Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 6, 2009 is: spindrift • \SPIN-drift\  • noun 1 : sea spray; especially : spray blown from waves during a gale 2 : fine wind-borne snow or sand Examples: "The winds around the mountain were fierce and a long white plume of spindrift trailed from the summit." (Michael Palin, [London] Sunday Times, September 26, 2004) Did you know? "Spindrift" first set s...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 5, 2009 is: avuncular • \uh-VUNK-yuh-ler\  • adjective 1 : of or relating to an uncle 2 : suggestive of an uncle especially in kindliness or geniality Examples: The avuncular orthodontist joked with his young patient, attempting to set her mind at ease about getting fitted for braces. Did you know? Not all uncles are likeable fellows (Hamlet's murderou...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 4, 2009 is: terreplein • \TAIR-uh-playn\  • noun : the level space behind a parapet of a rampart where guns are mounted Examples: Children love to climb on the defunct cannons that sit at each of the old fort's terrepleins, creating a perfect photo op for parents. Did you know? Like "parapet" and "rampart," "terreplein" dates back to the 16th century....

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 3, 2009 is: delate • \dih-LAYT\  • verb 1 : accuse, denounce 2 : report, relate Examples: "In that year Archbishop Blackadder of Glasgow delated some thirty heretics to James IV who let the matter go with a jest." (J.D. Mackie, A History of Scotland) Did you know? To "delate" someone is to "hand down" that person to a court of law. In Latin, "delatus"...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 2, 2009 is: neologism • \nee-AH-luh-jiz-um\  • noun 1 : a new word, usage, or expression 2 : a meaningless word coined by a psychotic Examples: The novelist’s latest book is peppered with numerous slang words and neologisms that might not be familiar to some readers. Did you know? The English language is constantly picking up neologisms. Recently, for...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 1, 2009 is: pukka • \PUCK-uh\  • adjective : genuine, authentic; also : first-class Examples: Ellingsworth stood framed in the door of his club, the picture of a pukka gentleman, immaculately groomed, upper lip appropriately stiff, perfectly genteel. Did you know? "Pukka" tends to evoke the height of 18th- and 19th-century British imperialism in India,...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 30, 2009 is: pabulum • \PAB-yuh-lum\  • noun 1 : food; especially : a suspension or solution of nutrients in a state suitable for absorption 2 : intellectual sustenance 3 : something (as writing or speech) that is insipid, simplistic, or bland Examples: The discovery provides pabulum for the scientific community to ruminate on for decades to come. Di...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 29, 2009 is: glaucous • \GLAW-kus\  • adjective 1 a : of a pale yellow-green color b : of a light bluish-gray or bluish-white color 2 : having a powdery or waxy coating that gives a frosted appearance and tends to rub off Examples: In the early mornings, the lush river valley is often shrouded in a glaucous mist. Did you know? "Glaucous" came to Engl...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 28, 2009 is: deke • \DEEK\  • verb : to fake (an opponent) out of position (as in ice hockey) Examples: With a quick move to the left and then right, the forward deked the remaining defenseman and was left one-on-one with the goalie. Did you know? "Deke" originated as a shortened form of "decoy." Ernest Hemingway used "deke" as a noun referring to hu...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 27, 2009 is: plumply • \PLUMP-lee\  • adverb : in a wholehearted manner and without hesitation or circumlocution : forthrightly Examples: Having taken offense at the remark, Sir Jeffrey plumply asked the man if his insult was intentional. Did you know? In the 14th century, the word "plump" was used for a sound like that of something dropping into wat...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 26, 2009 is: tenderloin • \TEN-der-loyn\  • noun 1 : a strip of tender meat consisting of a large internal muscle of the loin on each side of the vertebral column 2 : a district of a city largely devoted to vice Examples: "Unlike old Saigon, a raucous wartime tenderloin of bars and nightclubs, Orange County is quiet -- except on Saturday nights…." (S...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 25, 2009 is: utile • \YOO-tul\  • adjective : useful Examples: Shaker crafts are simple, meticulously constructed, pleasing to the eye, and eminently utile, all at the same time. Did you know? For over a hundred years before "useful" entered our language, "utile" served us well on its own. We borrowed "utile" from Middle French in the 15th century. T...