Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 13, 2008 is: lionize • \LYE-uh-nyze\  • verb 1 : to treat as an object of great interest or importance 2 : to show the sights of a place to Examples: After his successful first novel, critics lionized the young writer as a literary virtuoso, though he has yet to replicate the feat. Did you know? The lion is traditionally regarded as the king of beasts, an...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 12, 2008 is: triptych • \TRIP-tik\  • noun 1 : an ancient Roman writing tablet with three waxed leaves hinged together 2 a : a picture (as an altarpiece) or carving in three panels side by side b : something composed or presented in three parts or sections; especially : trilogy Examples: The artist unveiled an elaborate triptych in which the three panels...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 11, 2008 is: ignominious • \ig-nuh-MIN-ee-us\  • adjective 1 : marked with or characterized by disgrace or shame : dishonorable 2 : deserving of shame or infamy : despicable 3 : humiliating, degrading Examples: The director's first film was an ignominious failure, panned by critics and ignored by moviegoers. Did you know? The "-nom-" of "ignominious" come...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 10, 2008 is: alembic • \uh-LEM-bik\  • noun 1 : an apparatus used in distillation 2 : something that refines or transmutes as if by distillation Examples: In the alembic of the child's mind, the ratty old blanket became a magnificent cape. Did you know? The alembic is a kind of still that has been used since ancient times and continues to be used even tod...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 9, 2008 is: career • \kuh-REER\  • verb : to go at top speed especially in a headlong manner Examples: The nervous passengers gripped their seats and exchanged anxious looks as the bus careered down the icy road. Did you know? Chances are you're very familiar with the noun "career" meaning "a profession followed as a permanent occupation." What you may no...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 8, 2008 is: wahine • \wah-HEE-nee\  • noun 1 : a Polynesian woman 2 : a female surfer Examples: "Make some serious waves this summer by learning to surf! Ridin' the swells is fab exercise and, well, what's cooler than a wahine girl?" (Girls' Life, June 2005) Did you know? The word "wahine" came into English in the late 18th century from Maori, the languag...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 7, 2008 is: weltanschauung • \VELT-ahn-show-ung ("ow" as in "cow")\  • noun, often capitalized : a comprehensive conception or apprehension of the world especially from a specific standpoint Examples: Nadia dreads visiting her cousin, whose narrow, provincial Weltanschauung contrasts sharply with her own open-minded view of the world. Did you know? The Ge...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 6, 2008 is: turpitude • \TER-puh-tood\  • noun : inherent baseness : depravity; also : a base act Examples: The judge declared that the murders were the product of a gross moral turpitude. Did you know? "Turpitude" came to English from Latin by way of Middle French. The Latin word "turpitudo" comes from "turpis," which means "vile" or "base." The word is...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 5, 2008 is: macadam • \muh-KAD-um\  • noun : a roadway or pavement of small closely packed broken stone Examples: We left the old city with much regret, passing from its quaint cobblestones to lumpy macadam, leaving our vacation behind and returning reluctantly to the workaday world. Did you know? In 1783, inventor John Loudon McAdam returned to his nativ...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 4, 2008 is: inalienable • \in-AY-lee-uh-nuh-bul\  • adjective : incapable of being alienated, surrendered, or transferred Examples: "Just because I can use my work e-mail for personal correspondence doesn't mean I have the inalienable right to do so," Brian explained. Did you know? "Alien," "alienable," "inalienable" -- it's easy enough to see the Latin w...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 3, 2008 is: peregrine • \PAIR-uh-grin\  • adjective : having a tendency to wander Examples: "Birders are peregrine by nature, typically traveling to distant destinations in pursuit of their hobby. . .." (James F. McCarty, Plain Dealer [Cleveland], June 1, 2006) Did you know? The current meaning of "peregrine" has wandered a bit from its earlier meanings....

