Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 29, 2008 is: cognizable • \KAHG-nuh-zuh-bul\  • adjective 1 : capable of being judicially heard and determined 2 : capable of being known Examples: The court determined that the plaintiff's claim of having received an unfair grade on the exam was not a legally cognizable action. Did you know? It's easy to recognize the "cogni-" in "cognizable" and in oth...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 28, 2008 is: approbation • \ap-ruh-BAY-shun\  • noun 1 : an act of approving formally or officially 2 : commendation, praise Examples: Some movie producers care more about making a profit than winning the approbation of critics. Did you know? "Approbation" is similar in meaning to "approval," and it is also very close to "approval" etymologically. Both w...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 27, 2008 is: mélange • \may-LAHNZH (the N is not pronounced, but the vowel is nasalized)\  • noun : a mixture often of incongruous elements Examples: Critics panned the new film as an awkward mélange of heavy drama, zany comedy, and overblown special effects. Did you know? "Mélange" got mixed into the melting pot of English back in the 1600s. It derives...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 26, 2008 is: orientate • \OR-ee-un-tayt\  • verb 1 : to set in a definite position especially in relation the points of the compass 2 : to acquaint with an existing situation or environment 3 : to direct toward the interests of a particular group Examples: "She learned to orientate new service members in the principles, practices and tools necessary to f...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 25, 2008 is: avatar • \AV-uh-tar\  • noun 1 : the incarnation of a Hindu deity (as Vishnu) 2 a : an incarnation in human form b : an embodiment (as of a concept or philosophy) often in a person 3 : an electronic image that represents and is manipulated by a computer user (as in a computer game) Examples: Before they started playing the game, Aaron and Ky...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 24, 2008 is: inanition • \in-uh-NISH-un\  • noun 1 : the exhausted condition that results from lack of food and water 2 : the absence or loss of social, moral, or intellectual vitality or vigor Examples: The playwright explained that his work reflected the lethargy and inanition of the age. Did you know? "Inanition" describes a state of suffering from ei...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 23, 2008 is: truculent • \TRUCK-yuh-lunt\  • adjective 1 : feeling or displaying ferocity : cruel, savage 2 : deadly, destructive 3 : scathingly harsh : vitriolic 4 : aggressively self-assertive : belligerent Examples: The small country was ruled by a truculent dictator. Did you know? "Truculent" derives from "truculentus," a form of the Latin adjective...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 22, 2008 is: biodiversity • \bye-oh-duh-VER-suh-tee\  • noun : biological diversity in an environment as indicated by numbers of different species of plants and animals Examples: Today's tropical rainforests represent a treasure trove of biodiversity unmatched in any other environment. Did you know? "Biodiversity may become the rallying call for the next...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 21, 2008 is: containerize • \kun-TAY-nuh-ryze\  • verb 1 : to ship by a method in which a large amount of material (as merchandise) is packaged into large standardized containers 2 : to pack in containers Examples: The museum plans to containerize the pieces of the art collection until construction of a new exhibit area is complete. Did you know? You can...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 20, 2008 is: petulant • \PET-chuh-lunt\  • adjective 1 : insolent or rude in speech or behavior 2 : characterized by temporary or capricious ill humor : peevish Examples: "'What is it all about?' cried Dorian in his petulant way, flinging himself down on the sofa." (Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray) Did you know? "Petulant" is one of many English...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 19, 2008 is: quixotic • \kwik-SAH-tik\  • adjective 1 : foolishly impractical especially in the pursuit of ideals; especially : marked by rash lofty romantic ideas or extravagantly chivalrous action 2 : capricious, unpredictable Examples: Marta has been desperately trying to convince her friends to give up their cars and computers and return to nature on...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 18, 2008 is: rescript • \REE-skript\  • noun 1 : a written answer of a Roman emperor or of a pope to a legal inquiry or petition 2 : an official or authoritative order, decree, edict, or announcement 3 : an act or instance of rewriting Examples: The committee agreed on a rescript of the rules. Did you know? "Rescript" was first used in the 15th century f...