Faustian is an adjective that means ‘done without regard for future cost.’

Our word of the day has its basis in the mythical tale of an astronomer named Faust reputed to have sold his soul to the Devil in exchange for wealth. More recently, the adjective Faustian is used to describe anyone who makes an exchange that involves a huge sacrifice.

Maria described the process of becoming famous as making a faustian bargain. You get power, money, recognition and adoration. But in exchange, you have to sacrifice your privacy — and sometimes, your sanity.