Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 14, 2008 is: mash • \MASH\  • noun : an intense and usually passing infatuation; also : the object of infatuation Examples: I think Daisy has a mash on you -- you should ask her to the Valentine's Day dance. Did you know? Those shot by Cupid's arrow know that love can spur a desire to hold one's beloved tightly and never let go. Perhaps that embracing...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 13, 2008 is: dégringolade • \day-gran-guh-LAHD\  • noun : a rapid decline or deterioration (as in strength, position, or condition) : downfall Examples: The journalist's reputation never recovered from the dégringolade that ensued when it was discovered that he had plagiarized another's work. Did you know? If "dégringolade" looks French to you, you ha...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 12, 2008 is: collegium • \kuh-LEG-ee-um\  • noun : a group in which each member has approximately equal power and authority Examples: Each paper published by the journal has been approved by a collegium of scientists. Did you know? English contains many words that were borrowed from Latin, either directly or often by way of French, which began to infl...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 11, 2008 is: philippic • \fuh-LIP-ik\  • noun : a discourse or declamation full of bitter condemnation : tirade Examples: The columnist's most recent philippic took the governor to task for her neglect of education reform in light of declining test scores throughout the state. Did you know? In 351 B.C., the Greek orator Demosthenes delivered a fiery s...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 10, 2008 is: truckle • \TRUCK-ul\  • verb : to act in a subservient manner : submit Examples: Jumana decided that she had had enough of her older sister's demands and vowed not to truckle to her anymore. Did you know? When "truckle" was first used in English in the 15th century, it meant "small wheel" or "pulley." Such small wheels were often attached...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 9, 2008 is: gadfly • \GAD-flye\  • noun 1 : any of various flies (as a horsefly, botfly, or warble fly) that bite or annoy livestock 2 : a person who stimulates or annoys especially by persistent criticism Examples: Robert, the self-appointed gadfly of the local paper, would write a scathing letter to the editor whenever he felt the news coverage had...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 8, 2008 is: sitzmark • \SITS-mark\  • noun : a depression left in the snow by a skier falling backward Examples: Proper skiing etiquette dictates that a skier who falls in the middle of a trail should smooth over his or her sitzmark so it won't pose a hazard to other skiers. Did you know? On the slopes, do you zip down the mountain leaving other skier...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 7, 2008 is: nebula • \NEB-yuh-luh\  • noun 1 : any of numerous clouds of gas or dust in interstellar space 2 : galaxy; especially : a galaxy other than the Milky Way Examples: The brilliant colors of the nebula were visible through the telescope. Did you know? The history of today's word is not lost in the mists of time, although its history does get...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 6, 2008 is: haplology • \hap-LAH-luh-jee\  • noun : contraction of a word by omission of one or more similar sounds or syllables Examples: Johnny's teacher, determined to stomp out any instances of haplology in her classroom, corrected him every time he pronounced "probably" as "problee." Did you know? Try to say "pierced-ear earrings" three times fas...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 5, 2008 is: scission • \SIZH-un\  • noun 1 : a division or split in a group or union : schism 2 : an action or process of cutting, dividing, or splitting : the state of being cut, divided, or split Examples: Despite the bitter scissions that divided their party, the Republicans dominated the state's political scene throughout the 1990s. Did you know?...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 4, 2008 is: luminary • \LOO-muh-nair-ee\  • noun 1 : a person of prominence or brilliant achievement 2 : a body that gives light; especially : one of the celestial bodies Examples: The front of the science building is engraved with the names of luminaries from various scientific disciplines. Did you know? Allow us to shed some light on "luminary." It...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 3, 2008 is: pamphleteer • \pam-fluh-TEER\  • verb 1 : to write and publish pamphlets 2 : to engage in partisan arguments indirectly in writings Examples: Though he is remembered today for his novels and essays, George Orwell was also known to pamphleteer for causes important to him. Did you know? Pamphlets, unbound printed publications with no covers...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 2, 2008 is: cohort • \KOH-hort\  • noun 1 a : one of 10 divisions of an ancient Roman legion b : band, group c : a group of individuals having a statistical factor (as age or class membership) in common in a demographic study 2 : companion, colleague Examples: "A cohort of chambermaids would descend twice daily with mops, brooms, and fresh towels in t...