Skip to content

The word for today is…

supercilious (adjective) -

: coolly and patronizingly haughty

Source : Merriam-Webster

Etymology : Arrogant and disdainful types tend to raise an eyebrow at anything they consider beneath them. The original supercilious crowd must have shown that raised-eyebrow look often, because the adjective supercilious derives from "supercilium," Latin for eyebrow. (We plucked our adjective and its meaning from the Latin adjective superciliosus.) "Supercilious" has been used to describe the censoriously overbearing since the late 1600s, but there was a time in the 1700s when it was also used as a synonym of another "supercilium" descendent, "superciliary" ("of, relating to, or adjoining the eyebrow"). Although the eyebrow sense of "supercilious" is now obsolete, it does help explain what ornithologist John Latham meant in 1782 when he described a "Supercilious K[ingfisher]" with a narrow orange stripe over its eyes.

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

Speaking from a rooftop bar in central Auckland where his candidacy for the November 7 election was revealed on Tuesday, Henry responded to the ‘why ACT’ question.

Members Public
The Good Oil Word of the Day

The Good Oil Word of the Day

The word for today is… orgy (noun) - 1: secret ceremonial rites held in honor of an ancient Greek or Roman deity and usually characterized by ecstatic singing and dancing 2a: drunken revelry b: a sexual encounter involving many people, also : an excessive sexual indulgence (see indulgence sense 1a) 3: excessive

Members Public
The Good Oil Daily Bible Verse

The Good Oil Daily Bible Verse

But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

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

Members Public