Skip to content

The word for today is…

circuitous (adjective):

1: having a circular or winding course

2: not being forthright or direct in language or action

Source : Merriam -Webster

Etymology : In J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, the titular hero Bilbo Baggins takes a circuitous route to the Lonely Mountain, which he helps to reclaim from a monstrous dragon. Although he successfully arrives there—and returns home again—we do not use the adjective circuitous to suggest that his path traces a perfect circle. We’ll get straight to it: although both circuitous and its relative circuit share roots in circus, the Latin word for “circle” (and ancestor of the English words circle and circus), neither need conjure something shaped like, say, a ring. Just as the noun circuit can refer to an indirect route, circuitous describes routes which can appear circular when mapped, but can also be jagged, squiggly, etc. The point is that a journey such as Bilbo’s is not straight, short, or direct, but rather rambling. When used figuratively, circuitous describes something that is not said or done simply and clearly; an example might be a rambling speech about manners in dangerous situations when a direct “Never laugh at live dragons” would suffice.

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

Latest

Face of the Day

Face of the Day

Lawyer Keith Jefferies said there was one rule at Middleton’s private farewell: no one was to mention Karla. “Veronica is a strong woman, but the grief is still raw and real.”

Members Public
The Good Oil Word of the Day

The Good Oil Word of the Day

The word for today is… sublime (verb, adjective) - verb 1: to cause to pass directly from the solid to the vapor state and condense back to solid form 2a (1): to elevate or exalt especially in dignity or honor (2): to render finer (as in purity or excellence) b: to

Members Public