Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 12, 2024 is: Elysian \ih-LIZH-un\ adjective

Something described as elysian is blissful or delightful in a way that evokes something otherworldly. Elysian is also used to mean "of or relating to [Elysium](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Elysium)"—that is, an eternal paradise for the souls of the heroic and pure in classical mythology.

// They were motivated by the dream of retiring to a tropical isle and enjoying a life of elysian ease.

[See the entry >](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elysian)

Examples:

"The secret to its longevity, then and now, is a steadfast commitment to the idea of [dolce far niente](https://bit.ly/3vh613G), the elysian pleasantness of doing absolutely nothing except enjoying yourself." — Spencer Bailey, Town & Country, 28 Mar. 2021

Did you know?

In classical mythology, Elysium, also known as the Elysian Fields, was the paradise reserved for the heroes immortalized by the gods. Ancient Greek poets imagined it as the abode of the blessed after death, but in English the concept has more often been applied figuratively. In his history play [Henry V](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Henry-V-by-Shakespeare), William Shakespeare used the place-name as a word for a peaceful state of sleep enjoyed by a mere mortal, and 18th-century English lexicographer and author [Samuel Johnson](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Samuel-Johnson) wrote in The Rambler that in reading [pastoral](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pastoral) poetry we allow ourselves "to be transported to elysian regions, where we are met with nothing but joy, and plenty, and contentment..." In [Walden](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Walden) a century later Henry David Thoreau wrote that "The summer, in some climates, makes possible to man a sort of Elysian life."

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 11, 2024 is: mangle \MANG-gul\ verb

To mangle something is to ruin it due to carelessness or a lack of skill. Mangle can also mean “to injure or damage something or someone severely by cutting, tearing, or crushing.”

// Half-remembering a joke from her favorite sitcom, Ally mangled the punch line, but honestly this made it even funnier.

[See the entry >](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mangle)

Examples:

“A small tornado with 90 mph winds ripped through Calaveras County early Tuesday morning, uprooting and mangling trees in its wake, the National Weather Service Sacramento office said.” — Ariana Bindman, SFGate.com, 11 Jan. 2023

Did you know?

If you’re an [aficionado](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aficionado) of ironing appliances, you may be steamed that we did not highlight the noun [mangle](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mangle#h2) (“a machine for ironing laundry by passing it between heated rollers”) or its related [verb](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mangle#h3) (“to press or smooth with a mangle”) for today’s Word of the Day. You may even believe we mangled it! We concede, even if we fail to entirely smooth things over, that mangle is a perfectly fine word, coming as it does from the Dutch word mangel (not to be confused with the [beet](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mangel)), but it is less commonly encountered than the mangle that means “to ruin or injure”; that mangle is unrelated, coming instead from Anglo-French. Its path in English has followed a trajectory similar to that of [butcher](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/butcher#dictionary-entry-2), moving swiftly from applying to a violent action to a figurative use meaning “to bungle.”

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 10, 2024 is: tenet \TEN-ut\ noun

A tenet is a principle, belief, or doctrine that is held to be true by members of an organization, movement, or profession.

// On her first day at the fashion institute, Marta learned the basic tenets of the fashion industry.

[See the entry >](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tenet)

Examples:

"Other tenets of sound communication hold: for example, the use of active listening skills to identify the person's underlying needs and drivers of their behavior; and responding respectfully, to demonstrate understanding and acknowledge the impact of what happened and their feelings about it." — Steven P. Dinkin, The San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Dec. 2023

Did you know?

Tenet holds a centuries-long tenure in the English language, but its hometown is Latin. In that language, tenet is a form of the verb tenēre ("to hold") and means "s/he holds." Tenet was borrowed into English around 1600, probably because of use of the word in Latin writings to introduce text giving a principle or doctrine held by a person or group, such as a particular church or sect. The word’s English use today seems clearly linked: "a principle, belief, or doctrine generally held to be true, and especially one held in common by members of an organization, movement, or profession." Note that the similar-sounding word [tenant](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tenant) is also from tenēre; it arrived in the 1300s and typically refers today to someone who rents or leases a house, apartment, etc., from a landlord. (Be [careful not to use](https://www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/tenant-vs-tenet-difference-usage) tenant where you want tenet.) [Tenure](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tenure) is a tenēre descendant too.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 9, 2024 is: ominous \AH-muh-nus\ adjective

Something described as ominous hints or suggests that something bad is coming or is going to happen.

