Skip to content

The word for today is…

clement (adjective):

1: inclined to be merciful : lenient
2: mild - especially of weather

Source : Merriam -Webster

Etymology : Weather reporting being what it is, one is more likely to encounter the word inclement (“stormy”) in a forecast than its opposite, clement. But both words, naturally, come from the same Latin adjective, clemens, meaning “mild” or “calm.” The weather-related senses of the pair arose in the mid-1600s, but clement was first used centuries earlier with a different meaning, still in use today, describing someone who is merciful or lenient. The word’s expansion into meteorological matters seems perhaps intuitive; after a week of rain or snow, the sun emerging from the clouds may seem like an act of mercy, indeed. (The use of inclement to describe someone cruel or unmerciful emerged in the early 1600s but has since become obsolete).

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

Latest

Who Is Conning Whom?

Who Is Conning Whom?

The prime minister’s attention was caught by David Seymour: “Prime minister, I think I have a solution to the crime problem.”

Members Public