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 1, 2008 is: assuage • \uh-SWAYJ\  • verb 1 : to lessen the intensity of (something that pains or distresses) : ease 2 : pacify, quiet 3 : to put an end to by satisfying : appease, quench Examples: After her son's first fender bender, Patty tried to assuage his feelings of humiliation by sharing tales of her own misadventures behind the wheel. Did you...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 31, 2008 is: jehu • \JEE-hyoo\  • noun : a driver of a coach or cab Examples: The jehu who picked us up from the hotel got us to the airport in plenty of time, but his reckless driving gave us more of an adventure than we would have liked. Did you know? Today's word comes from the name of a notoriously speedy chariot driver. Originally a commander of c...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 30, 2008 is: beholden • \bih-HOHL-dun\  • adjective : being under obligation for a favor or gift : indebted Examples: Tom understood that Mrs. Milton disliked being beholden to anyone, so he usually let her give him a dollar or two when he mowed her lawn or shoveled her driveway. Did you know? Have you ever found yourself under obligation to someone el...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 29, 2008 is: Lucullan • \loo-KULL-un\  • adjective : lavish, luxurious Examples: The banquet guests were treated to a Lucullan feast in the royal dining room. Did you know? "Lucullan" echoes the name of Roman general Lucius Licinius Lucullus. The general had a distinguished military career (including the defeat of Mithradates VI Eupator, king of Pontus...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 28, 2008 is: albeit • \awl-BEE-it\  • conjunction : conceding the fact that : even though : although Examples: Troy has finally landed a role in a Broadway play, albeit as a minor character. Did you know? In the middle of the 20th century, several usage commentators observed that the "archaic" word "albeit" was making a comeback. The "archaic" descript...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 27, 2008 is: solon • \SOH-lun\  • noun 1 : a wise and skillful lawgiver 2 : a member of a legislative body Examples: "The bill will likely look quite different by the time the solons in Congress are through with it," the pundit remarked. Did you know? Solon was a particularly wise lawgiver in ancient Athens who was born in approximately 630 B.C. and li...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 26, 2008 is: immutable • \ih-MYOO-tuh-bul\  • adjective : not capable of or susceptible to change Examples: "Emboldened local farmers, whose diets had for the past 200 years been nearly as immutable as those of their horses, began to drift over to the sushi bar to see what . . . was going on." (William Hamilton, Gourmet, October 2003) Did you know? "Im...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 25, 2008 is: foozle • \FOO-zul\  • verb : to manage or play awkwardly : bungle Examples: Carl thought he had an easy putt lined up for a birdie, but instead he foozled the shot and hooked the ball to the left. Did you know? "Foozle" dates only to the late 19th century, but its origins are obscure. The German dialect verb "fuseln" ("to work carelessly")...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 24, 2008 is: cabal • \kuh-BAHL\  • noun 1 : the artifices and intrigues of a group of persons secretly united in a plot (as to overturn a government); also : a group engaged in such artifices and intrigues 2 : club, group Examples: The journalist uncovered evidence that a cabal of power brokers was plotting to overthrow the government. Did you know? In...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 23, 2008 is: fletcher • \FLETCH-er\  • noun : a maker of arrows Examples: The fletcher presented the village's archery champion with his most recent design, an arrow crafted to travel in a steady course through any headwind. Did you know? "Fletcher" is one of a number of English words that once commonly referred to occupations but are now better known...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 22, 2008 is: adjuvant • \AJ-uh-vunt\  • adjective 1 : serving to aid or contribute : auxiliary 2 : assisting in the prevention, amelioration, or cure of disease Examples: Dr. Browne and his research team are running a clinical trial to test the effectiveness of adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery. Did you know? Things that are adjuvant rarely get top b...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 21, 2008 is: devolve • \dih-VAHLV\  • verb 1 a : to pass by transmission or succession b : to fall or be passed usually as a responsibility or obligation 2 : to come by or as if by flowing down 3 : to degenerate through a gradual change or evolution Examples: Our book club's discussions used to be thought-provoking literary debates, but lately they've...