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 17, 2008 is: démarche • \day-MARSH\  • noun 1 a : a course of action : maneuver b : a diplomatic or political initiative or maneuver 2 : a petition or protest presented through diplomatic channels Examples: The ambassador delivered a démarche objecting to the regime's harsh treatment of refugees. Did you know? When it comes to international diplomacy, th...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 16, 2008 is: semelparous • \seh-MEL-puh-rus\  • adjective : reproducing or breeding only once in a lifetime Examples: Each year the semelparous salmon return to the stream where they hatched to spawn, and they die soon thereafter. Did you know? The combining form "-parous" was first used in English by the 17th-century physician and writer Sir Thomas Brow...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 15, 2008 is: detoxify • \dee-TAHK-suh-fye\  • verb 1 a : to remove a harmful substance (as a poison or toxin) or the effect of such from b : to render (a harmful substance) harmless 2 : to free (as a drug user or an alcoholic) from an intoxicating or an addictive substance in the body or from dependence on or addiction to such a substance 3 : neutralize...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 14, 2008 is: deglutition • \dee-gloo-TISH-un\  • noun : the act or process of swallowing Examples: The speech pathologist noted that the patient had difficulty with deglutition. Did you know? "Deglutition" comes to us from the French word "déglutition," which is derived from the Latin verb "deglutire," meaning "to swallow down." "Deglutire," in turn, der...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 13, 2008 is: paucity • \PAW-suh-tee\  • noun 1 : smallness of number : fewness 2 : smallness of quantity : dearth Examples: The manager overheard two customers complaining about the paucity of stylish designs in the store. Did you know? "Paucity," which was first recorded in English in the 15th century, comes to us from the Middle English word "paucite,"...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 12, 2008 is: ascetic • \uh-SET-ik\  • adjective 1 : practicing strict self-denial as a measure of personal and especially spiritual discipline 2 : austere in appearance, manner, or attitude Examples: Ms. Walter's plain, dark clothing and pulled-back hair give her an ascetic appearance, but she is actually very warm and fun-loving. Did you know? "Ascetic"...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 11, 2008 is: alley-oop • \al-ee-OOP\  • noun : a basketball play in which a leaping player catches a pass above the basket and immediately dunks the ball; also : the usually looping pass thrown on such a play Examples: "With alley-oops, slam dunks and big smiles, the West [All-Stars] showed why Friday night's contest was called an all-star game . . ." (P...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 10, 2008 is: velleity • \vuh-LEE-uh-tee\  • noun 1 : the lowest degree of volition 2 : a slight wish or tendency : inclination Examples: Samuel sometimes mentions that he would like to go back to school, but his interest strikes me as more of a velleity than a firm statement of purpose. Did you know? Allow us, if you will, to volunteer our knowledge abou...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 9, 2008 is: stygian • \STIJ-ee-un\  • adjective, often capitalized 1 : of or relating to the river Styx 2 : extremely dark, gloomy, or forbidding Examples: When the power went out in the building, the halls and stairwells were plunged into stygian darkness. Did you know? "Stygian" comes to us (by way of Latin "stygius" and Greek "stygios") from "Styx," t...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 8, 2008 is: anthropomorphic • \an-thruh-puh-MOR-fik\  • adjective 1 : described or thought of as having a human form or human attributes 2 : ascribing human characteristics to nonhuman things Examples: To encourage healthy eating habits, the children's TV show features anthropomorphic fruits and vegetables that talk about good nutrition. Did you know? "A...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 7, 2008 is: luftmensch • \LOOFT-mensh (the "OO" is as in "foot")\  • noun : an impractical contemplative person having no definite business or income Examples: I worry that my nephew, who has several advanced degrees but no practical skills, will be a luftmensch all his life. Did you know? Are you someone who always seems to have your head in the clouds?...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 6, 2008 is: presentiment • \prih-ZENT-uh-munt\  • noun : a feeling that something will or is about to happen : premonition Examples: Beth had a presentiment that something out of the ordinary was going to happen, and, sure enough, she soon got a phone call from her estranged brother. Did you know? "'Do you ever have presentiments, Mr. Flintwich?' 'I am n...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 5, 2008 is: spinous • \SPY-nuss\  • adjective 1 a : covered or armed with spines; broadly : bearing spines, prickles, or thorns b : slender and pointed like a spine 2 : difficult or unpleasant to handle or meet : thorny Examples: Both Kate and Nelson were uncomfortable answering the spinous, prying questions asked by their marriage counselor. Did you kno...