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The huge Amazon Alexa hit Word of the Day is now available as a podcast!Word of the Day teaches you a useful word, its definition, etymology, and gives you examples of how to use it in a sentence. A... more
FAQs about Word of the Day:How many episodes does Word of the Day have?The podcast currently has 1,937 episodes available.
May 30, 2021DesideratumDesideratum is a noun that refers to ‘something that is desired or wanted.’The origin or desideratum is directly from Latin. It translates into the two words ‘something desired.’ An example of its use is: In spite of all Harvey’s quest for money, his desideratum in life remained the protection of his family. To him, that is what mattered more than anything else....more1minPlay
May 29, 2021FaustianFaustian 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....more1minPlay
May 28, 2021En masseEn masse is an adverb that means ‘in a group’ or ‘all together.’Our word of the day comes directly from French. It translates to ‘in a mass.’ For example: when we approached our supervisor one at a time, we didn’t get much respect. But approaching him en masse seemed to make him nervous enough to surrender to our demands....more1minPlay
May 27, 2021SereSere is an adjective that means ‘dry’ or ‘without moisture.’Our word of the day comes directly from Old English as a verb that meant ‘to burn something.’ It was a synonym of words like ‘scorch’ or ‘singe.’ Sere is often used to describe a desert or withered vegetation. For example: It’s a shame no one took care of the old garden at Kelly’s house. Everything has become all dried up and sere....more1minPlay
May 26, 2021AbeyanceAbeyance is a noun that refers to ‘a state of disuse or suspension.’Our word of the day began in Latin as the word Baer (BUY er) which meant ‘having ones mouth wide open,’ a condition we associate with being suspended or waiting for something. By the late 16th century, the word became adopted into English where its meaning shifted into a state of not being used.Example: The abeyance of that field put a few ideas in my head. I figured that because it wasn’t being put to use, no one would mind if our soccer team used it to practice....more1minPlay
May 25, 2021TorsionTorsion is a noun that refers to ‘the act of twisting.’The Latin word torquere (tork WHERE ay) means ‘to twist.’ Torsion is a versatile word that has a use in medicine as well as mathematics where it refers to the extent to which a curve departs from being planar.But in ordinary English it can simply refer to any act of twisting. For example: At grandpa’s age, he really shouldn’t be twisting the night away like he did as a teenager. All that torsion on his hips can make him twist and shout in more ways that one....more1minPlay
May 24, 2021LourLour is a verb that means ‘to be dark and gloomy.’ It can also be a noun that refers to ‘a scowl.’The origin of our word of the day is unknown. But in its use it can be helpful to describe weather or a look on someone’s face. An example of its use as a verb is: Watching my daughter lour at me during the entire game gave me the impression that she was no fan of hockey. Here’s an example of it being used as a noun: The lour in the sky seemed ominous and foreboding. It gave use the feeling that we shouldn’t have been fishing that day....more1minPlay
May 23, 2021RubiconRubicon is a noun that means ‘an action that once done cannot be reversed.’Our word of the day was named after a river in Ancient Rome that was used as a border. At one point it was decreed by Julius Caesar that crossing the Rubicon was a violation of the law.We now use the word to describe an act that once done, cannot be undone — just like crossing the Rubicon. For example: When Tommy deleted his profile from his favorite social media site, he instantly regretted it, because he knew he could never put it back up. Right then and there, he knew he was crossing a rubicon....more1minPlay
May 22, 2021CaliginousCaliginous is an adjective that means ‘obscure’ or ‘murky.’Coming to English in the mid-16th century, our word of the day originated in Latin, where it means ‘misty.’ In recent years, its meaning has broadened to also mean ‘dim’ or ‘obscure.’For example: The caliginous sky didn’t make for the most ideal conditions, but it certainly looked cool. That murky look would be a perfect opening for a vampire movie....more1minPlay
May 21, 2021BrumousBrumous is an adjective that means ‘foggy and wintry.’The Latin word bruma (BROOM uh) refers to ‘winter.’ Our word of the day was imported into English in the Mid 19th century.An example of its use in a sentence: The brumous atmosphere on the campsite added to the sense of mystique. All that fog and crisp air made me feel I had stumbled into something scary and intriguing....more1minPlay
FAQs about Word of the Day:How many episodes does Word of the Day have?The podcast currently has 1,937 episodes available.