Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 1, 2011 is: obsequious • \ub-SEE-kwee-us\  • adjective : marked by or exhibiting a fawning attentiveness Examples: The executive brought with him an entourage of obsequious assistants who would do anything he asked of them. "The staff are amazing, ever-helpful without being obsequious, always cheerful (generally) and quick to join in the laughter and b...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 30, 2011 is: gridiron • \GRID-eye-ern\  • noun 1 : a grate for broiling food 2 : something consisting of or covered with a network 3 : a football field Examples: The former quarterback looked out at the field, recalling his many moments of glory on the gridiron. "In the spirit of the gridiron, Jets star quarterback Mark Sanchez offers his best portra...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 29, 2011 is: factitious • \fak-TISH-us\  • adjective 1 : produced by humans rather than by natural forces 2 : not natural or genuine : artificial Examples: Terry had the distinct feeling that her host's British accent was factitious -- part of an act designed to distance him even further from those around him. "The energy generated here often feels f...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 28, 2011 is: moiety • \MOY-uh-tee\  • noun 1 a : one of two equal parts : half b : one of two approximately equal parts 2 : one of the portions into which something is divided : component, part 3 : one of two basic complementary tribal subdivisions Examples: "According to the FDA, a new molecular entity or new chemical entity is a drug that contains...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 27, 2011 is: adapt • \uh-DAPT\  • verb : to make or become fit (as for a specific or new use or situation) often by modification Examples: It took Rachel a while to adapt to her new school, but she is settling in well now. "Despite even lifelong exposure to a cooler climate, individuals can physically adapt to a hotter one in a matter of weeks, said...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 26, 2011 is: baksheesh • \BAK-sheesh\  • noun : payment (as a tip or bribe) to expedite service Examples: "I’m sure the fact that we got seated so quickly had nothing to do that with that little baksheesh you just slipped the host," said Erica to her dining companion. "Perhaps if the National Association of Barking Treefrogs can send several thousand...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 25, 2011 is: climacteric • \kly-MAK-tuh-rik\  • noun 1 : a major turning point or critical stage 2 a : menopause b : a period in the life of a male corresponding to female menopause 3 : the marked and sudden rise in the respiratory rate of fruit just prior to full ripening Examples: Many historians have attempted to pinpoint the Roman Empire's climac...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 24, 2011 is: impugn • \im-PYOON\  • verb : to assail by words or arguments : oppose or attack as false or lacking integrity Examples: The group has launched a series of negative campaign ads impugning the character of leading candidate. "It is true that the more ammunition the defense has to impugn the general believability of the complainant, the mo...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 23, 2011 is: bildungsroman • \BIL-doonks-roh-mahn\  • noun : a novel about the moral and psychological growth of the main character Examples: While the author’s previous novel was a bildungsroman, her most recent book focuses on trials and tribulations of a family through multiple generations. "Jonathan Safran Foer's exuberant, wildly stylized novel...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 22, 2011 is: ruction • \RUK-shun\  • noun 1 : a noisy fight 2 : disturbance, uproar Examples: The ruction outside the door prompted me to investigate what was going on. "I wrapped my hand around it [the whip], but didn't want to use it and cause a ruction." -- From Damien Broderick’s 2011 novel Time Considered as a Series of Thermite Burns in No Part...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 21, 2011 is: preprandial • \pree-PRAN-dee-ul\  • adjective : of, relating to, or suitable for the time just before dinner Examples: Although dinner was served late, the preprandial conversation was so diverting that no one minded. "Churchill celebrated Christmas with the Roosevelts, took part in FDR's preprandial cocktail hours, shared most meals wit...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 20, 2011 is: condone • \kun-DOHN\  • verb : to regard or treat (something bad or blameworthy) as acceptable, forgivable, or harmless Examples: The school handbook explicitly states that bullying will not be condoned. "A workers' union spokeswoman said the union doesn't condone illegal action of any kind." -- From a wire report on NewsOK.com (Oklahoma...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 19, 2011 is: hamartia • \hah-mahr-TEE-uh\  • noun : tragic flaw Examples: Greed was the hamartia that ultimately brought down the protagonist. "Kara Swisher, the co-executive editor of All Things D, also pointed out that being on TBS might be Conan's hamartia." -- From an article about Conan O'Brien by Michelle Castillo on CBSNEWS.com, August 23, 201...