Skip to content

Table of Contents

The word for today is…

gruntle (verb):

: to put in a good humour

Source : Merriam -Webster

Etymology :The verb disgruntle, which has been around since 1682, means “to make ill-humoured or discontented.” The prefix dis- often means “to do the opposite of,” so people might naturally assume that if there is a disgruntle, there must have first been a gruntle with exactly the opposite meaning. But dis- doesn’t always work that way; in some rare cases it functions instead as an intensifier. Disgruntle developed from this intensifying sense of dis- plus gruntle, an old word (now used only in British dialect) meaning “to grumble.” In the 1920s, a writer humorously used gruntle to mean “to make happy”—in other words, as an antonym of disgruntle. The use caught on. At first gruntle was used only in humorous ways, but people eventually began to use it seriously as well.

If you enjoyed this BFD word of the day please consider sharing it with your friends and, especially, your children.

Latest

The Good Oil Word of the Day

The Good Oil Word of the Day

The word for today is… rhetorical (adjective) - 1a: of, relating to, or concerned with the art of speaking or writing formally and effectively especially as a way to persuade or influence people b: employed for rhetorical effect 2a: given to rhetoric : grandiloquent b: verbal Source : Merriam-Webster Etymology : Rhetorical has

Members Public
Night Cap

Night Cap

If you have a great Youtube, Rumble or Vimeo video to share send it to videos@goodoil.news If you're loving this trusty, straight-up news on Kiwi politics and beyond, why not become a paid member, eh? Unlock exclusive yarns, podcasts, vids, and in-depth analysis—your support keeps

Members Public