Word of the Day Archive

/ˌkwɪntɪˈsenʃəl/ • adjective

Representing the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class; the pure essence of something. From Medieval Latin "quinta essentia" meaning "fifth essence." Ancient Greek philosophers believ...

/nɪˈfeəriəs/ • adjective

Wicked or criminal; extremely bad or morally wrong, especially in a way that is shocking or appalling. From Latin "nefarius" meaning "wicked, abominable," from "nefas" (wrong, crime) from "ne-" (not)...

/ˈzēnəTH/ • noun

The highest point reached by a celestial body; the point in the sky directly above an observer; the peak or culmination of something. From Medieval Latin "zenith," from Arabic "samt ar-ra's" (path ov...

/ɔːˈdeɪʃəs/ • adjective

Showing a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks; showing a lack of respect or impudence. Can be used both positively (brave) and negatively (recklessly bold). From Latin "audax" (genitive "auda...

/ˌlo͞oməˈnesəns/ • noun

The emission of light by a substance that has not been heated; light produced by chemical, electrical, or physiological means. From Latin "lumen" (light) + "-escence" (beginning to be). The suffix in...

/məˈtɪkjələs/ • adjective

Showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise in execution or performance. From Latin "meticulosus" meaning "fearful, timid," from "metus" meaning "fear." Entered English in the 1820s....

/æmˈbɪvələnt/ • adjective

Having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone; uncertain or unable to decide between two courses of action. Coined in 1910 by Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler from Latin "am...

/ˌverəsəˈmilədəd/ • noun

The appearance of being true or real; the quality of seeming to be true; likeness to truth. From Latin "verisimilitudo," from "veri" (of truth) + "similitudo" (likeness, similarity). Literally "the l...

/rəˈsplendənt/ • adjective

Attractive and impressive through being richly colorful or sumptuous; shining brilliantly; gleaming. From Latin "resplendere" (to shine back), from "re-" (back, again) + "splendere" (to shine). The i...

/təˈneɪʃəs/ • adjective

Not readily letting go of, giving up, or separated from something; persistent in maintaining or adhering to something valued or habitual. From Latin "tenax" (genitive "tenacis") meaning "holding fast...

/ˌso͞osəˈrāSH(ə)n/ • noun

A whispering, murmuring, or rustling sound; a soft, soothing sound like that of leaves in a gentle wind. From Latin "susurratio," from "susurrare" (to whisper, hum), which is imitative of the sound i...

/ˈzeləs/ • adjective

Having or showing great energy and enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or objective; fervent and passionate. From Late Latin "zelosus" meaning "full of zeal," from Greek "zelos" meaning "zeal, ardor, je...

/ˈlaNGɡər/ • noun

The state or feeling of tiredness or inactivity, especially when pleasurable; an oppressive stillness of the air; a dreamy, lazy mood or quality. From Latin "languor" (faintness, weariness), from "la...

/rɪˈzɪliənt/ • adjective

Able to recover quickly from difficulties; able to spring back into shape after bending, stretching, or being compressed. From Latin "resilire" meaning "to leap back," from "re-" (back) + "salire" (t...

/dīˈafənəs/ • adjective

Light, delicate, and translucent; so fine and transparent as to be almost invisible. From Medieval Latin "diaphanus," from Greek "diaphanes" (transparent), from "dia-" (through) + "phainein" (to show...

/præɡˈmætɪk/ • adjective

Dealing with things sensibly and realistically based on practical rather than theoretical considerations; focused on what works rather than ideals. From Greek "pragmatikos" meaning "skilled in busine...

/fəˈlisədē/ • noun

Intense happiness; the ability to express oneself in an appropriate and pleasing manner; a particularly effective or pleasing feature or quality. From Latin "felicitas" (happiness, good fortune), fro...

/ɡrɪˈɡeəriəs/ • adjective

Fond of company; sociable and enjoying being with other people. Also describes animals that live in flocks or herds. From Latin "gregarius" meaning "belonging to a flock," from "grex" (genitive "greg...

/bəˈnevələnt/ • adjective

Well-meaning and kindly; showing goodwill and charitable intentions toward others. From Latin "benevolens," from "bene" (well) + "velle" (to wish). Literally means "wishing well" for others. The word...

/ˌinkənˈdes(ə)nt/ • adjective

Emitting light as a result of being heated; also used figuratively to describe someone showing intense emotion or exceptional brilliance. From Latin "incandescere" (to glow), from "in-" (within) + "c...

/ˌserənˈdɪpɪti/ • noun

The occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way; finding something good without looking for it. Coined by Horace Walpole in 1754, based on the Persian fairy tale "The...

/ˌlab(ə)ˈrinTHən/ • adjective

Like a labyrinth; irregular and twisting; extremely complex and difficult to navigate or understand. From Latin "labyrinthus," from Greek "labyrinthos." Named after the legendary maze built by Daedal...

/juːˈbɪkwɪtəs/ • adjective

Present, appearing, or found everywhere; seeming to be everywhere at the same time. From Latin "ubique" meaning "everywhere," from "ubi" (where) + suffix "-que" (and). The adjective form entered Engl...