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 18, 2011 is: doughty • \DOW-tee\  • adjective : marked by fearless resolution : valiant Examples: When little Liza saw the neighborhood bullies picking on one of the younger boys the doughty girl marched up to them and demanded that they stop at once. "The [white bass](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/white bass) particularly proved to be d...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 17, 2011 is: bioturbation • \bye-oh-ter-BAY-shun\  • noun : the restructuring of sedimentary deposits (as in a lake bottom or seabed) by moving organisms (as worms and burrowing clams) Examples: "Native oysters are likely even more susceptible to bioturbation from shrimp, but it is unclear whether they formed reefs before they were harvested and how...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 16, 2011 is: wardrobe • \WOR-drohb\  • noun 1 a : a room or closet where clothes are kept b : a receptacle for clothes c : a large trunk in which clothes may be hung upright 2 a : a collection of wearing apparel (as of one person or for one activity) b : a collection of stage costumes and accessories 3 : the department of a royal or noble household e...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 15, 2011 is: stridulate • \STRIJ-uh-layt\  • verb : to make a shrill creaking noise by rubbing together special bodily structures -- used especially of male insects (as crickets or grasshoppers) Examples: Lying in my tent that night, I could hear the campfire crackling and the crickets stridulating and none of the city sounds I was accustomed to. "Wa...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 14, 2011 is: haruspex • \huh-RUSS-peks\  • noun : a diviner in ancient Rome basing his predictions on inspection of the entrails of sacrificial animals Examples: The haruspex declared that the outcome of the battle would be favorable. "The coroner-cum-haruspex will divine the mystery of her death, read the entrails of the bird that flew too far and t...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 13, 2011 is: solace • \SAH-lus\  • noun 1 : alleviation of grief or anxiety 2 : a source of relief or consolation Examples: After her husband’s death, Mary often found solace in reminiscing about him with their mutual friends. "In the last few years, Niagara Hospice has added creative services to its repertoire of solace and comfort, and found more w...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 12, 2011 is: perpend • \per-PEND\  • verb 1 : to reflect on carefully : ponder 2 : to be attentive : reflect Examples: "The man perpended, and when he replied did so after the style of the late and great Ollendorf." -- From P. G. Wodehouse's 1903 book A Prefect's Uncle "I find the practice [of astrology] harmless, and it occasionally serves as a hand...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 11, 2011 is: megrim • \MEE-grim\  • noun 1 a : migraine b : vertigo, dizziness 2 a : fancy, whim b : low spirits Examples: Cathy’s friends tried to convince her that a night on the town would help to alleviate her megrims, but she wasn’t buying it. "Sometimes I feigned illness, complaining loudly of pains in my stomach or the violent pangs of a megri...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 10, 2011 is: contumacious • \kahn-too-MAY-shus\  • adjective : stubbornly disobedient : rebellious Examples: "She sat still, looking a little contumacious, and very much indisposed to stir." -- From Charlotte Brontë's 1849 novel Shirley "Americans are taught that the war was a noble conflict waged by Lincoln and the forces of light against misguided...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 9, 2011 is: flatfoot • \FLAT-foot\  • noun 1 : a condition in which the arch of the instep is flattened so that the entire sole rests upon the ground 2 a : slang police officer; especially : a patrolman walking a regular beat b : slang sailor Examples: In his latest movie, the actor plays an earnest flatfoot who is bested by some clever crooks. "Cona...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 8, 2011 is: tutoyer • \tew-twah-YAY\  • verb : to address familiarly Examples: "Yes, now (to the outside world) we were on first-name terms, now to anyone within earshot I tutoyered him." -- From Marie Brenner's 1976 book Tell Me Everything "Perfect strangers tutoyer us or attempt to perpetrate socialite air-kisses near our faces." -- From Glenn O'Br...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 7, 2011 is: marginalia • \mahr-juh-NAY-lee-uh\  • noun 1 : marginal notes or embellishments (as in a book) 2 : nonessential items Examples: "Read between the lines of an old family recipe and you're liable to read the story of the family itself. The scrawled marginalia and cooking stains, the collective memory of shared feasts…." — From an article by...