Free daily dose of word power from Merriam-Webster's experts
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will-o'-the-wisp
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 11, 2010 is:
will-o'-the-wisp • will-uh-thuh-WISP • noun
1 : a light that appears at night over marshy ground *2 : a misleading or elusive goal or hope
Example sentence:
Though her friends think she's chasing a will-o'-the-wisp, Alexis is determined to quit her job and follow her dream of becoming a pop music star.
Did you know?
The will-o'-the-wisp is a flame-like phosphorescence caused by gases from decaying plants in marshy areas. In olden days, it was personified as 'Will with the wisp,' a sprite who carried a fleeting 'wisp' of light. Foolish travelers were said to try to follow the light and were then led astray into the marsh. (An 18th-century fairy tale described Will as one 'who bears the wispy fire to trail the swains among the mire.') The light was first known, and still also is, as 'Ignis Fatuus,' which in Latin means 'foolish fire.' Eventually, the name 'will-o'-the-wisp' was extended to any impractical or unattainable goal.
*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.
1 : a light that appears at night over marshy ground *2 : a misleading or elusive goal or hope
Example sentence:
Though her friends think she's chasing a will-o'-the-wisp, Alexis is determined to quit her job and follow her dream of becoming a pop music star.
Did you know?
The will-o'-the-wisp is a flame-like phosphorescence caused by gases from decaying plants in marshy areas. In olden days, it was personified as 'Will with the wisp,' a sprite who carried a fleeting 'wisp' of light. Foolish travelers were said to try to follow the light and were then led astray into the marsh. (An 18th-century fairy tale described Will as one 'who bears the wispy fire to trail the swains among the mire.') The light was first known, and still also is, as 'Ignis Fatuus,' which in Latin means 'foolish fire.' Eventually, the name 'will-o'-the-wisp' was extended to any impractical or unattainable goal.
*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.
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petard
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 10, 2010 is:
petard • puh-TAHRD • noun
1 : a case containing an explosive to break down a door or gate or breach a wall *2 : a firework that explodes with a loud report
Example sentence:
'The blast occurred on Sunday afternoon in a farmer's house in the Anhui Province, destroying six rooms which stored materials for making petards and firecrackers.' ( RIA Novosti , January 11, 2010)
Did you know?
Aside from historical references to siege warfare, and occasional contemporary references to fireworks, 'petard' is almost always encountered in variations of the phrase 'hoist with one's own petard,' meaning 'victimized or hurt by one's own scheme.' The phrase comes from Shakespeare's Hamlet : 'For 'tis the sport to have the enginer / Hoist with his own petar.' 'Hoist' in this case is the past participle of the verb 'hoise,' meaning 'to lift or raise,' and 'petar(d)' refers to an explosive device used in siege warfare. Hamlet uses the example of the engineer (the person who sets the explosive device) being blown into the air by his own device as a metaphor for those who schemed against Hamlet being undone by their own schemes. The phrase has endured, even if its literal meaning has largely been forgotten.
*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.
1 : a case containing an explosive to break down a door or gate or breach a wall *2 : a firework that explodes with a loud report
Example sentence:
'The blast occurred on Sunday afternoon in a farmer's house in the Anhui Province, destroying six rooms which stored materials for making petards and firecrackers.' ( RIA Novosti , January 11, 2010)
Did you know?
Aside from historical references to siege warfare, and occasional contemporary references to fireworks, 'petard' is almost always encountered in variations of the phrase 'hoist with one's own petard,' meaning 'victimized or hurt by one's own scheme.' The phrase comes from Shakespeare's Hamlet : 'For 'tis the sport to have the enginer / Hoist with his own petar.' 'Hoist' in this case is the past participle of the verb 'hoise,' meaning 'to lift or raise,' and 'petar(d)' refers to an explosive device used in siege warfare. Hamlet uses the example of the engineer (the person who sets the explosive device) being blown into the air by his own device as a metaphor for those who schemed against Hamlet being undone by their own schemes. The phrase has endured, even if its literal meaning has largely been forgotten.
*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.
