Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 19, 2010 is: translucent • \trans-LOO-sunt\  • adjective 1 : not transparent but clear enough to allow light to pass through 2 : free from disguise or falseness Examples: The translucent window glass gave us enough daylight to work without allowing people standing outside to see in. Did you know? Look closely and you will see the same three letters in "tra...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 18, 2010 is: gravamen • \gruh-VAY-mun\  • noun : the material or significant part of a grievance or complaint Examples: The gravamen of Walter's letter to the editor was that the newspaper frequently reported on the school system's failures but rarely covered its successes and improvements. Did you know? "Gravamen" is not a word you hear every day, but it...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 17, 2010 is: embezzle • \im-BEZZ-ul\  • verb : to appropriate (as property entrusted to one's care) fraudulently to one's own use Examples: The company’s senior accounts manager was able to embezzle thousands of dollars from his employer by way of a loophole in accounting procedures. Did you know? English has a lot of verbs that mean to steal -- some more...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 16, 2010 is: Promethean • \pruh-MEE-thee-un\  • adjective : of, relating to, or resembling Prometheus, his experiences, or his art; especially : daringly original or creative Examples: The Olympics showcase Promethean performances by athletes who are always pushing the limits of human ability. Did you know? As some versions of the story go in Greek mytholo...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 15, 2010 is: derrick • \DAIR-ik\  • noun 1 : a hoisting apparatus employing a tackle rigged at the end of a beam 2 : a framework or tower over a deep drill hole (as of an oil well) for supporting boring tackle or for hoisting and lowering Examples: "But there is another type of field that is equally important to Kern County; the oil field, with its derrick...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 14, 2010 is: substantive • \SUB-stun-tiv\  • adjective : having substance : involving matters of major or practical importance to all concerned Examples: “There are substantive gestures available to a President that do not involve the use of force or photo ops.” (Joe Klein, Time, December 8, 2008) Did you know? "Substantive" was borrowed into Middle Englis...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 13, 2010 is: mirage • \muh-RAHZH\  • noun 1 : an illusion sometimes seen at sea, in the desert, or over hot pavement that looks like a pool of water or a mirror in which distant objects are seen inverted 2 : something illusory and unattainable like a mirage Examples: "Over the sunny dunes, those distant childhood promises of a better tomorrow shimmer like...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 12, 2010 is: fructuous • \FRUK-chuh-wus\  • adjective : fruitful Examples: "The parents in our 1924 drama, like most parents past and forevermore, are praying mainly for a sound baby, with all the stuff for a long, fructuous life." (Ed Hayes, Orlando Sentinel, May 11, 2008) Did you know? In Latin the word "fructus" means both "fruit" and "enjoyment" or "us...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 11, 2010 is: navel-gazing • \NAY-vul-GAY-zing\  • noun : useless or excessive self-contemplation Examples: Instead of more of the feel-good lyrics and beats that launched her to stardom, the songs on the diva’s sophomore release border on tedious philosophizing and navel-gazing. Did you know? If you are scratching your head over something, then you are pro...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 10, 2010 is: yeasty • \YEE-stee\  • adjective 1 : of, relating to, or resembling yeast 2 a : immature, unsettled b : marked by change c : full of vitality d : frivolous Examples: "In that yeasty time in the mid-sixties when I went to work as a reporter in Paris, the world was about to pop." (Raymond Sokolov, Why We Eat What We Eat) Did you know? The word "...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 9, 2010 is: elephantiasis • \el-uh-fun-TYE-uh-sis\  • noun 1 : enlargement and thickening of tissues; specifically : the enormous enlargement of a limb or the scrotum caused by obstruction of lymphatics by filarial worms 2 : an undesirable usually enormous growth, enlargement, or overdevelopment Examples: "Their feature film debuts with stylish efficiency...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 8, 2010 is: hoity-toity • \hoy-tee-TOY-tee\  • adjective Examples: "I’m a simple man with down-home values," said Ray. "You won’t catch me hanging out with the hoity-toity crowd at trendy art galleries or chichi nightclubs." Did you know? Today we most often use "hoity-toity" as an adjective, but before it was an adjective it was a noun meaning "thoughtles...