Word of the Day

Talisman is a noun that refers to a person regarded as representing and inspiring a particular group. The Greek word ‘telos’ means ‘result’ or ‘end.’ This word drifted into English by the mid 17th century and soon came to refer to a man who helps complete a process. Today talisman is most likely to be used metaphorically to mean someone who inspires a group. In the school marching band, Devon was...

Kibosh is a verb that means to decisively end something. The origin of our word of the day is unknown, but its use is pretty clear. It’s used in an informal context to mean ‘put an end to.” Example: Having a pet bird in our bedroom seemed like a good idea at the time, but a few sleepless nights of loud chirping kiboshed that idea.

Behest is a noun that refers to an authoritative order. Coming from Old English, our word of the day is related to the German word for ‘command.’ Here’s an example: At the behest of our bank manager, we worked a few extra late hours this week. I’m no big fan of working extra hours, but when your boss makes an authoritative order, you follow it.

Apposite is an adjective that means apt for a given setting. Our word of the day comes from the Latin word appositus (OPP oh SEE toose) which means ‘applied toward.’ It entered English in the late 16th century. It’s best understood as a synonym of ‘germane’ or ‘relevant.’ Here’s an example of apposite in use: Maybe it’s me, but I didn’t think my name was an apposite one to mention  when talki...

Crural is an adjective that means related to the leg. Our word of the day comes from the Latin word crus (CROOSE) which means ‘leg.’ Entering English in the late 16th century, it has come to be used mostly within formal medical or anatomical contexts. But it may occasionally be used to describe animals. Here’s an example: After years of study, we determined that the crural capacity of those spider...

Juvenescence is a noun that refers to the state or period of being young. The latin word juvenis (YOU ven ees) which means ‘young’ is the basis for the word juvenile as well as the basis for our word of the day which entered the English language in the early 19th century. If I had been more determined to prepare for the future, I would have spent my juvenescence keeping up with the latest technolo...

Ostentatious is an adjective that means characterized by vulgar or pretentious display. Our word of the day comes from the Latin word ostentare (OS ten TAR ay) which means ‘to show or display.’ Entering English in the mid 15th century, our word of the day is often used to describe the tendency to show or display one’s wealth a little too much. For my tastes, Jill can get a little showy when it com...

Rapturous is an adjective that means expressing or feeling great pleasure. Our word of the day is derived from the Latin word raptus (ROP toos) which means ‘to seize.’ From this word, rapture entered the English language in the late 16th century. Rapturous is the adjective version. Here’s an example of it in use. The first ten minutes of the movie had a rapturous grip on me. That fast-paced chase...

Valedictory is an adjective that means serving as a farewell. The Latin phrase vale dicere (VAL ay dee CHAIR ay) means ‘to say goodbye,’ and it provides the origin or our word of the day. Valedictory is often used in a formal setting. Here’s an example. It was a touching moment to watch the king offer a heartfelt valedictory to his subjects. Saying goodbye after a long, distinguished reign like th...

Cozen is a verb that means to trick or deceive. The Latin word cocio (COE see oh) means ‘dealer,’ but after a trip through the Italian language, the word evolved into a verb cozzonare (coe zone ARE ay) meaning ‘to cheat.’ By the late 16th century it landed in English as our word of the day. Here’s an example of cozen in use: Sorry I didn’t reply to your email sooner. I was afraid that your request...

Dscerp is a verb that means to tear apart. Our word of the day combines the Latin prefix D-I-S, meaning ‘apart’ with the Latin word carpere (car PAIR ay) which means ‘to tear or pick.’ I wanted to discerp the memo about our coffee break as soon as I read it, but I was afraid that tearing the memo up wouldn’t undo the damage.

Speechify is a verb that means to deliver a speech in a tedious or pompous way. By strict definition, our word of the day simply means ‘to make a speech,’ but when used colloquially, it makes to speak in arrogant, self-aggrandizing ways. Speechify’s origin is in the German word sprache (SPRAH huh). The dinner went well until the governor felt he needed to say a few words. The next thing you know,...

