Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 2, 2012 is: pandect • \PAN-dekt\  • noun 1 : a complete code of the laws of a country or system of law 2 : a treatise covering an entire subject Examples: "Stability and support operations are not, within the pandect of modern conflict, considered war at all but 'military operations other than war,'…." - From an article by Tom Bissell in Harper’s Magazine...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 1, 2012 is: convoke • \kun-VOHK\  • verb : to call together to a meeting Examples: In 1907 Theodore Roosevelt convoked a conference at The Hague to discuss arms limitation. "As announced at the end of the week, an extraordinary general shareholder meeting will be convoked on the initiative of the Company's Board on 24 May 2012…." - From an article by Ukio...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 30, 2012 is: grandiose • \grand-dee-OSS\  • adjective 1 : characterized by affectation of grandeur or splendor or by absurd exaggeration 2 : impressive because of uncommon largeness, scope, effect, or grandeur Examples: Jason often tried to impress people with his complicated, grandiose plans for success, but he never seemed to make much progress towards...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 29, 2012 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: Rembrandt's genius was his unparalleled ability to render a person's quiddity in a single portrait. "I would give Mark a perfect 10 if he did not use an...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 28, 2012 is: planet • \PLAN-ut\  • noun 1 : earth -usually used with the 2 : a celestial body held to influence the fate of human beings 3 : a person or thing of great importance : luminary Examples: He dreamed of being a major planet in the literary world, but his books sold poorly and are now out of print. "Nevin wasn't a bad player. He just never did a...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 27, 2012 is: oftentimes • \AW-fun-tymez\  • adverb : often, repeatedly Examples: Oftentimes, she is the last employee to leave the office for the day. "For the past three months, viewers have borne witness to what has become a winning formula in reality TV: loudmouthed, oftentimes obnoxious people bickering with one another." - From a recap of Celebrity A...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 26, 2012 is: desideratum • \dih-sid-uh-RAH-tum\  • noun, plural desiderata : something desired as essential Examples: "For … every unknown actor dying for a break, a speaking part in a Woody Allen movie is the desideratum." - From an article by Tracy Young in Vogue, November 1990 "200 vendors will offer a wide array of garden-related items…. 'Window-shopp...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 25, 2012 is: frolic • \FRAH-lik\  • verb 1 : to amuse oneself : make merry 2 : to play and run about happily : romp Examples: The puppies frolicked around the room, chasing and pouncing on one another. "During the final round of a golf tournament, a camera zoomed in on two baby ducks frolicking on the bank behind the 18th green…." - From an article by Ste...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 24, 2012 is: borborygmus • \bor-buh-RIG-mus\  • noun, plural borborygmi : intestinal rumbling caused by moving gas Examples: The hall was very quiet as the test-takers concentrated on the task at hand, and Cara hoped that her embarrassing borborygmus went mostly unnoticed. "'Both men are presenting the classic symptoms [of severe typhoid fever] - fever, s...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 23, 2012 is: nebulous • \NEB-yuh-lus\  • adjective 1 : of, relating to, or resembling a nebula 2 : indistinct, vague Examples: Charlene's description of the film was so nebulous that I’m still not quite sure what it is about. "We just wish his business model wasn't so reliant on propping up a supposedly free market with huge infusions of tax dollars in re...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 22, 2012 is: wetware • \WET-wair\  • noun : the human brain or a human being considered especially with respect to human logical and computational capabilities Examples: With the right wetware at the helm, the company should be able to turn a sizeable profit. "Over the weekend, an impressive crossword-solving computer program, called Dr. Fill, which I wro...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 21, 2012 is: amative • \AM-uh-tiv\  • adjective 1 : strongly moved by love and especially sexual love 2 a : indicative of love b : of or relating to love Examples: "At the university he became involved with two pretty students, Belene and Allene Ashby, daughters of a Texas rancher, and, amative as ever, he conducted love affairs with both at once." - From...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 20, 2012 is: slimsy • \SLIM-zee\  • adjective : flimsy or frail Examples: "Cradle sheets of this thin, closely woven, white worsted stuff are not slimsy like thin flannel, yet are softer than flannel." - From Alice Morse Earle's 1898 book Home Life In Colonial Days "When he asked if she needed a rest, stubbornness caused her to refuse - she didn't want hi...