The word for today is… castigate (verb): : to subject to severe punishment, reproof, or criticism Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : Castigate has a synonym in chastise. Both verbs mean to punish or to censure someone. Fittingly, both words derive from the same root: the Latin castigare, formed from the words for
The word for today is… illustrious (adjective): 1: notably or brilliantly outstanding because of dignity or achievements or actions : eminent 2 archaic a: shining brightly with light b: clearly evident Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : Today’s spotlight is on illustrious, from the Latin adjective illustris, meaning “shining brightly with light.
The word for today is… legacy (noun, adjective): noun 1: a gift by will especially of money or other personal property : bequest 2: something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past 3: a candidate for membership in an organization (such as a school or
Oops. The Maori Party appears to be breaching the Electoral Act. And, as of last night, an update for Monday: The Electoral Act (1993) says: (1) Every person is guilty of a corrupt practice who commits the offence of treating. (2) Every person commits the offence of treating who corruptly,
The word for today is… tyro (noun): : a beginner in learning : novice Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : The word tyro is hardly a newcomer to Western language. It comes from the Latin tiro, which means “young soldier,” “new recruit,” or more generally, “novice.” The word was sometimes spelled tyro as early
The word for today is… homily (noun): 1: a usually short sermon 2: a lecture or discourse on or of a moral theme 3: an inspirational catchphrase Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : The origin of homily starts with the ancient Greek word homilos, meaning “crowd” or “assembly,” and travels through related
There were double takes from passing drivers and two Mormon missionaries stopped for photos as Lenard Phillips’ 15-tonne armoured personnel carrier was delivered to his door in suburban Auckland. The 68-year-old has been waiting three years to get it back since police officers came to the Orakei pensioner’s state
The word for today is… dauntless (adjective): : incapable of being intimidated or subdued Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology:Human history teems with dauntless people, doughty folks who refused to be cowed or subdued, even if armed with nothing but the courage of their convictions. The existence of dauntless raises this question:
An ABC reporter has called her son Methamphetamine Rules in the name of journalism. Kirsten Drysdale told A Current Affair host Ally Langdon she did it for ABC’s programme WTFAQ, which answers audience questions. Viewers were asking questions about baby names and what parents could legally call their child,
The word for today is… antonym (noun): : a word of opposite meaning Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : The English language (and, presumably, many other languages) has both antonyms and synonyms. There are many more words with synonyms than there are words with antonyms, since many things exist which do not have
“All he could say was ‘I tried to help her’,” she said. “He just keeps saying that he’s alone now, he’s on his own.” Her son had spent Sunday afternoon with Zara’s mother. The pair were “each other’s first love,” his mother said. “She came around
The word for today is… cogent (adjective): 1a: appealing forcibly to the mind or reason : convincing b: pertinent, relevant 2: having power to compel or constrain Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : A cogent argument is one that really drives its point home because it is clear, coherent, and readily understandable, and
The word for today is… salvo (noun, verb, noun): noun 1a: a simultaneous discharge of two or more guns in military action or as a salute b: the release all at one time of a rack of bombs or rockets (as from an airplane) c: a series of shots by
The word for today is… comprise (verb): 1: to be made up of 2: compose, constitute 3: to include especially within a particular scope Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : The earliest meaning of comprise, “to be made up of” (as in “a team comprising fifteen players”), is sometimes regarded as the
The word for today is… outlandish (adjective): 1: of or relating to another country : foreign 2a: strikingly out of the ordinary : bizarre b: exceeding proper or reasonable limits or standards 3: remote from civilization Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : In Old English someone described as “outlandish” came from an outland, i.
The word for today is… forte (noun, adjective or adverb, noun): noun 1: one’s strong point 2: the part of a sword or foil blade that is between the middle and the hilt and that is the strongest part of the blade adjective or adverb : loud—used as a