Glamping is a noun that refers to the act of camping with luxurious accommodations. Our word of the day was born in the early 21st century and combines two familiar English words, glamor and camping. I had a feeling that Ana’s idea of ‘roughing it’ was really just a form of glamping. It’s not surprising that someone so preoccupied with glamor would need her tent to be stocked with a hot tub, a cur...

Immiserate is a verb that means to cause to become poor or impoverished. The word ‘miser’ today refers to someone who hoards money, but its Latin roots are in a word that means ‘wretched.’ This is where words like misery and miserable come from. It’s also the source of our word of the day. To immiserate someone is to make them miserable or unhappy, usually in fiscal terms, for example: As much as...

Vaticinate is a verb that means to foretell the future. The Latin word vates (VOT es) means ‘prophet.’ Our word of the day has evolved from this word into a verb for what a prophet does: seeing the future. It entered the English language in the early 17th century. Here’s an example of it in use: When my daughter was ten, I couldn’t vaticinate a future where  this mild-mannered sweet girl woul...

Grouse is a verb that means to complain or grumble. The origin of our word of the day is not known for certain, but may be related to the French-derived word ‘grouch.’ Grouse is a synonym of words like ‘grumble,’  ‘gripe’ and 'lament’. Here’s an example of grouse in use: My dad has changed a lot over the years. When I was a kid, he would grouse endlessly about the popular music of the 90s. Th...

Pot-valiant is an adjective that means courageous as a result of being drunk. Our word of the day combines two common English words, ‘pot,’ which means to drink, and ‘valiant,’ which refers to bravery. It’s a way to describe someone who’s had a few cocktails and therefore has a bravery they wouldn’t ordinarily possess,  example: I was feeling a little pot-valiant at the bar when the guy stepp...

Gasconade is a noun that refers to exaggerated boasting. Our word of the day comes indirectly from France, more specifically, a former province of France called gascony. It seems the inhabitants of this region where noted for being boastful, and the word gasconade was born as a term to describe them. Here’s an example: I hate to brag, but, at the risk of coming across like a gasconade, I got all A...

Hotspur is a noun that refers to a rash, hotheaded person. The origin of our word of the day comes from the horseback riding times of 15th century England. A spur is a small spiked device used to urge a rider’s horse forward. At times this device would heat up after a long day of use. Soon the term hot spur came to refer to a person with a hot temper. James has such a reputation as a hotspur that...

Aureate is an adjective that means gilded with gold. If you’re a chemistry nerd who's ever wondered why the chemical symbol for gold is A-U, it’s because A and U are the first two letters in aurum (OUR oom) the Latin word for ‘gold.’ This highly colorful word found a home in English around the 15th century in the form of the adjective aureate. Our word of the day may be used in a literal sense to...

Penumbral is an adjective that means’ related to being a shadowy area.’ Our word of the day comes from the combination of two Latin words. Paene (PIE en ay) which means ‘almost’ and umbra (OOM bra) which means ‘shadow.’ The resulting word, penumbra entered the English language in the mid 17th century and brought with it, the adjective form, penumbral. The penumbral regions of the woods can be a bi...

Colubrine is an adjective that means related to or resembling a snake. The Latin word coluber (COLE ooh bear) means snake. By the early 16th century, this word slithered into the English language after shedding the skin of its original form and becoming an adjective to describe snakes. After an evening of watching horror movies, the colubrine shape of those ropes on the living room floor gave me a...

Revenant is a noun that refers to a person who has returned as a ghost. The French verb revenir (rev en EAR) translates to ‘coming back.’ Our word of the day evolved from this word and entered the English language in the early 19th century as reference to a person who has come back from the dead. While spending the weekend at the cabin, our kids swore there was a revenant outside the back door. It...

Volant is an adjective that means able to fly. Our word of the day is derived from the Latin word valare (voe LAR ay) which means ‘to fly.’ The word is typically used to describe animals, but can also be used metaphorically, for example: Ana’s skillfully performed monologue seemed truly volant. The words floated from her mouth like a bird taking flight.

Cantillate is a verb that means to chant. The Latin word cantare (con TAR ay) means to chant. Our word of the day entered English in the mid-19th century and is often used to describe the chanting or singing in a choir, example: Listening to the choir cantillate that lovely hymn is an otherworldly experience. Several voices chanting in unison can sound stunning.