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eclectic
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 09, 2010 is:
eclectic • ih-KLEK-tik • adjective
1 : selecting what appears to be best in various doctrines, methods, or styles *2 : composed of elements drawn from various sources; also : heterogeneous
Example sentence:
The new downtown restaurant offers an eclectic mix of appetizers and entrees at reasonable prices.
Did you know?
'Eclectic' comes from a Greek verb meaning 'to select' and was originally applied to ancient philosophers who were not committed to any single system of philosophy; instead, these philosophers selected whichever doctrines pleased them from every school of thought. Later, the word's use broadened to cover other selective natures. 'Hard by, the central slab is thick with books / Diverse, but which the true eclectic mind / Knows how to group, and gather out of each / Their frequent wisdoms....' In this 19th century example from a poem by Arthur Joseph Munby, for example, the word is applied to literature lovers who cull selective works from libraries.
*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.
1 : selecting what appears to be best in various doctrines, methods, or styles *2 : composed of elements drawn from various sources; also : heterogeneous
Example sentence:
The new downtown restaurant offers an eclectic mix of appetizers and entrees at reasonable prices.
Did you know?
'Eclectic' comes from a Greek verb meaning 'to select' and was originally applied to ancient philosophers who were not committed to any single system of philosophy; instead, these philosophers selected whichever doctrines pleased them from every school of thought. Later, the word's use broadened to cover other selective natures. 'Hard by, the central slab is thick with books / Diverse, but which the true eclectic mind / Knows how to group, and gather out of each / Their frequent wisdoms....' In this 19th century example from a poem by Arthur Joseph Munby, for example, the word is applied to literature lovers who cull selective works from libraries.
*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.
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lave
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 08, 2010 is:
lave • LAYV • verb
1 a : wash, bathe* b : to flow along or against 2 : pour
Example sentence:
'There are few traces of man's hand to be seen. The water laves the shore as it did a thousand years ago.' (Henry David Thoreau, Walden )
Did you know?
'Lave' is a simple, monosyllabic word that magically makes the mundane act of washing poetic. Shakespeare used it in The Taming of the Shrew , when Gremio assured the father of his beloved Bianca that she would have 'basins and ewers to lave her dainty hands.' And in Charles Dickens' The Old Curiosity Shop , Nell 'laved her hands and face, and cooled her feet before setting forth to walk again.' The poetry of 'lave' is also heard when describing water washing against the shore, as in our example sentence, or even the pouring of water: 'He … laved a few cool drops upon his brow' (John Lockhart, Reginald Dalton ). Before washing our hands of 'lave,' we'll tell you its etymology: it, as well as 'lavatory,' comes from Latin 'lavare,' meaning 'to wash.'
*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.
1 a : wash, bathe* b : to flow along or against 2 : pour
Example sentence:
'There are few traces of man's hand to be seen. The water laves the shore as it did a thousand years ago.' (Henry David Thoreau, Walden )
Did you know?
'Lave' is a simple, monosyllabic word that magically makes the mundane act of washing poetic. Shakespeare used it in The Taming of the Shrew , when Gremio assured the father of his beloved Bianca that she would have 'basins and ewers to lave her dainty hands.' And in Charles Dickens' The Old Curiosity Shop , Nell 'laved her hands and face, and cooled her feet before setting forth to walk again.' The poetry of 'lave' is also heard when describing water washing against the shore, as in our example sentence, or even the pouring of water: 'He … laved a few cool drops upon his brow' (John Lockhart, Reginald Dalton ). Before washing our hands of 'lave,' we'll tell you its etymology: it, as well as 'lavatory,' comes from Latin 'lavare,' meaning 'to wash.'
*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.
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exponent
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 07, 2010 is:
exponent • ik-SPOH-nunt • noun
1 : a symbol written above and to the right of a mathematical expression to indicate the operation of raising to a power 2 a : one that expounds or interprets* b : one that champions, practices, or exemplifies
Example sentence:
'Pianist [Chick] Corea has played plenty of straight-ahead jazz, but is probably best known as an exponent of '70s jazz-rock fusion.' (Curtis Ross, The Tampa Tribune , February 19, 1999)
Did you know?
