The word for today is… inkhorn (noun) – A small container made of horn or a similar material, formerly used to hold ink for writing. (adj) – Affectedly or ostentatiously learned; pedantic. Source : The Free Dictionary Etymology : Picture an ancient scribe, pen in hand, a small ink bottle made from an animal’
The word for today is… girandole (noun) – 1. A composition or structure in radiating form or arrangement, such as a rotating display of fireworks. 2. An ornamental branched candleholder, sometimes backed by a mirror. 3. An earring that consists of a central piece with three smaller ornaments or stones hanging
The word for today is… burgeon (verb) – 1. (a) To put forth new buds, leaves, or greenery; sprout. (b) To begin to grow or blossom. 2. To grow or develop rapidly; expand or proliferate. Source : The Free Dictionary Etymology : Burgeon first appeared in Middle English as burjonen—a borrowing from
The word for today is… volition (noun) – 1. The act of making a conscious choice or decision. 2. The power or faculty of choosing; the will. Source : The Free Dictionary Etymology : Volition ultimately derives from the Latin verb velle, meaning “to will” or “to wish.” (The adjective voluntary descends from
The word for today is… vocation (noun) – 1. A regular occupation, especially one for which a person is particularly suited or qualified. 2. (a) An inclination or aptness for a certain kind of work. (b) Theology A calling of an individual by God, especially for a religious career. Source : The
The word for today is… tonsorial (adj) – Of or relating to barbering or a barber. Source : The Free Dictionary Etymology : Tonsorial is a fancy word that describes the work of those who give shaves and haircuts. (It can apply more broadly to hairdressers as well.) It derives from the Latin
The word for today is… supersede (also supercede) (verb) – 1. To take the place of; replace or supplant. 2. To take the place of (a person), as in an office or position; succeed. Grammarist reports on the alternate spelling – Supersede comes from French, and then Latin before that. In both
The word for today is… scrutinize (also scrutinise where real English is spoken) (verb) – 1. To examine or observe with great care; inspect critically. 2. To make a scrutiny. Source : The Free Dictionary Etymology : A close look at the etymology of scrutinize reveals that the word stems from the Latin
The word for today is… recidivism (noun) – The repeating of or returning to criminal behavior by the same offender or type of offender. Source : The Free Dictionary Etymology : Recidivism means literally “a falling back” and usually implies “into bad habits.” It comes from the Latin word recidivus, which means “recurring.
The word for today is… quibble (verb) – To argue or find fault over trivial matters or minor concerns; cavil. (noun) – 1. A trivial matter or minor concern raised in arguing or finding fault. 2. (Archaic) A pun. Source : The Free Dictionary Etymology : In addition to functioning as a verb, quibble
The word for today is… puckish (adj) – Mischievous; impish. Source : The Free Dictionary Etymology : We know Puck as “that merry wanderer of the night,” the shape-changing, maiden-frightening, mischief-sowing henchman to the king of the fairies in William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The Bard drew on English folklore
The word for today is… plummy (adj) – 1. (a) Filled with plums. (b) Resembling plums in smell, taste, or appearance. 2. Choice; desirable. 3. Exceedingly or affectedly mellow and rich. Source : The Free Dictionary Etymology : The name of the fruit plum goes back to Old English. During the 18th century,
The word for today is… gaslighting (verb) – To psychologically manipulate (someone) so that they question their memories, perception, or sanity. (noun) – 1. Light produced by burning illuminating gas. 2. A gas burner or lamp. Source : The Free Dictionary Etymology : The term originated from the 1938 play Gas Light (known in
The word for today is… oneiric (adj) – Of, relating to, or suggestive of dreams. Source : The Free Dictionary Etymology : The notion of using the Greek noun oneiros (meaning “dream”) to form the English adjective oneiric wasn’t dreamed up until the mid-19th century. But back in the late 1500s and
The word for today is… lade (verb) – 1. (a) To load with or as if with cargo. (b) To place (something) as a load for or as if for shipment. 2. To burden or oppress; weigh down. 3. To take up or remove (water) with a ladle or dipper. Source
The word for today is… insuperable (adj) – Impossible to overcome; insurmountable. Source : The Free Dictionary Etymology : Insuperable first appeared in print in the 14th century, and as a close synonym to insurmountable, it still means now approximately what it did then. In Latin, superare means “to go over, surmount, overcome,
