Fussbudget is a noun that refers to a person who worries about unimportant things.

Our word of the day is a combination of the words ‘fuss,’ meaning ‘to show unnecessary concern’ and ‘budget,’ which refers to ‘an estimate of income and expenditures needed for a period of time.’ Together they create a word for somebody who worries needlessly about minor things — like a budget.

My grandpa can be a fussbudget at times. When I took him to lunch he spent the whole time fretting about how much cheaper the meal would have been if we had eaten it at his favorite diner in Miami.

Newspeak is a noun that means deliberately ambiguous language designed to deceive.

Author George Orwell first coined the word newspeak for his dystopian novel nineteen eighty four. It described a new language designed to manipulate people into believing lies. Today the word isn’t generally used to refer to a new language but simply to mean words meant to deceive.

Carl can’t bear to watch the news on that channel. He insists that their newscasters are speaking in newspeak.

Inscape is a noun that refers to a person's inner character.

Our word of the day combines the prefix I-N, for ‘inner’ and the suffix ‘scape’ which refers to a specific kind of scene, as in ‘landscape,’ ‘moonscape,’ or ‘cityscape.’ Inscape was first coined in the mid-19th century by a writer named Gerald Manley Hopkins in reference to poetry. The word is still often used to describe works of art: I loved the character of Marlene in your play. I felt she beautifully captured the inscape of a young woman coming of age in Victorian England.

Impend is a verb that means to be about to happen.

It may surprise you to learn that our word of the day is a close relative of the word pendant. Both words came from the Latin word pendere (PEN dare ay) which means ‘to hang.’ The best way to sort this confusion out is to consider that a pendant hangs from a chain that hangs around a neck, while something that impends hangs metaphorically over your head in a threatening way.

I get more and more stressed out as the deadline approaches. Feeling it impend that way makes me nervous.

Obvert is a verb that means to turn so as to present a different view.

Our word of the day combines the prefix O-B meaning ‘toward’ with the Latin word vertere (Vare TEAR ay) meaning ‘to turn.’ The result gives us a word to describe turning to display another angle. It may also mean ‘to alter the appearance of’ as in: Cindy was almost unrecognizable after her trip to the spa. I didn’t expect them to obvert her so dramatically.

Mooncalf is a noun that means a foolish or absent-minded person.

The exact origin of our word of the day is something of a mystery, but some believe it may have been derived from the German word Mondkalb (MOON kype) which means a ‘fleshy mess.’ It was also believed that a mooncalf was deformed because of the influence of the moon. Regardless of its origin, the word came to mean an idiotic person, a meaning it continues to hold on to today.

Bridget may be smart, but she has moments where she can really be a mooncalf. The other day, for example, she asked me what night Monday night football was on.

Quiescent is an adjective that means

at rest.

The Latin quiēscere (kwee ACE sare ay) means ‘to be quiet’ or ‘to rest.’ A person or thing that quiescent is at rest or dormant.

Don’t worry about that grizzly bear out back. He’ll be quiescent for the next few hours, so he won’t be able to bother you.

Stolid is an adjective that means not easily moved.

Don’t be misled by out word of the day’s origin. It comes from the Latin stolidus (STOW lee doos) which means stupid. But a stolid person isn’t necessarily lacking in intelligence. Instead it referred to people who appear stupid because they say nothing. More recently the word has shed any connection to stupidly and is more likely to be used as a synonym of ‘unemotional’ or ‘stoic.’

Kevin’s demeanor remained stolid throughout the movie. I got the impression that he wasn’t moved by it at all.

Bogart is a verb that means to bully or take more that ones fair share.

Hollywood legend Humphrey Bogart was known for playing rough, highly intimidating characters. In recent years his name has become a verb to describe the behavior befitting such characters.

Charles tried to Bogart his way into the restaurant. But unfortunately, the restaurant security would not allow themselves to be bullied.

Highbinder is a noun that means a swindler or gangster.

Not much is known about the exact origin of our word of the day, but, highbinder seems to have been the name of a 19th century gang. Our word of the day may refer specifically to a professional killer operating in the Chinese quarter of an American city or it may refer, more broadly to a person — usually a politician — who has engaged in some form of corruption.

George’s reputation as a highbinder could cause problems in the next election. Voters may be cautious of someone with a history of corruption.