescen...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 7, 2018 is: schmooze \SHMOOZ\ verb 1 : to converse informally : chat; also : to chat in a friendly and persuasive manner especially so as to gain favor, business, or connections 2 : to engage in informal conversation with Examples: Conference attendees will have plenty of chances to schmooze with the industry's power players. "We're spending less tim...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 6, 2018 is: quiddity \KWID-uh-tee\ noun 1 : whatever makes something the type that it is : essence 2 a : a trifling point : quibble b : an unusual personal opinion or habit : eccentricity Examples: "The elegant, punky, petroleum-like smokiness that imbues every good mezcal, and which is its quiddity, comes from the burning of the agave heart." — Ray...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 5, 2018 is: banshee \BAN-shee\ noun : a female spirit in Gaelic folklore whose appearance or wailing warns a family that one of them will soon die Examples: "The family is reputed to have its own banshee that howls when one of them is going to die. Corran remembered that on receiving reports that the banshee had been heard, telegrams were sent to eve...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 4, 2018 is: ingratiate \in-GRAY-shee-ayt\ verb : to gain favor or favorable acceptance for by deliberate effort — usually used with with Examples: "He ingratiated himself with Crispin, deliberately ignoring Crispin's suspicion of him." — Zadie Smith, White Teeth, 2000 "Ford is also hoping to ingratiate itself with investors as its stock price still h...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 3, 2018 is: mentor \MEN-tor\ noun 1 : a trusted counselor or guide 2 : tutor, coach Examples; Graduates of the program sometimes go on to become mentors to those making their way through the rigorous process of earning their certification. "If you can find a mentor who is experienced in your field, they can provide you with insights that you may not...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 2, 2018 is: coeval \koh-EE-vul\ adjective : of the same or equal age, antiquity, or duration Examples: "Fantasy is at least as immense as realism and much older—essentially coeval with literature itself. Yet fantasy was relegated for fifty years or sixty years to the nursery." — Ursula Le Guin, quoted in Electric Literature, 1 Apr. 2016 "If animals a...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 1, 2018 is: symposium \sim-POH-zee-um\ noun 1 a : a convivial party (as after a banquet in ancient Greece) with music and conversation b : a social gathering at which there is free interchange of ideas 2 a : a formal meeting at which several specialists deliver short addresses on a topic or on related topics — compare colloquium b : a collection of o...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 31, 2018 is: duress \dur-RESS\ noun 1 : forcible restraint or restriction 2 : compulsion by threat; specifically : unlawful constraint Examples: "I understand the impulse to marvel at Mr. Mandela's civility and eloquence, even under duress. How, it's easy to wonder, could a man form such generous, brilliant philosophies in the face of cruelty and injust...