The word for today is… abbreviate (verb) – To shorten by contraction or omission, such as agcy., corp., Gov., Dr., Rev. Source : The Free Dictionary Etymology : Abbreviate and abridge both mean “to make shorter,” so it probably will come as no surprise that both derive from the Latin verb brevis, meaning
The word for today is… retronym (noun) – A word or phrase created because an existing term that was once used alone needs to be distinguished from a term referring to a new development, as acoustic guitar in contrast to electric guitar or analog watch in contrast to digital watch. Source
The word for today is… Byzantine (adj) – 1.(a) Of or relating to the ancient city of Byzantium. (b) Of or relating to the Byzantine Empire. 2. Of or belonging to the style of architecture developed from the fifth century ad in the Byzantine Empire, characterized especially by a central
The word for today is… ambidextrous (adj) – 1. Able to use both hands with equal facility. 2. Unusually skillful; adroit. 3. Deceptive or hypocritical. Source : The Free Dictionary Etymology : Latin dexter originally meant “related to or situated on the right side,” but since most people do things better with the
The word for today is… bork (verb) – 1. to incorrectly configure a device, especially a computer. 2. to cause damage to. 3. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) (jocular US) to disrespect or vilify, especially in order to obstruct a person’s appointment to public office Source : The Free Dictionary Etymology : “To
The word for today is… untenable (adj) – 1. Not capable of being maintained or defended. 2. Not capable of being occupied or lived in. 3. (Usage Problem) Insupportable; intolerable. Source : The Free Dictionary Etymology : Untenable and its opposite tenable come to us from Old French tenir (“to hold, have possession
The word for today is… rectitude (noun) – 1. Moral uprightness; righteousness. 2. The quality or condition of being correct in judgment. 3. The quality of being straight. Source : The Free Dictionary Etymology : Early 15th century, “quality of being straight,” from Middle French rectitude (14th century), from Late Latin rectitudinem (nominative
The word for today is… perquisite (noun) – An extra profit; privilege, or allowance in addition to a main income: perquisite payment in stock options; a customary privilege, such as a gratuity or tip. Source : The Free Dictionary Etymology : Looking to acquire a job loaded with perquisites, or “perks” (a synonym
The word for today is… oleaginous (adj) – 1. Of or relating to oil. 2. Falsely or smugly earnest; unctuous. Source : The Free Dictionary Etymology : The oily oleaginous slipped into English via Middle French oleagineux, coming from Latin oleagineus, meaning “of an olive tree.” Oleagineus itself is from Latin olea, meaning
The word for today is… misogyny (noun) – Hatred or mistrust of women. Source : The Free Dictionary Etymology : “Hatred of women,” 1650s, from Modern Latin misogynia, from Greek misogynia, abstract noun from misogyn?s “woman-hater,” from miso- “hatred” (see miso-) + gyn? “woman” (from PIE root *gwen- “woman”). If you enjoyed this
The word for today is… interpolate (verb) – 1. To insert or introduce between other elements or parts. 2. (a) To insert (material) into a text. (b) To insert into a conversation. 3. To change or falsify (a text) by introducing new or incorrect material. 4. (Mathematics) (a) To estimate a
The word for today is… hoax (noun) – 1. An act intended to deceive or trick. 2. Something that has been established or accepted by fraudulent means. Source : The Free Dictionary Etymology : 1796 “ridicule; deceive with a fabrication,” 1808, probably an alteration of hocus “conjurer, juggler” (1630s), also “a cheat, impostor”
The word for today is… filch (verb) – To take (something, especially something of little value) in a furtive manner; snitch. Source : The Free Dictionary Etymology : “I am glad I am so acquit of this tinder-box: his thefts were too open; his filching was like an unskilful singer—he kept not
The word for today is… czar (also tsar or tzar) (noun) – 1. A male monarch or emperor, especially one of the emperors who ruled Russia until the revolution of 1917. 2. A person having great power or authority. Source : The Free Dictionary Etymology : The common title of the emperor of
The word for today is… chowderhead (noun) – (Slang) A person regarded as stupid; a dolt. Source : The Free Dictionary Etymology : The derogatory chowderhead (1819) is a corruption of cholter-head (16c.), from jolt-head, which is of unknown origin. chowder (n.) “Thick fish soup,” 1751, American English, apparently named for the pot
The word for today is… chapfallen (adj) – 1. Being in low spirits; dejected and disheartened. 2. Having the lower jaw hanging loosely . Source : The Free Dictionary Etymology : A variant spelling of the adjective chapfallen is chopfallen, a spelling that may help us to better understand this somewhat unusual word. The
