exodus (noun) – 1 capitalized : the mainly narrative second book of canonical Jewish and Christian Scripture 2 : a mass departure Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : The Biblical book of Exodus describes the departure of the Israelites from Egypt, so it’s no surprise that the word has come to refer more generally
The word for today is… sesquipedalian (adjective) – 1 : having many syllables 2 : given to or characterized by the use of long words Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : Horace, the Roman poet known for his satire, was merely being gently ironic when he cautioned young poets against using “sesquipedalia verba”-“words
The word for today is… quash (verb) : to nullify especially by judicial action : to suppress or extinguish summarily and completely Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : There are two quash verbs in the English language, and although their meanings are similar, they have entirely different origins. Both essentially mean to get rid
The word for today is… equinox (noun) – 1 : either of the two points on the celestial sphere where the celestial equator intersects the ecliptic 2 : either of the two times each year (as about March 21 and September 23) when the sun crosses the equator and day and night are
The word for today is… abrogate (verb) – 1 to abolish by authoritative action : annul a treaty 2 to treat as nonexistent : to fail to do what is required by something, such as a responsibility 3 to suppress or prevent (a biological function or process and especially an immune response) Source
prevaricate (verb) – to deviate from the truth Source : Online Etymology Dictionary Etymology : 1580s, “to go aside from the right course or mode of action” (originally figurative, now obsolete), a back formation from prevarication or else from Latin praevaricatus, past participle of praevaricari “to make a sham accusation, deviate” (from the
The word for today is… whet (verb, noun) – verb – 1 : to sharpen by rubbing on or with something (such as a stone) – whet a knife 2 : to make keen or more acute noun – 1 : a spell of work done with a scythe between the time it is sharpened and the
The word for today is… invective (noun, adjective) – noun – 1 : insulting or abusive language 2 : an abusive expression or speech adjective – of, relating to, or characterized by insult or abuse Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : Invective originated in the 15th century as an adjective meaning “of, relating to, or characterized by
The word for today is… circumlocution (noun) – 1 : the use of an unnecessarily large number of words to express an idea 2 : evasion in speech Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : In The King’s English, grammarian H.W. Fowler advised, “Prefer the single word to the circumlocution.” Alas, that good advice
The word for today is… fiscal (adjective) – 1 : of or relating to taxation, public revenues, or public debt 2 : of or relating to financial matters Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : Fiscal derives from the Latin noun fiscus, meaning “basket” or “treasury.” In ancient Rome, “fiscus” was the term for the treasury
The word for today is… tutelary (adjective) – 1 : having the guardianship of a person or a thing 2 : of or relating to a guardian Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : Tutelary derives from the Latin noun tutelarius, meaning “guardian.” “Tutelarius,” in turn, was formed by combining the word tutela (“protection” or “guardian”
ungainly (adjective) – 1a : lacking in smoothness or dexterity b : hard to handle 2 : having an awkward appearance Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : What do you have to gain by knowing the root of “ungainly?” Plenty. The “gain” in “ungainly” is an obsolete English adjective meaning “direct,” ultimately derived from the Old
The word for today is… felicitate (adjective, verb) adjective (obsolete) : made happy verb – 1 archaic : to make happy 2a : to consider happy or fortunate b : to offer congratulations to Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : Felix, a Latin adjective meaning “happy” or “fruitful,” is the root of our English words “felicity” and
The word for today is… abhor (verb) – to regard with extreme repugnance : to feel hatred or loathing for Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : Abhor means “to loathe” or “to hate,” and while loathe and hate have roots in Old English, abhor derives from Latin. The roots of abhor can give us
The word for today is… meticulous (adjective) – marked by extreme or excessive care in the consideration or treatment of details Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : It may surprise you to learn that meticulous is derived from the Latin word for “fearful” – meticulosus – and ultimately comes from the Latin noun metus, meaning
The word for today is… luminary (noun) – 1 : a person of prominence or brilliant achievement 2 : a body that gives light Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : Allow us to shed some light on “luminary.” It came to English by way of Anglo-French and Late Latin, and it traces back to the
