Aeonian is an adjective that means everlasting. 

The word aeon comes from Greek, meaning ‘age,’ as in a period of time like The Stone Age. When used in geology, aeon specifically refers to a thousand million years. Aeonian may mean lasting an aeon or it may simply mean everlasting or eternal, as in: the time Aurora and I spent was limited but our love is aeonian. 

Pellucid is an adjective that means clear or easily understood.

The Latin word lucere (LOO chair ay) means shine. Combined with per, for ‘through,’ we get shine through, meaning clear. Our word of the day may be used to describe something like water that is clear in a literal sense, or something like an idea or a passage of writing that is clear in a figurative sense. 

The film critic’s writing was awfully clever, but I couldn’t understand what he was actually trying to say about the movie. I would have preferred he express himself with more pellucid prose.

Extemporize is a verb that means to perform without preparation. 

Ex tempore (ecks TEM poor ay) is a Latin phrase that means ‘done instantly.’ From this origin we get a word that is often used when describing speeches or musical performances performed instantly as opposed to written out in advance.

After getting in trouble for making highly controversial statements, the Senator’s aides recommended that he not extemporize his speeches anymore. Planning his words out in advance made more sense.

Salient is an adjective that means most noticeable or important. 

The most common use of salient is to describe something that stands out or is most obviously noted. But it may also be used to describe an animal standing on its hind legs as if leaping. This explains why our word of the day comes from the Latin Salire (say LEER ay) meaning to leap.

Jeff’s observation about the house’s strange smell was pretty salient. That odd odor was the first thing that stood out when we entered it.

Tumult is a noun that means a loud, confused noise.

Our word of the day’s origin begins with the Latin word tumultus (too MOOL toos) meaning ‘uprising.’ An uprising is one of many things that may cause the loud, confusing noise of a tumult.

I woke up to the sound of tumult outside. I later found out a fight had broken out in the street.

Surreptitious is an adjective that means done in secret. 

Surreptitious comes from surripere (soo re PEER ay) the Latin word for ‘seizing or stealing secretly.’ Surreptitious behavior doesn’t necessarily involve stealing, but it typically involves doing things in secret because they are not approved of. 

When we found out about those surreptitious meetings at the office, we wondered what was happening in there. As we suspected, they were discussing plans to embezzle millions

Ebullience is a noun that means a quality of being full of energy; cheerful. 

Ebullience is a quality that may be described as ‘bubbling over’ with enthusiasm or joy. So it makes sense that our word of the day would come from the Latin word ebullire (eb ooh LEER ay)which means to ‘bubble out’ or ‘boil.’

Rhonda announced to her co-workers that she was pregnant. That immediately explained the ebullience on her face all week.

Omnishambles is a noun that refers to a situation where poor judgement results in chaos. 

Emerging in the early 21st century, our word of the day is a very recent addition to English language, combining the Latin omnis, (OME nees) meaning ‘all’ with shambles, meaning total disorder. Craig thought he had control of the plumbing, but he returned home to find an omnishambles unfolding on his bathroom floor. 

Demotic is an adjective that means colloquial. 

The greek word demos (DEM ose) refers to ‘the people.’ It’s the same word that gave us words like democratic and demographic. Demotic refers to language used by ordinary people. 

People found the mayor’s speech off-putting. They would have preferred he speak in more demotic terms.

Equable is an adjective that means not easily disturbed or angered. 

Aequabilis (EYE kway beel es) is Latin for ‘make equal.’ Similarly, a person with an equable personality has an ability to make their temperaments equal. 

The doctor’s equable nature made him ideal for the job. His ability to remain calm in stressful situations came in handy.