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 19, 2012 is: facilitate • \fuh-SIL-uh-tayt\  • verb : to make easier : help bring about Examples: The entrance to Tanya's apartment building comes with a ramp and an automatic door to facilitate getting her wheelchair in and out. "Next week I'll share more of the authors' insights into the brain and how to use this information to facilitate healthier ment...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 18, 2012 is: divertissement • \dih-VER-tiss-munt\  • noun 1 : a dance sequence or short ballet usually used as an interlude 2 : an instrumental chamber work in several movements usually light in character 3 : diversion, entertainment Examples: For visitors seeking more cerebral divertissement, the city boasts a fine performing arts center. "These are the...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 17, 2012 is: pungent • \PUN-junt\  • adjective 1 : having a sharp point 2 : marked by a sharp incisive quality 3 a : causing a sharp or irritating sensation b : having an intense flavor or odor Examples: Toni likes to add pungent habaneros to her chili to give it an extra spicy kick. "The locker room door swung open and a glorious mix of Tom Petty music a...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 16, 2012 is: ahimsa • \uh-HIM-sah\  • noun : the Hindu and Buddhist doctrine of refraining from harming any living being Examples: The young man has renounced his violent past and now adheres to the doctrine of ahimsa. "There are few schools, particularly in the yoga stronghold of New York City, that don't offer some sort of ethical framework to their stu...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 15, 2012 is: exigent • \EK-suh-junt\  • adjective 1 : requiring immediate aid or action 2 : requiring or calling for much : demanding Examples: The computer technician complained that customers' requests were becoming increasingly exigent, bordering on unreasonable. "Except in exigent circumstances, citizens are supposed to call the police - not take the...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 14, 2012 is: mandarin • \MAN-drin\  • adjective 1 : of, relating to, or typical of a public official in China 2 : marked by polished ornate complexity of language Examples: "Paradoxically, given his intense intellectuality and mandarin prose, Updike wrote his best work about ordinary life, especially in his tetralogy about Harry 'Rabbit' Angstrom." - From...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 13, 2012 is: catch-22 • \KATCH-twen-tee-TOO\  • noun 1 : a problematic situation for which the only solution is denied by a circumstance inherent in the problem or by a rule; also : the circumstance or rule that denies a solution 2 : an illogical, unreasonable, or senseless situation Examples: Following her graduation from college, Kelsey struggled with t...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 12, 2012 is: commemorate • \kuh-MEM-uh-rayt\  • verb 1 : to call to remembrance 2 : to mark by some ceremony or observation : observe 3 : to serve as a memorial of Examples: A plaque commemorates the battle that took place on the spot 200 years ago. "Pictorial postmarks are event postmarks offered by the Postal Service to commemorate local community event...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 11, 2012 is: benevolent • \buh-NEV-uh-lunt\  • adjective 1 a : marked by or disposed to doing good b : organized for the purpose of doing good 2 : marked by or suggestive of goodwill Examples: Jody's grandmother was a benevolent lady who enjoyed performing random acts of kindness for both her family and strangers. "This benevolent festival supports the no...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 10, 2012 is: verjuice • \VER-jooss\  • noun : the sour juice of crab apples or of unripe fruit; also : an acid liquor made from verjuice Examples: "The other women took to their Bibles and hymn-books, and looked as sour as verjuice over their reading - a result, which I have observed, in my sphere of life, to follow generally on the performance of acts of...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 9, 2012 is: incorrigible • \in-KOR-uh-juh-bul\  • adjective 1 : incapable of being corrected, amended, or reformed 2 : not manageable : unruly 3 : unalterable, inveterate Examples: Neil was such an incorrigible slob that his parents eventually gave up nagging him about cleaning his room and simply told him to keep the door closed. "We first meet Moe, Larr...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 8, 2012 is: shell game • \SHEL-GAYM\  • noun 1 : thimblerig played especially with three walnut shells 2 : fraud; especially : a swindle involving the substitution of something of little or no value for a valuable item Examples: The company has been accused of playing an elaborate shell game in which investors are the ultimate losers. "Bill Abersold will...