The word for today is… paroxysm (noun): 1: a fit, attack, or sudden increase or recurrence of symptoms (as of a disease) : convulsion a paroxysm of coughing 2: a sudden violent emotion or action : outburst Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : Paroxysm didn't just burst onto the scene recently; its
The word for today is… fracking (noun): : the injection of fluid into shale beds at high pressure in order to free up petroleum resources (such as oil or natural gas) Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : Hydraulic fracturing is a technique in which a liquid is injected under high pressure into a
The word for today is… fascism (noun): 1 often capitalized : a political philosophy, movement, or regime (such as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and
The word for today is… mendacious (adjective): : given to or characterized by deception or falsehood or divergence from absolute truth Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : Mendacious and lying have very similar meanings, but the two are not interchangeable. Mendacious is more formal and literary, suggesting a deception harmless enough to be
The word for today is… succour (noun, verb): noun 1: relief, also : aid, help 2: something that furnishes relief verb : to go to the aid of : relieve Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : Middle English speakers adapted "socour," the predecessor of "succour," from the Anglo-French sucors, which
The word for today is… unconscionable (adjective): Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : Something that can't be done in good conscience is unconscionable, and such acts can range from betraying a confidence to mass murder. For a five-syllable word, unconscionable is actually quite common. This is partly because it
The word for today is… ethos (noun): Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : In Greek, ēthos means “custom” or “character.” As originally used by Aristotle, it referred to a person’s character or personality, especially with respect to a balance between passion and caution. In English, ethos is used today to refer
The word for today is… ambivalent (adjective): : having or showing simultaneous and contradictory attitudes or feelings toward something or someone : characterized by ambivalence Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : The words ambivalent and ambivalence entered English during the early 20th century in the field of psychology. Though they were introduced in German
The word for today is… memento (noun): : something that serves to warn or remind also : souvenir Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : Memento comes from the imperative form of meminisse, a Latin verb that literally means "to remember." (The term memento mori, meaning "a reminder of mortality," translates
The word for today is… replete (adjective): 1: fully or abundantly provided or filled 2a: abundantly fed b: fat, stout 3: complete Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : Given that one of the roots of replete is the Latin verb plēre, meaning "to fill," it isn't surprising that
The word for today is… ensconce (verb): 1: shelter, conceal 2: establish, settle Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : You might think of a sconce as a type of candleholder or lamp, but the word can also refer to a defensive fortification, usually one made of earth. Originally, then, a person who
The word for today is… incandescent (adjective): 1a: white, glowing, or luminous with intense heat b: strikingly bright, radiant, or clear c: marked by brilliance especially of expression d: characterized by glowing zeal : ardent 2a: of, relating to, or being light produced by incandescence b: producing light by incandescence Source
The word for today is… skirl (verb, noun): verb of a bagpipe : to emit the high shrill tone of the chanter noun : a high shrill sound produced by the chanter of a bagpipe Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : Not every musical instrument is honored with its very own verb. But then,
The word for today is… propinquity (noun): 1: nearness of blood : kinship 2: nearness in place or time : proximity Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : Propinquity and its cousin "proximity" are related through the Latin root prope, which means "near." That root gave rise to "proximus"
The word for today is… clement (adjective): 1: inclined to be merciful : lenient 2: mild - especially of weather Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : Weather reporting being what it is, one is more likely to encounter the word inclement (“stormy”) in a forecast than its opposite, clement. But both words, naturally, come
The word for today is… newfangled (adjective): 1: attracted to novelty 2: of the newest style or kind Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : Newfangled is actually a pretty old word. It dates all the way back to the 15th century, and likely developed from the even older adjective newfangle, which probably
