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word of the day

The word for today is…

modicum (noun) – a small portion; a limited quantity

Source : Merriam – Webster

Etymology : What does “modicum” have to do with a toilet? It just so happens that “modicum” shares the same Latin parent as “commode,” which is a synonym of “toilet.” “Modicum” and “commode” ultimately derive from the Latin noun modus, which means “measure.” “Modicum” has been a part of the English language since the 15th century. It descends from the Latin modicus (“moderate”), which is itself a descendant of “modus.” (Logically enough, “modicum” refers to a small “measure” of something.) “Modus” really measures up as a Latin root – it also gave us “mode” (originally a kind of musical “measure”), “modal,” “model,” “modern,” “modify,” and “modulate.” More distant relatives include “mete,” “moderate,” and “modest.”

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