You probably won't be surprised to learn that 'exponent' shares an ancestor with 'proponent' -- and indeed, the Latin 'ponere' ('to put') is at the root of both terms. 'Exponent' descends from 'exponere' ('to explain' or 'to set forth'), which joins 'ponere' with 'ex-' ('out'). 'Proponent' traces to 'proponere' ('to display' or 'to declare'), from 'ponere' and 'pro-' ('before'). 'Proponent' can describe someone who offers a proposal (it's related to 'propose,' which also ultimately comes from 'proponere'), but today it usually means 'one who argues in favor of something.' 'Exponent' can also refer to someone who is an advocate, but it tends to refer especially to someone who stands out as a shining representative of something, and in addition it has retained its earlier meaning of 'one who expounds.'
*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.
1 : a symbol written above and to the right of a mathematical expression to indicate the operation of raising to a power 2 a : one that expounds or interprets* b : one that champions, practices, or exemplifies
Example sentence:
'Pianist [Chick] Corea has played plenty of straight-ahead jazz, but is probably best known as an exponent of '70s jazz-rock fusion.' (Curtis Ross, The Tampa Tribune , February 19, 1999)
Did you know?
You probably won't be surprised to learn that 'exponent' shares an ancestor with 'proponent' -- and indeed, the Latin 'ponere' ('to put') is at the root of both terms. 'Exponent' descends from 'exponere' ('to explain' or 'to set forth'), which joins 'ponere' with 'ex-' ('out'). 'Proponent' traces to 'proponere' ('to display' or 'to declare'), from 'ponere' and 'pro-' ('before'). 'Proponent' can describe someone who offers a proposal (it's related to 'propose,' which also ultimately comes from 'proponere'), but today it usually means 'one who argues in favor of something.' 'Exponent' can also refer to someone who is an advocate, but it tends to refer especially to someone who stands out as a shining representative of something, and in addition it has retained its earlier meaning of 'one who expounds.'
*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.
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zaftig
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 06, 2010 is:
zaftig • ZAHF-tig • adjective
: having a full rounded figure : pleasingly plump
Example sentence:
The Flemish painters were masters of the oil medium, rendering zaftig beauties, robust burghers, hunting scenes, and allegorical subjects with subtle interplays of light and color.
Did you know?
'Real women have curves,' as a 2002 movie title proclaimed. They are pleasingly plump, full-figured, shapely, womanly, curvy, curvaceous, voluptuous, statuesque. They are, in a word, zaftig. 'Zaftig' has been juicing up our language since the 1930s (the same decade that gave us Yiddish-derived 'futz,' 'hoo-ha,' 'nosh,' and 'schmaltz,' not to mention 'lox'). It comes from the Yiddish 'zaftik,' which means 'juicy' or 'succulent' and which in turn derives from 'zaft,' meaning 'juice' or 'sap.'
: having a full rounded figure : pleasingly plump
Example sentence:
The Flemish painters were masters of the oil medium, rendering zaftig beauties, robust burghers, hunting scenes, and allegorical subjects with subtle interplays of light and color.
Did you know?
'Real women have curves,' as a 2002 movie title proclaimed. They are pleasingly plump, full-figured, shapely, womanly, curvy, curvaceous, voluptuous, statuesque. They are, in a word, zaftig. 'Zaftig' has been juicing up our language since the 1930s (the same decade that gave us Yiddish-derived 'futz,' 'hoo-ha,' 'nosh,' and 'schmaltz,' not to mention 'lox'). It comes from the Yiddish 'zaftik,' which means 'juicy' or 'succulent' and which in turn derives from 'zaft,' meaning 'juice' or 'sap.'
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journeyman
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 05, 2010 is:
journeyman • JER-nee-mun • noun
1 : a worker who has learned a trade and works for another person *2 : an experienced reliable worker, athlete, or performer
Example sentence:
The team is ready to trade three of its rookie hopefuls for the journeyman pitcher.
Did you know?
The 'journey' in 'journeyman' refers to a sense of this familiar word not often used anymore: 'a day's labor.' This sense of 'journey' was first used in the 14th century. When 'journeyman' appeared the following century, it originally referred to a person who, having learned a handicraft or trade through an apprenticeship, worked for daily wages. In the 16th century, 'journeyman' picked up a figurative (and mainly deprecatory) sense; namely, 'one who drudges for another.' These days, however, 'journeyman' has little to do with drudgery, and lots to do with knowing a trade inside out.
