Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 26, 2007 is: panoply • \PAN-uh-plee\  • noun 1 : a full suit of armor 2 : something forming a protective covering 3 : a magnificent or impressive array Examples: Jeff's house was furnished with a panoply of up-to-date home entertainment devices. Did you know? "Panoply" comes from the Greek word "panoplia," which referred to the full suit of armor worn by...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 25, 2007 is: prevaricate • \prih-VAIR-uh-kayt\  • verb : to deviate from the truth : equivocate Examples: In Henry Fielding's novel Tom Jones, Squire Allworthy demands, "Look you, Mr. Dowling..., do not hesitate nor prevaricate; but answer faithfully and truly to every question I ask." Did you know? "Prevaricate" and its synonyms "lie" and "equivocate" a...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 24, 2007 is: enjoin • \in-JOIN\  • verb 1 : to direct or impose by authoritative order or with urgent admonition 2 a : forbid, prohibit b : to prohibit by a judicial order : put an injunction on Examples: Mr. Alvarez enjoined the class to be quiet, and the stern tone of his voice made everyone obey immediately. Did you know? Which of these words do you t...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 23, 2007 is: drub • \DRUB\  • verb 1 : to beat severely 2 : to berate critically 3 : to defeat decisively Examples: After being drubbed by the worst team in the league, the hometown players slunk into the locker room with their heads hung low. Did you know? Sportswriters often use "drub," but the term's history reveals that it wasn't always a sporting wo...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 22, 2007 is: augur • \AW-gur\  • verb 1 : to foretell especially from omens 2 : to give promise of : presage Examples: California's unusually cold winter does not augur well for the citrus crop. Did you know? Auguring is what augurs did in ancient Rome. These were official diviners whose function it was, not to foretell the future, but to divine whether...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 21, 2007 is: sidereal • \sye-DEER-ee-ul\  • adjective 1 : of or relating to stars or constellations 2 : measured by the apparent motion of the stars Examples: Few astronomers have witnessed the sidereal phenomenon of a supernova. Did you know? In Latin, the word for "heavenly body" is "sidus." Latin speakers used that word to form "desiderare" ("from a h...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 20, 2007 is: perforce • \per-FORSS\  • adverb : by force of circumstances Examples: Lorel and Curt's tiny vineyard produces a limited quantity of top-quality chardonnays that are perforce rather pricey. Did you know? English speakers borrowed "par force" from Anglo-French in the 14th century. "Par" meant "by" (from Latin "per") and the Anglo-French word...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 19, 2007 is: ablution • \uh-BLOO-shun\  • noun 1 a : the washing of one's body or part of it (as in a religious rite) b : the act or action of bathing 2 : a building housing bathing and toilet facilities on a military base Examples: The river that flowed past the campsite had a secluded nook where we could take care of our ablutions in privacy. Did you k...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 18, 2007 is: sinuous • \SIN-yuh-wus\  • adjective 1 a : of a serpentine or wavy form : winding b : marked by strong lithe movements 2 : intricate, complex Examples: While flying over the Midwest, I saw a long, sinuous river that wound through fields, farms, and towns as it made its way towards the Gulf of Mexico. Did you know? Although it probably makes...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 17, 2007 is: milieu • \meel-YUR\  • noun : the physical or social setting in which something occurs or develops : environment Examples: The quiet suburban neighborhood was within walking distance of the elementary school and provided the perfect milieu for raising a family. Did you know? The etymology of "milieu" comes down to "mi" and "lieu." English sp...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 16, 2007 is: rococo • \ruh-KOH-koh\  • adjective 1 : of or relating to an artistic style especially of the 18th century characterized by fanciful curved asymmetrical forms and elaborate ornamentation 2 : excessively ornate or intricate Examples: "While the lobby appears almost rococo, rooms are a study in spare, clean elegance. . .." (Jeff Morgan, Wine S...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 15, 2007 is: abstain • \ub-STAYN\  • verb : to refrain deliberately and often with an effort of self-denial from an action or practice Examples: It is now recommended that pregnant women abstain from alcohol and certain medications until after delivery. Did you know? If you "abstain," you're consciously and usually with effort choosing to "hold back" fro...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 14, 2007 is: volatile • \VAH-luh-tul\  • adjective 1 : readily vaporizable at a relatively low temperature 2 : tending to erupt into violence : explosive 3 : characterized by or subject to rapid or unexpected change Examples: The country's unsteady economy is due to volatile global markets and the new government's rash economic reforms. Did you know? "Vo...