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 24, 2009 is: cogent • \KOH-junt\  • adjective 1 : having power to compel or constrain 2 a : appealing forcibly to the mind or reason : convincing b : pertinent, relevant Examples: At the town meeting, citizens presented many cogent arguments in support of building a new high school. Did you know? "Trained, knowledgeable agents make cogent suggestions...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 23, 2009 is: popinjay • \PAH-pin-jay\  • noun : a strutting supercilious person Examples: Shopping was going fine until, in one of the boutiques, a popinjay of a sales clerk clearly snubbed us. Did you know? Popinjays and parrots are birds of a feather. "Popinjay," from the Middle French word "papegai," is the original name for a parrot in English. (...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 22, 2009 is: enhance • \in-HANS\  • verb : heighten, increase; especially : to increase or improve in value, quality, desirability, or attractiveness Examples: The newspaper company hopes that including more full-color illustrations and adding extra news features will enhance their product and reverse the decline in circulation. Did you know? When "e...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 21, 2009 is: Laodicean • \lay-ah-duh-SEE-un\  • adjective : lukewarm or indifferent in religion or politics Examples: Evan lamented the Laodicean attitude of his fellow citizens, as evidenced by the low voter turnout on Election Day. Did you know? English speakers owe the word "Laodicean" to Chapter 3, verses 15 and 16 of the Book of Revelation, in w...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 20, 2009 is: sockdolager • \sock-DAH-lih-jer\  • noun 1 : something that settles a matter : a decisive blow or answer : finisher 2 : something outstanding or exceptional Examples: For a while I was completely stumped, but then, all of a sudden, I got a sockdolager of an idea. Did you know? The verb "sock" ("to punch") and the noun "doxology" ("a hymn...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 19, 2009 is: fatuous • \FATCH-oo-us\  • adjective : complacently or inanely foolish : silly Examples: "Fatuous and condescending" is how one reviewer described two of the best-selling self-help books. Did you know? "I am two fools, I know, / For loving, and for saying so / In whining Poetry," wrote John Donne, simultaneously confessing to both infatu...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 18, 2009 is: quodlibet • \KWAHD-luh-bet\  • noun 1 : a philosophical or theological point proposed for disputation; also : a disputation on such a point 2 : a whimsical combination of familiar melodies or texts Examples: "'The Past & the Future' … is an operatic quodlibet, summarizing themes from previous movements, with some classical surprises." (D...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 17, 2009 is: ab ovo • \ab-OH-voh\  • adverb : from the beginning Examples: The documentary presented the history of the city ab ovo, beginning with its inception as a frontier trading post in the 1800s and running through the present. Did you know? "Ab ovo usque ad mala." That phrase translates as "from the egg to the apples," and it was penned by th...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 16, 2009 is: pink • \PINK\  • verb 1 a : to perforate in an ornamental pattern b : to cut a saw-toothed edge on 2 a : pierce, stab b : to wound by irony, criticism, or ridicule Examples: "The sleek curtain requires no sewing; we pinked the edges to add a bit of detail." (Jennie Voorhees, Martha Stewart Living, April 2002) Did you know? Our unabridged...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 15, 2009 is: sternutation • \ster-nyuh-TAY-shun\  • noun : the act, fact, or noise of sneezing Examples: Julie knew that she had put on too much perfume when she entered the car and immediately heard a chorus of sternutation from the passengers. Did you know? "Sternutation" comes from Latin and is a descendant of the verb "sternuere," meaning "to sne...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 14, 2009 is: intestate • \in-TESS-tayt\  • adjective 1 : having made no valid will 2 : not disposed of by will Examples: Mark and Joan worried about what would happen to their child if they died intestate, so they hired a lawyer to draw up a will soon after the baby was born. Did you know? "Intestate" was borrowed into English in the 14th century fro...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 13, 2009 is: peregrination • \pair-uh-gruh-NAY-shun\  • noun : an excursion especially on foot or to a foreign country : journey Examples: The eccentric millionaire set out on a peregrination around the world, in search of the perfect wine to complement his favorite meal. Did you know? We begin our narrative of the linguistic travels of "peregrinatio...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 12, 2009 is: munificent • \myoo-NIF-uh-sunt\  • adjective 1 : very liberal in giving or bestowing : lavish 2 : characterized by great liberality or generosity Examples: At the banquet, the president of the city's performing arts center thanked all the munificent subscribers and sponsors who made the theatrical season a success. Did you know? "Munific...