*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.
1 : a worker who has learned a trade and works for another person *2 : an experienced reliable worker, athlete, or performer
Example sentence:
The team is ready to trade three of its rookie hopefuls for the journeyman pitcher.
Did you know?
The 'journey' in 'journeyman' refers to a sense of this familiar word not often used anymore: 'a day's labor.' This sense of 'journey' was first used in the 14th century. When 'journeyman' appeared the following century, it originally referred to a person who, having learned a handicraft or trade through an apprenticeship, worked for daily wages. In the 16th century, 'journeyman' picked up a figurative (and mainly deprecatory) sense; namely, 'one who drudges for another.' These days, however, 'journeyman' has little to do with drudgery, and lots to do with knowing a trade inside out.
*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.
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licit
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 04, 2010 is:
licit • LISS-it • adjective
: conforming to the requirements of the law : not forbidden by law : permissible
Example sentence:
'We are focusing on making government institutions more accountable and effective, promoting the rule of law, [and] stimulating licit economic activity, especially in agriculture.' (Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, April 23, 2009)
Did you know?
'Licit' is far less common than its antonym 'illicit,' but you probably won’t be surprised to learn that the former is the older of the two. Not by much, though: the first known use of 'licit' in print is from 1483, whereas 'illicit' shows up in print for the first time in 1506. For some reason 'illicit' took off while 'licit' just plodded along. When 'licit' appears these days it often modifies 'drugs' or 'crops.' Meanwhile, 'illicit' shows up before words like 'thrill' and 'passion' (as well as 'gambling,' 'relationship,' 'activities,' and, of course, 'drugs' and 'crops.') The Latin word 'licitus,' meaning 'lawful,' is the root of the pair; 'licitus' itself is from 'licēre,' meaning 'to be permitted.'
: conforming to the requirements of the law : not forbidden by law : permissible
Example sentence:
'We are focusing on making government institutions more accountable and effective, promoting the rule of law, [and] stimulating licit economic activity, especially in agriculture.' (Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, April 23, 2009)
Did you know?
'Licit' is far less common than its antonym 'illicit,' but you probably won’t be surprised to learn that the former is the older of the two. Not by much, though: the first known use of 'licit' in print is from 1483, whereas 'illicit' shows up in print for the first time in 1506. For some reason 'illicit' took off while 'licit' just plodded along. When 'licit' appears these days it often modifies 'drugs' or 'crops.' Meanwhile, 'illicit' shows up before words like 'thrill' and 'passion' (as well as 'gambling,' 'relationship,' 'activities,' and, of course, 'drugs' and 'crops.') The Latin word 'licitus,' meaning 'lawful,' is the root of the pair; 'licitus' itself is from 'licēre,' meaning 'to be permitted.'
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transmogrify
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 03, 2010 is:
transmogrify • transs-MAH-gruh-fye • verb
: to change or alter greatly and often with grotesque or humorous effect
Example sentence:
With the help of an interior decorator, Max transmogrified his drab, cluttered apartment into a stylish yet functional bachelor pad.
Did you know?
We know that the prefix 'trans-' means 'across' or 'beyond' and appears in many words that evoke change, such as 'transform' and 'transpire,' but we don't know the exact origins of 'transmogrify.' The 17th-century dramatist, novelist, and poet Aphra Behn, who is regarded as England's first female professional writer, was among the first English authors to use the word. In her 1671 comic play The Amorous Prince , Behn wrote, 'I wou'd Love would transmogriphy me to a maid now.' A century later, Scottish poet Robert Burns plied the word again in verse, aptly capturing the grotesque and sometimes humorous effect of transmogrification: 'Social life and Glee sit down, . . . Till, quite transmugrify'd, they're grown Debauchery and Drinking.'
: to change or alter greatly and often with grotesque or humorous effect
Example sentence:
With the help of an interior decorator, Max transmogrified his drab, cluttered apartment into a stylish yet functional bachelor pad.
Did you know?