// Our fears about the picnic being cancelled were heightened by the sight of dark, ominous clouds appearing over the horizon.

[See the entry >](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ominous)

Examples:

"The trailer opens with ominous signs of seismograph activity picking up as desert sands start to shift and a giant ape hand bursts out from below. 'For most of human civilization, we believed that life could only exist on the surface of our planet,' Andrews says in a voiceover. 'What else were we wrong about?'" — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica.com, 4 Dec. 2023

Did you know?

Ominous didn't always mean that something bad was about to happen. If you look closely, you can see the [omen](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/omen) in ominous, which gave it the original meaning of "being a sign of events to come"—whether good or bad. It ultimately comes from the Latin word omen, which is both an ancestor and a synonym of our omen. Today, however, ominous suggests a menacing or threatening aspect. Its synonyms [portentous](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/portentous) and [fateful](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fateful) are used similarly, but ominous is the most menacing of the three. It implies an alarming quality that foreshadows evil or disaster. So when [something wicked this way comes](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Macbeth-by-Shakespeare), count on ominous to deliver the news [aforehand](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aforehand).

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 8, 2024 is: ferret \FAIR-ut\ verb

To ferret means to find something, such as information, by careful searching. It is usually followed by the word out.

// We love having her in our study group because she's good at ferreting out the answers to the study guide.

[See the entry >](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ferret)

Examples:

"The St. John's coach was captured on ABC cameras at the Garden for Game 4 between the Knicks and Cavaliers on Sunday, allowing some enterprising lip readers to ferret out the digits he was giving to someone." — Michael Blinn, The New York Post, 25 Apr. 2023

Did you know?

Since the 14th century, English speakers have used ferret as the name of a small, [slinky](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slinky), domesticated mammal of the weasel family. The word came to us by way of Anglo-French and can be traced back to the Latin word fur, meaning "thief." These days ferrets are often kept as pets, but previously they were used to hunt rabbits, rats, and other vermin, and to drive them from their underground burrows. By the 15th century, the verb ferret was being used for the action of hunting with ferrets. By the late 16th century, the verb had taken on figurative uses as well. Today, we most frequently encounter the verb ferret in the sense of "to find and bring to light by searching."

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 7, 2024 is: retronym \RET-roh-nim\ noun

Retronym refers to a term (such as analog watch, film camera, or acoustic guitar) that is created and adopted to distinguish the original or older version, form, or example of something from others that are more recent.

// While ordering a regular coffee Sam started to tell the barista about how “regular coffee” is a retronym until the next person in line sighed with impatience.

[See the entry >](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retronym)

Examples:

“Framework has also formally renamed its first laptop design; the 13-inch model picks up the ‘Framework Laptop 13’ retronym to distinguish it from the new Framework 16 gaming laptop.” — Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 23 Mar. 2023

Did you know?

Remember way back when cameras used film? Back then, such devices were simply called cameras; they weren't specifically called film cameras until they needed to be distinguished from the digital cameras that came later. Similarly, the term desktop computer wasn't often used until laptops became prevalent. A lot of our common retronyms have come about due to technological advances: acoustic guitar emerged to contrast with electric guitar, and [brick-and-mortar](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brick-and-mortar) store came into use to distinguish traditional stores from online retailers. Retronym was coined by Frank Mankiewicz, an American journalist and former president of National Public Radio, and was first seen in print in 1980. Retronyms themselves are of course much older; British English, for example, is a retronym called into service when American English developed.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 6, 2024 is: circumspect \SER-kum-spekt\ adjective

Someone described as circumspect is careful to consider all [circumstances](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/circumstances) and risks before doing or saying something.

// They are circumspect in all their business dealings.

[See the entry >](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/circumspect)

Examples:

"As a narrator, [Martin] Baron is at once circumspect—his memoir reveals nearly nothing of his life outside the newsroom—and brimming with astringent disclosure." — Nathan Heller, The New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2023

Did you know?