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 2, 2008 is: reify • \RAY-uh-fye\  • verb : to regard (something abstract) as a material or concrete thing : to give definite content and form to (something abstract) Examples: "He describes the phenomenal popularity of Edwin Markham's proletarian poem 'The Man With the Hoe,' which reified labor's feelings of injustice." (Neal Gabler, The Washington Post,...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 1, 2008 is: trichotillomania • \trick-uh-till-uh-MAY-nee-uh\  • noun : an abnormal desire to pull out one's hair Examples: Connie's trichotillomania left her with an unfortunate array of bald spots along the crown of her head. Did you know? The word "trichotillomania" derives from the Greek "trich-" ("hair") and "tillein" ("to pull or pluck"), along with...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 30, 2008 is: decimate • \DESS-uh-mayt\  • verb 1 : to take or destroy the tenth part of 2 : to cause great destruction or harm to Examples: Farmers struggled to feed their families after their crops were decimated by blight. Did you know? The connection between "decimate" and the number ten harks back to a brutal practice of the army of ancient Rome. A un...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 29, 2008 is: jog trot • \JOG-TROT\  • noun 1 : a horse's slow measured trot 2 : a routine habit or course of action Examples: The weekly Friday-night dances provided the townsfolk with a few hours of respite from the jog trot of life. Did you know? The jog trot is a kind of careful, deliberate trot that is sometimes required at horse shows, among other th...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 28, 2008 is: sentient • \SEN-shee-unt\  • adjective 1 : responsive to or conscious of sense impressions 2 : aware 3 : finely sensitive in perception or feeling Examples: "Pets are sentient beings, just like you and me," explained Ted, "so it's important to treat them kindly." Did you know? You may have guessed that "sentient" has something to do with the...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 27, 2008 is: euphuism • \YOO-fyuh-wiz-um\  • noun 1 : an elegant Elizabethan literary style marked by excessive use of balance, antithesis, and alliteration and by frequent use of similes drawn from mythology and nature 2 : artificial elegance of language Examples: Cora, given to euphuism, exclaimed, "Oh, glorious auroral orb!" and Paul agreed, "Yeah, nic...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 26, 2008 is: bespoke • \bih-SPOHK\  • adjective 1 : custom-made 2 : dealing in or producing custom-made articles Examples: The shop employs renowned tailors who create the finest bespoke suits from luxurious cloths. Did you know? In the English language of yore, the verb "bespeak" had various meanings, including "to speak," "to accuse," and "to complain."...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 25, 2008 is: atoll • \AT-tawl\  • noun : a coral island consisting of a reef surrounding a lagoon Examples: The Marshall Islands, in the central Pacific Ocean, consist of five islands and 29 atolls, which are each made up of many islets. Did you know? If you are lucky enough to sail south and west of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean, you'll find the Maldives...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 24, 2008 is: procrustean • \pruh-KRUSS-tee-un\  • adjective 1 : of, relating to, or typical of Procrustes 2 : marked by arbitrary often ruthless disregard of individual differences or special circumstances Examples: The company abandoned its procrustean scheduling policy and began allowing single mothers and other employees to work more flexible hours. Di...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 23, 2008 is: nocebo • \noh-SEE-boh\  • noun : a harmless substance that when taken by a patient is associated with harmful effects due to negative expectations or the psychological condition of the patient Examples: Patients given the nocebo reported mild to severe headaches. Did you know? "Nocent" has been in the English language as a word for "harmful"...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 22, 2008 is: conscientious • \kahn-shee-EN-shus\  • adjective 1 : governed by or conforming to the dictates of conscience : scrupulous 2 : meticulous, careful Examples: Carolyn was very conscientious in her research, exploring every possible influence and outcome before preparing her final report. Did you know? According to American writer and editor H.L....

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 21, 2008 is: restaurateur • \res-tuh-ruh-TER\  • noun : the operator or proprietor of a restaurant Examples: Fred began his career in the food-service industry as a humble busboy, but today he is a successful restaurateur who recently opened his third eating establishment. Did you know? "Restaurateur" and "restaurant" were borrowed directly from related F...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 20, 2008 is: sacrilegious • \sak-ruh-LIJ-us\  • adjective 1 : committing or characterized by a technical and not necessarily intrinsically outrageous violation (as improper reception of a sacrament) of what is sacred because consecrated to God 2 : grossly irreverent toward a hallowed person, place, or thing Examples: My great-grandfather was a die-hard Ne...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 19, 2008 is: litotes • \LYE-tuh-teez\  • noun : understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of the contrary Examples: Jamie blushingly acknowledged her victory by litotes, saying that her scores were "not bad" and that she was "not displeased" with her performance. Did you know? Even if you've never heard the word "litotes," chance...