The word for today is… antithetical (adjective): 1 : being in direct and unequivocal opposition Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : Antithetical and antithesis come from Greek antitithenai (“to oppose”). The oldest sense of antithesis refers to a language pattern that contrasts parallel ideas, as in “action, not words” or “they promised freedom
The word for today is… palindrome (noun): : a word, verse, sentence or number that reads the same backward or forward Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : Palindrome comes from Greek palindromos, meaning “running back again,” which itself is from palin (“back,” “again”) and dramein (“to run”). Nowadays, we appreciate a clever palindrome—
The word for today is… captious (adjective): 1 : marked by an often ill-natured inclination to stress faults and raise objections 2 : calculated to confuse, entrap, or entangle in argument Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : Captious comes from Latin captio, which refers to a deception or verbal quibble. Arguments labeled captious are
The word for today is… repudiate (verb): 1a : to refuse to accept, especially to reject as unauthorized or as having no binding force: repudiate a contract repudiate a will b : to reject as untrue or unjust 2 : to refuse to acknowledge or pay – repudiate a debt 3 : to refuse to
The word for today is… pejorative (noun, adjective): noun: a word or phrase that has negative connotations or that is intended to disparage or belittle adjective: having negative connotations, especially tending to disparage or belittle Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything
The word for today is… vulnerable (adjective): 1 : capable of being physically or emotionally wounded 2 : open to attack or damage 3 : liable to increased penalties but entitled to increased bonuses after winning a game in contract bridge Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : Vulnerable is ultimately derived from the Latin noun
The word for today is… perspicacious (adjective): of acute mental vision or discernment Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : Perspicacious is similar in meaning to shrewd and astute, but a sharp mind will also discern subtle differences among them. All three denote being acute in perception and sound in judgment, but shrewd
The word for today is… carte blanche (noun): : full discretionary power Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : Carte blanche is much like a blank check. In French, carte means “document” and blanche means “blank,” so the phrase means “blank document.” English retained that literal meaning: a carte blanche was a blank document
The word for today is… livid (adjective): 1 : discolored by bruising 2 : ashen, pallid 3 : reddish 4 : very angry Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : Livid has a colorful history. The Latin adjective lividus means “dull, grayish, or leaden blue.” From this came the French livide, which English borrowed as livid. The
The word for today is… adventitious (adjective): 1 : coming from another source and not inherent or innate 2 : arising or occurring sporadically or in other than the usual location Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : Adventitious comes from Latin adventicius, meaning “coming from outside,” which, in turn, is from advenire, “to arrive.
The word for today is… congenial (adjective): 1a : pleasant especially : agreeably suited to one’s nature, tastes, or outlook b : sociable, genial c : existing or associated together harmoniously 2 : having the same nature, disposition, or tastes Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : According to ancient mythology, each person at birth was assigned
The word for today is… extradite (verb): 1 : to deliver up to extradition 2 : to obtain the extradition of Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : Some countries have a tradition of extradition—a fact which might concern criminals. Likely of significantly less concern to most criminals is the fact that extradition and
The word for today is… venerate (verb): 1 : to regard with reverential respect or with admiring deference 2 : to honor (an icon, a relic, etc.) with a ritual act of devotion Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : Venerate comes from the Latin root venerari, which has the various meanings of “to solicit
The word for today is… talisman (noun): 1 : an object held to act as a charm to avert evil and bring good fortune 2 : something producing apparently magical or miraculous effects Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : The English language may have borrowed talisman from French, Spanish, or Italian; all three include
The word for today is… flippant (adjective): 1 : lacking proper respect or seriousness 2 archaic : glib, talkative Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : Flippant is believed to come from flip, which, in turn, is a supposed imitation of the sound of something flipping. The earliest senses of the adjective are “nimble” and
The word for today is… beleaguer (verb): 1 : besiege – a town beleaguered by an army a beleaguered city 2 : trouble, harass Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : English speakers created “beleaguer” from the Dutch word belegeren in the 16th century. “[Military men] will not vouchsafe . . . to use our ancient terms belonging to