We know that the prefix 'trans-' means 'across' or 'beyond' and appears in many words that evoke change, such as 'transform' and 'transpire,' but we don't know the exact origins of 'transmogrify.' The 17th-century dramatist, novelist, and poet Aphra Behn, who is regarded as England's first female professional writer, was among the first English authors to use the word. In her 1671 comic play The Amorous Prince , Behn wrote, 'I wou'd Love would transmogriphy me to a maid now.' A century later, Scottish poet Robert Burns plied the word again in verse, aptly capturing the grotesque and sometimes humorous effect of transmogrification: 'Social life and Glee sit down, . . . Till, quite transmugrify'd, they're grown Debauchery and Drinking.'
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didactic
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 02, 2010 is:
didactic • dye-DAK-tik • adjective
1 a : designed or intended to teach* b : intended to convey instruction and information as well as pleasure and entertainment 2 : making moral observations
Example sentence:
Many of the shows on the channel are didactic, teaching children about such things as the importance of recycling, exercise, and honesty through the actions of animated characters.
Did you know?
'Didaktikos' is a Greek word that means 'apt at teaching.' It comes from 'didaskein,' meaning 'to teach.' Something 'didactic' does just that: teaches or instructs. 'Didactic' conveyed that neutral meaning when it was first borrowed in the 17th century, and still does; a didactic piece of writing is one that is meant to be instructive as well as artistic. Parables are generally didactic because they aim to teach a moral lesson. 'Didactic' now sometimes has negative connotations, too, however. Something 'didactic' is often overburdened with instruction to the point of being dull. Or it might be pompously instructive or moralistic.
*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.
1 a : designed or intended to teach* b : intended to convey instruction and information as well as pleasure and entertainment 2 : making moral observations
Example sentence:
Many of the shows on the channel are didactic, teaching children about such things as the importance of recycling, exercise, and honesty through the actions of animated characters.
Did you know?
'Didaktikos' is a Greek word that means 'apt at teaching.' It comes from 'didaskein,' meaning 'to teach.' Something 'didactic' does just that: teaches or instructs. 'Didactic' conveyed that neutral meaning when it was first borrowed in the 17th century, and still does; a didactic piece of writing is one that is meant to be instructive as well as artistic. Parables are generally didactic because they aim to teach a moral lesson. 'Didactic' now sometimes has negative connotations, too, however. Something 'didactic' is often overburdened with instruction to the point of being dull. Or it might be pompously instructive or moralistic.
*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.
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asterisk
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 01, 2010 is:
asterisk • ASS-tuh-risk • noun
: the character * used in printing or writing as a reference mark, as an indication of the omission of letters or words, to denote a hypothetical or unattested linguistic form, or for various arbitrary meanings
Example sentence:
Words in the text that are defined in the glossary are marked with an asterisk for quick reference.
Did you know?
If someone asked you to associate the word 'asterisk' with a heavenly body, you would probably have no problem relating it to a star -- even if you didn't know that the word 'asterisk' derives from 'asteriskos,' a Greek word meaning 'little star.' 'Asterisk' has been a part of the constellation of English since at least the late 1300s, but it is far from the only shining star in our language. The Greek forms 'astēr,' 'astro,' and 'astrum' (all of which mean 'star') still cast their light in English by way of such words as 'asteroid,' 'astral,' and 'disaster' (which originally meant 'an unfavorable aspect of a planet or star'). Even 'star' itself is a distant relative of 'asterisk.'
*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.
: the character * used in printing or writing as a reference mark, as an indication of the omission of letters or words, to denote a hypothetical or unattested linguistic form, or for various arbitrary meanings
Example sentence:
Words in the text that are defined in the glossary are marked with an asterisk for quick reference.
Did you know?
If someone asked you to associate the word 'asterisk' with a heavenly body, you would probably have no problem relating it to a star -- even if you didn't know that the word 'asterisk' derives from 'asteriskos,' a Greek word meaning 'little star.' 'Asterisk' has been a part of the constellation of English since at least the late 1300s, but it is far from the only shining star in our language. The Greek forms 'astēr,' 'astro,' and 'astrum' (all of which mean 'star') still cast their light in English by way of such words as 'asteroid,' 'astral,' and 'disaster' (which originally meant 'an unfavorable aspect of a planet or star'). Even 'star' itself is a distant relative of 'asterisk.'
*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.