Misoneism is a noun that refers to a fear of innovation or change.

The Greek word for hatred is misos (ME sose) combined with another Greek word Neos (NAY ose) for ‘new’ and the Italian ismo (EASE moe) meaning ‘a distinctive practice’ we get ‘the hatred of the new. The word can also refer to fear of new things.

I don’t understand why all these parents hate the young people’s music. All this misoneism has a tendency to stagnate progress.

Costive is an adjective that means slow in action or expression.

The Latin word constipare (con stee PAR ay) referred to constipation, the medical condition of being unable to have a bowel movement. As our word of the day evolved its meaning broadened to also refer to being slow in action, regardless of the reason for the slowness.

Kyle’s costive temperament makes her a good judge. A person who is too quick to make decisions has a tendency to make rash moves.

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Homologate is a verb that means to sanction or approve of.

Our word of the day combines the Greek Homos (HO mose) which means “alike” with the Greek word for “word” logos (LOW gose). Together they give us a word that refers to bringing words into agreement.

As the league’s commissioner, my job consisted mostly of homologating the deals brokered by the owners of the teams. It wasn’t always easy because sometimes the deals were were illegal, so I couldn’t approve of them.

Byronic is an adjective that means moody and melodramatic.

19th century poet Lord Byron provides the origin of our word of the day. He was a romantic English poet known for poetry that was full of melancholy and intense drama. Byronic may be used to describe poetry of this kind, or can be used more broadly to describe anything, like as a person’s behavior, that fits such a description. For example: Catherine’s been acting more Byronic lately. She’s been in a moody frame of mind all week.

Gimcrack is a noun that refers to something cheap and showy but of little use or an adjective that means showy but worthless.

Our word of the day’s origin is uncertain, but it seems to have common ground with words from Middle English that refer to furniture that is ornamental, but serves no practical purpose. Gimcrack has retained this same meaning today. For example: All those decorative gimcracks on Nigel’s guitar may have looked cute, but they didn’t disguise the fact that he wasn’t a very good player.

Encomium is a noun that refers to glowing praise.

The Greek word kōmos (COE mose) means ‘celebration.’ Enkōmion (en COMB ee um) referred specifically to an expression of praise made to a victor in the olympics. Later, the word was broadened to refer to any ode made is someone’s honor.

We all love the wonderful work Nancy has done since arriving here. She deserves great encomium.

Prestidigitation is a noun that means sleight of hand.

Our word of the day gets its origin by combining presto (PRESS toe) the Italian word for ‘quick’ and  digitus (DEE gee toos) the Latin word for ‘finger.’ Often used to describe the work of magicians, prestidigitation can also be used in other contexts, such as: I was fooled by the thief’s prestidigitation. If I hadn’t seem him secretly put a candy bar in his pocket, I would have never known what was happening.

Bowdlerize is a verb that means to expurgate by omit parts considered vulgar.

Our word of the day’s origin begins with a 19th century English physician named Thomas Bowdler. In 1818, Bowdler published a book called “Family Shakespeare” with the intention of omitting “those words which cannot with propriety be read aloud in a family.” The book was successful with the general public, but literary and theatre critics weren’t as happy with what he’d done to The Bard’s work.

It didn’t take long for the word bowdlerize to enter English as a way of describing the doctor’s act. In fact, it appeared prior to his death in 1825.

I really hope the producers don’t bowdlerize my writing. Omitting vulgar words from it would seriously harm my artistic intentions.

Lucullan is an adjective that means luxurious.

The Roman general Lucius Licinius (loo SIN ee us) Lucullus had a reputation for having a lush lifestyle. From him we get our word of the day.

I wasn’t looking to live a lucullan lifestyle. But now that I’ve won the lottery, I’m happy to live in the kind of luxury I never dreamed about as a younger man.