/əˈmiːliəreɪt/ • verb

To make something better; to improve or enhance a situation, condition, or problem. From French "améliorer," ultimately from Latin "melior" meaning "better." The word appeared in English in the mid-1...

/ˌsempəˈtərnl/ • adjective

Eternal and unchanging; everlasting; existing always without beginning or end. From Late Latin "sempiternalis," from Latin "sempiternus" (everlasting), from "semper" (always) + "aeternus" (eternal)....

/lōˈkwāSHəs/ • adjective

Tending to talk a great deal; talkative; characterized by excessive talk or chattiness. From Latin "loquax" (talkative), from "loqui" (to speak). The same root gives us "eloquent," "colloquial," and...

/ˌpɜːrspɪˈkeɪʃəs/ • adjective

Having a ready insight into and understanding of things; mentally sharp or discerning. From Latin "perspicax" (sharp-sighted, acute), from "perspicere" meaning "to look through, see clearly," combini...

/ˌirəˈdes(ə)nt/ • adjective

Showing luminous colors that seem to change when seen from different angles; producing a display of lustrous, rainbow-like colors. From Latin "iris" (rainbow) + "-escent" (becoming). Named after Iris...

/ˈmelənˌkälē/ • noun, adjective

A feeling of pensive sadness, typically with no obvious cause; a thoughtful or gentle sadness. As an adjective: having a feeling of melancholy; sad and pensive. From Greek "melankholia," from "melas"...

/səˈliləkwē/ • noun

An act of speaking one's thoughts aloud when alone or regardless of hearers, especially by a character in a play. From Late Latin "soliloquium," from Latin "solus" (alone) + "loqui" (to speak). Liter...

/iˈfem(ə)rə/ • noun

Things that exist or are used for only a short time; items of temporary value or interest. Also refers to collectible printed matter that was originally meant to be discarded. From Greek "ephemeros"...

/ˈhalsēən/ • adjective

Denoting a period of time in the past that was idyllically happy and peaceful; calm and tranquil. From Greek "alkyon" (kingfisher). In Greek mythology, Alcyone was transformed into a kingfisher, and...

/kəˈkäfənē/ • noun

A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds; unpleasant noise. From Greek "kakophonia," from "kakos" (bad) + "phone" (sound). Literally "bad sound." The opposite of euphony (pleasant sound). "The cacophony...

/ˌefərˈves(ə)nt/ • adjective

Giving off bubbles; fizzy. Also used figuratively to describe someone who is vivacious, enthusiastic, and lively. From Latin "effervescere," meaning "to boil up," from "ex-" (out) + "fervescere" (beg...

/iˈTHirēəl/ • adjective

Extremely delicate and light; seeming to belong to another, more spiritual world; heavenly or celestial. From Latin "aethereus," from Greek "aitherios" (of the upper air), from "aither" (upper air, c...

/ˈlo͞omənəs/ • adjective

Emitting or reflecting light; glowing; also used figuratively to describe someone or something that is intellectually brilliant or inspiring. From Latin "luminosus," from "lumen" (light). Related to...

/inˈefəb(ə)l/ • adjective

Too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words; indescribable. From Latin "ineffabilis," from "in-" (not) + "effabilis" (able to be expressed), from "effari" (to speak out). Something so...

/ˈpetrīˌkôr/ • noun

The pleasant, earthy smell that accompanies the first rain after a long period of warm, dry weather. Coined in 1964 by Australian scientists Isabel Joy Bear and Richard Thomas. From Greek "petra" (st...

/ˈsändər/ • noun

The profound realization that every random passerby has a life as vivid and complex as your own, filled with their own struggles, dreams, and routines. Coined by John Koenig in his project "The Dicti...

/iˈbəlyənt/ • adjective

Cheerful and full of energy; enthusiastic and excited. From Latin "ebullire," meaning "to boil over," from "e-" (out) + "bullire" (to boil). The metaphor of bubbling over with excitement gives us thi...

/rəˈzilyəns/ • noun

The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness and the ability to spring back into shape after bending, stretching, or being compressed. From Latin "resiliens," present participle of "r...

/ˈeləkwənt/ • adjective

Fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing; clearly expressing or indicating something. From Latin "eloquens," present participle of "eloqui" meaning "to speak out," from "e-" (out) + "loqui" (to sp...

/məˈliflo͞oəs/ • adjective

Having a smooth, rich, flowing quality that is pleasing to hear; sweet-sounding like honey. From Latin "mellifluus," from "mel" (honey) + "fluere" (to flow). Literally means "flowing with honey," use...

/ˈwändərˌləst/ • noun

A strong desire to travel and explore the world; an irresistible urge to wander or travel. Borrowed from German "Wanderlust," literally "desire to hike" or "desire to wander," from "wandern" (to wand...

/əˈfem(ə)rəl/ • adjective

Lasting for a very short time; fleeting or transitory. From Greek "ephēmeros" meaning "lasting only a day," from "epi" (upon) + "hēmera" (day). Originally used in ancient Greece to describe fever tha...