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 7, 2010 is: intoxicate • \in-TAHK-suh-kayt\  • verb 1 : poison 2 a : to excite or stupefy by alcohol or a drug especially to the point where physical and mental control is markedly diminished b : to excite or elate to the point of enthusiasm or frenzy Examples: “He encouraged them, cajoled them, tried to intoxicate them with learning....” (Luisa Yanez, The...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 6, 2010 is: plagiary • \PLAY-jee-air-ee\  • noun 1 : one that plagiarizes 2 : plagiarism Examples: It’s still unclear if the historian was engaged in deliberate plagiary or was simply sloppy with the citation of his sources. Did you know? "Plagiarius," the Latin source of "plagiary," literally means "kidnapper." "Plagiarius" has its roots in the noun "plag...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 5, 2010 is: nosocomial • \nah-suh-KOH-mee-ul\  • adjective : acquired or occurring in a hospital Examples: Mariah had expected to be out of the hospital today, but she was told that she had developed a nosocomial infection that would need to be monitored by the staff for at least 24 hours. Did you know? "Nosocomial" is a word that usually occurs in formal...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 4, 2010 is: sarcasm • \SAHR-kaz-um\  • noun 1 : a sharp and often satirical or ironic utterance designed to cut or give pain 2 a : a mode of satirical wit depending for its effect on bitter, caustic, and often ironic language that is usually directed against an individual b : the use or language of sarcasm Examples: "I grew up with an indifferent mother in...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 3, 2010 is: repine • \rih-PYNE\  • verb 1 : to feel or express dejection or discontent : complain 2 : to long for something Examples: "They saw less of each other, and Robyn was aware that this did not cause her to repine as much as perhaps it should have done." (David Lodge, Nice Work) Did you know? In longing, one can "repine over" something ("repining o...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 2, 2010 is: artifice • \AHR-tuh-fus\  • noun 1 a : clever or artful skill : ingenuity b : an ingenious device or expedient 2 a : an artful stratagem : trick b : false or insincere behavior Examples: "When it comes to beauty and fashion, it's all about artifice and deception…. We lengthen our lashes, paint our nails and lips … and always and forever are on...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 1, 2010 is: pianistic • \pee-uh-NISS-tik\  • adjective 1 : of, relating to, or characteristic of the piano 2 : skilled in or well adapted to piano playing Examples: “[Pianist Yuja] Wang performed as if she were claiming ownership of some of Prokofiev's pianistic ideas.” (Edward Ortiz, Sacramento Bee [California], May 23, 2009) Did you know? The origin of "...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 30, 2010 is: spelunker • \spih-LUNK-er\  • noun : one who makes a hobby of exploring and studying caves Examples: Our favorite B horror movie is about a group of spelunkers who discover a colony of zombies in a cavern. Did you know? "Spelunker" sounds like the noise a pebble makes when you drop it down a deep hole and into dark, hidden water far below. B...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 29, 2010 is: palimpsest • \PAL-imp-sest\  • noun 1 : writing material (as a parchment or tablet) used one or more times after earlier writing has been erased 2 : something having usually diverse layers or aspects apparent beneath the surface Examples: "Canada, like any country, is a palimpsest, an overlay of classes and generations." (Margaret Atwood, Ne...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 28, 2010 is: clement • \KLEM-unt\  • adjective 1 : inclined to be merciful : lenient 2 : mild Examples: Alex Marsh is considered a clement judge -- the type who lets first-time offenders off the hook and gives repeat offenders the minimum required jail time. Did you know? Defendants in court cases probably don't spend much time worrying about inclement w...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 27, 2010 is: soi-disant • \swah-dee-ZAHNG (the NG is not pronounced, but the vowel is nasal\  • adjective : self-proclaimed, so-called Examples: "It's one of the few soi-disant walking boots we've seen this month that you might be able to, you know, walk in." (The Times [London], March 3, 2010) Did you know? "Soi-disant," which in French means literally...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 26, 2010 is: spilth • \SPILTH\  • noun 1 : the act or an instance of spilling 2 a : something spilled b : refuse, rubbish Examples: "A spilth of water fell from the bird as it climbed through the hot air to clear the lakeside trees, and a drop of lake water clung for a moment to the leaf of an ilex." (Mervyn Peake, Titus Groan) Did you know? "Spilth" is...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 25, 2010 is: repartee • \rep-er-TEE\  • noun 1 a : a quick and witty reply b : a succession or interchange of clever retorts : amusing and usually light sparring with words 2 : adroitness and cleverness in reply Examples: The talk show host is a skillful interviewer whose deft use of repartee and quick-witted banter keeps his show moving at a lively, alm...