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 13, 2007 is: futile • \FYOO-tul\  • adjective 1 : serving no useful purpose : completely ineffective 2 : occupied with trifles : frivolous Examples: Unfortunately, all efforts to repair the damage ultimately proved futile. Did you know? "Futile" floated into the English language in the mid-16th century from Middle French, where it took shape from the Lat...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 12, 2007 is: boondoggle • \BOON-dah-gul\  • noun 1 : a braided cord worn by Boy Scouts as a neckerchief slide, hatband, or ornament 2 : a wasteful or impractical project or activity often involving graft Examples: The editorial claims that the new multimillion-dollar sports complex is a boondoggle and a frivolous waste of tax dollars. Did you know? When...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 11, 2007 is: chimera • \kye-MEER-uh\  • noun 1 : an imaginary monster compounded of incongruous parts 2 : an illusion or fabrication of the mind; especially : an unrealizable dream Examples: Jared decided to leave the company upon realizing that his hopes for advancement were merely a chimera. Did you know? In Greek mythology, the Chimera was a fearsome,...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 10, 2007 is: transpire • \tran-SPY-er\  • verb 1 : to give off vaporous material; specifically : to give off or exude watery vapor especially from the surfaces of leaves 2 : to become known or apparent : develop 3 : to take place : go on, occur Examples: The police are still trying to determine what really transpired on the night of the accident. Did you...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 9, 2007 is: succinct • \suk-SINKT\  • adjective : marked by compact precise expression without wasted words Examples: When the laconic Calvin Coolidge announced his decision not to seek reelection, his succinct statement upheld his reputation as one inclined to be brief: "I do not choose to run for President in 1928." Did you know? The history of "succin...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 8, 2007 is: jaunty • \JAWN-tee\  • adjective : sprightly in manner or appearance : lively Examples: Flashbulbs lit up the scene as the bubbly actress sashayed down the red carpet, wearing a jaunty little headpiece that complemented her airy designer gown. Did you know? You might not guess that the words "jaunty" and "genteel" are related -- but they are....

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 7, 2007 is: concomitant • \kun-KAH-muh-tunt\  • adjective : accompanying especially in a subordinate or incidental way Examples: Jane is terrified of flying, and she's also not fond of the concomitant annoyances of air travel, like waiting in long security lines. Did you know? "Concomitant" was introduced into English at a time when many people were crit...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 6, 2007 is: foist • \FOIST\  • verb 1 a : to introduce or insert surreptitiously or without warrant b : to force another to accept especially by stealth or deceit 2 : to pass off as genuine or worthy Examples: Rather than do the task he was assigned, Jim tried to foist it on one of the newer employees. Did you know? An early sense of the word "foist," no...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 5, 2007 is: diablerie • \dee-AH-bluh-ree\  • noun 1 : black magic : sorcery 2 a : a representation in words or pictures of black magic or of dealings with the devil b : demon lore 3 : mischievous conduct or manner Examples: "Gekic can be a dazzling pianist full of diablerie when he's in the mood...." (James Roos, The Miami Herald, March 24, 2002) Did you...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 4, 2007 is: nostrum • \NAHSS-trum\  • noun 1 : a medicine of secret composition recommended by its preparer but usually without scientific proof of its effectiveness 2 : a usually questionable remedy or scheme : panacea Examples: Critics predict the mayor's plan to revitalize the downtown area by offering tax breaks to local businesses will prove a costl...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 3, 2007 is: lucrative • \LOO-kruh-tiv\  • adjective : producing wealth : profitable Examples: The governor believes that biotechnology will be a lucrative field that can replace manufacturing as the mainstay of the state's economy. Did you know? "Paying," "gainful," "remunerative," and "lucrative" share the meaning of bringing in a return of money, but e...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 2, 2007 is: analogue • \AN-uh-log\  • noun 1 : something that is similar to something else 2 : an organ or part similar in function to an organ or part of another animal or plant but different in structure and origin Examples: "The town I live in now," explained Tina, "is an analogue of the town I grew up in -- similar in climate, population, and demogra...