The word for today is… paragon (noun, verb) - noun : a model of excellence or perfection verb 1: to compare with : parallel 2: to put in rivalry : match 3 obsolete : surpass Source : Merriam-Webster Etymology : Paragon derives from the Old Italian word paragone, which literally means "touchstone." A touchstone
The word for today is… inhere (verb) - : to be inherent Source : Merriam-Webster Etymology : You're probably familiar with inherent, the adjective meaning "part of the constitution or natural character of something," but were you aware of its less common relative inhere? This verb looks like it
The word for today is… increment (noun) - 1: the amount or degree by which something changes, especially : the amount of positive or negative change in the value of one or more of a set of variables 2a: one of a series of regular consecutive additions b: a minute increase
The word for today is… dubious (adjective) - 1: unsettled in opinion : doubtful 2: giving rise to uncertainty: such as a: of doubtful promise or outcome - a dubious plan b: questionable or suspect as to true nature or quality Source : Merriam-Webster Etymology : Pop music pop quiz—which musical act
The word for today is… signify (verb) - transitive verb 1a: to be a sign of : mean b: imply 2: to show especially by a conventional token (such as word, signal, or gesture) intransitive verb 1: to have significance : matter 2: to engage in signifying Source : Merriam-Webster Etymology : Signify basically
The word for today is… colonel (noun) - : a commissioned officer in the army ranking above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general Source : Merriam-Webster Etymology : English colonel is pronounced the same as kernel. This seems odd, but there is an explanation. In many languages when a word contains
The word for today is… libertine (noun) - 1 disparaging : a freethinker especially in religious matters 2: a person who is unrestrained by convention or morality, specifically : one leading a dissolute life Source : Merriam-Webster Etymology : "I only ask to be free," says Mr. Skimpole in Charles Dickens'
The word for today is… Spartan (noun, adjective) - noun 1: a native or inhabitant of the ancient city of Sparta 2: a person of great courage and self-discipline adjective 1: of or relating to Sparta in ancient Greece 2a often spartan : marked by strict self-discipline or self-denial b often
The word for today is… exult (verb) - 1: to be extremely joyful : rejoice 2 obsolete : to leap for joy Source : Merriam-Webster Etymology : Exult leaped into English in the 16th century as a verb meaning "to leap for joy." George Chapman used it that way in a translation
The word for today is… nomothetic (adjective) - : relating to, involving, or dealing with abstract, general, or universal statements or laws Source : Merriam-Webster Etymology : Nomothetic is often contrasted with idiographic, a word meaning "relating to or dealing with something concrete, individual, or unique." Where idiographic points to the
The word for today is… valuable (adjective, noun) - adjective 1a: having monetary value b: worth a good price 2a: having desirable or esteemed characteristics or qualities b: of great use or service noun : a usually personal possession (such as jewelry) of relatively great monetary value — usually used in plural
The word for today is… perfervid (adjective) - : marked by overwrought or exaggerated emotion : excessively fervent Source : Merriam-Webster Etymology : The adjectives "fervent," "fervid," and "perfervid" all derive from the Latin verb fervēre, meaning "to boil," and suggest a bubbling up of intense
The word for today is… affable (adjective) - 1: being pleasant and at ease in talking to others 2: characterized by ease and friendliness Source : Merriam-Webster Etymology : One of the peculiarities of the English language is that ungendered words (especially nouns) may occasionally take gendered pronouns or modifiers. A ship,
The word for today is… millennium (noun) - 1a: the thousand years mentioned in the book of Revelation in the Christian Bible during which holiness is to prevail and Christ is to reign on earth b: a period of great happiness or human perfection 2a: a period of 1000 years,
The word for today is… ennead (noun) - : a group of nine Source : Merriam-Webster Etymology : Since ancient times, various groups of people have considered nine to be a very special and sacred number. Legends and literature have long characterized groups of nine as having a special, in some cases magical,
The word for today is… catechresis (noun) - 1: use of the wrong word for the context 2: use of a forced and especially paradoxical figure of speech (such as blind mouths) Source : Merriam-Webster Etymology : As you might have guessed, catachresis is a word favored by grammarians. It can sometimes