Circumspect may not be the most common of words, but its Latin forebears have made quite a mark on our language. That's because circumspect combines two major players in the Latin branch of the English language's pedigree: circum-, meaning "around," and specere, meaning "to look." Just look around, and you'll find that English is brimming with descendants of these Latin gems. Open your paper dictionary to circumspect and behold with your own eyes the thirty circum- entries that surround it, such as [circumference](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/circumference), [circumscribe](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/circumscribe), and [circumnavigate](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/circumnavigate). Then flip on over to [spectacular](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spectacular) for a little peek at the [many words](https://www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/speculate-origin-history) for which English has specere to thank, including [spectacle](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spectacle), [spectrum](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spectrum), and [spectator](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spectator). Latin lovers: we see you!

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 5, 2024 is: accolade \AK-uh-layd\ noun

Accolade refers to an award or expression of praise. It is often used in the plural form.

// The movie's special effects have drawn accolades from both fans and critics.

[See the entry >](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accolade)

Examples:

"'It is a tremendous honor to be mentioned on the extended World's 50 Best List,' says Executive Chef Lee, who later tells us that it wasn't necessarily one of their immediate goals, making the tremendous accolade quite the surprise. 'I am extremely grateful that we are getting attention on the world stage and I am so happy that the team here at Saison gets the recognition for their hard work.'" — Chelsea Davis, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023

Did you know?

Give credit where credit is due: it's time to celebrate accolade for its centuries of [laudatory](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/laudatory) service. Accolade joined English in the 16th century from the Middle French noun acolade, which in turn comes from the verb accoler, meaning "to embrace." When it was first borrowed from French, accolade referred to a ceremonial embrace that formally conferred knighthood. The term was later extended to other ceremonial acts conferring knighthood (such as the familiar touching of the shoulders with the flat part of a sword's blade), and then to other ceremonies marking the recognition of a special merit, distinction, or achievement. Today it refers more broadly to an award or expression of praise.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 4, 2024 is: skulk \SKULK\ verb

To skulk is to move around or hide in a stealthy or secretive way. A person or animal that is said to be skulking is often assumed or considered to be up to some form of wrongdoing or mischief.

// The cat often skulks around the entryway, waiting for someone to open the front door so it can sneak out.

[See the entry >](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/skulk)

Examples:

“To the general public, vultures may seem vaguely repulsive, [Edward Gorey](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Edward-Gorey)-type characters that skulk in bare trees waiting for something to die. But to researchers who study any of the 23 species in today’s vulture consortium, the birds brim with intelligence born of their exceptional vocation.” — Natalie Angier, The New York Times, 12 Nov. 2023

Did you know?

Here's one for the word-puzzle lovers. Name three qualities that the word skulk shares with each of the following words: [booth](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/booth), [brink](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brink), [cog](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cog), [flit](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flit), [kid](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kid), [meek](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meek), [scab](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scab), [seem](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/seem), and [skull](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/skull). If you noticed that all of the terms on that list have just one syllable, then you've got the first, and easiest, similarity. The next two require some special knowledge: all of the words are of Scandinavian origin and all were first recorded in English in the 13th century. As for skulk specifically, its closest known Scandinavian relative is the Norwegian dialect word skulka, which means “to lie in wait” or “to lurk.” Skulk is also used—though less often—as a noun, referring either to “one that skulks” or to a group of foxes, animals often held to be [furtively](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/furtive) lurking around.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 3, 2024 is: diligent \DIL-uh-junt\ adjective

Someone or something described as diligent is characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic effort.

// After many hours of diligent research, the students were ready to compile their results.

[See the entry >](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diligent)

Examples:

“Scott had a reputation for being diligent and hardworking, maybe a tad arrogant, but not the type to make rousing speeches in the locker room at halftime.” — Robert Samuels, The New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2023

Did you know?

You’re more likely to be diligent about something if you love doing it. The etymology of diligent reflects the fact that devotion can lead to energetic effort. The word, which entered English in the 14th century by way of Anglo-French, comes from the Latin verb diligere, meaning “to value or esteem highly” or “to love.” Diligere was formed by combining the di- prefix (from dis-, meaning “apart”) with the verb legere, meaning “to gather, select” or “to read.” Legere has itself proved to be a diligent contributor to English; its offspring include [collect](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/collect), [lecture](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lecture), [legend](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legend), [intelligent](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intelligent), and [legume](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legume).