Irresolute is an adjective that means uncertain. 

The Latin word resolvere (ray sol VAIR ay) means resolved. From this we get resolute, meaning ‘determined’ and ‘unwavering.’ Our word of the day is the opposite. A person who is irresolute is wavering and undetermined. 

With so many offers from colleges, it’s not surprising that Michelle is irresolute. The last time I checked she still hasn’t made up her mind. 

Acquisitive is an adjective that means excessively interested in acquiring money or material things.

In Latin, acquiro (ah KWEE roe) means ‘to get’ or ‘obtain.’ The word’s distant relative acquisitive basically carries the same meaning, ‘excessively interested in getting or obtaining things.’ The word is pretty much always used in a judgmental or pejorative sense. You could think of it as a synonym of greedy. 

Although Doris was surrounded by opulent artifacts at the museum all day, she was never tempted to steal anything. Thankfully, she wasn’t a very acquisitive person.

Vaunt is a verb that means to boast about or praise something excessively. 

The Latin word vanus (VAAH noos) means ‘vain,’ and that’s the birthplace of our word of the day, vaunt. The word later came to refer to praising someone excessively, usually in a way that may make them vain.

I always make sure to vaunt the salesman shortly after arriving at the car dealership. There’s something about an inflated ego that makes them a little more agreeable.

Galoot is a noun that means a clumsy or foolish person. 

It’s not clear which language galoot takes its origin from, but we know the word was first used to refer to  inexperienced marines. It may be used playfully or abusively. 

I probably looked like a galoot when I showed up for my first day for work in an ill-fitting shirt. I had to explain that my washing machine was broken and that I wasn’t an idiot.

The Latin word for ‘educate’ is erudio (air oo DEE oh). From this we get our word of the day. But 

It’s best not to use erudite in the everyday sense of the word ‘educated.’ Your twelve-year-old may be educated in their ABCs, but probably won’t be considered erudite until getting that PhD from an ivy league University. 

Brad did his best to come across erudite in the job interview. He even went so far as to memorize quotes from famous philosophers.

Malapert is an adjective that means boldly disrespectful. 

Malapert combines the suffix ‘mal,’ meaning ‘badly,’ and ‘apert,’ meaning ‘skilled.’ It may help to think of a malapert person as badly skilled in all things social. 

After his malapert behavior at his sister’s wedding, Toby hasn’t gotten many wedding invitations. Heckling the pastor really wasn’t a good idea.

Toothsome is an adjective that means pleasing to taste or palatable. 

Coming from Old English, our word of the day combines the familiar word ‘tooth,’ which was often used to refer to a person’s appetite, with ‘some’, a suffix that means ‘tending to’ or ‘causing.’ 

That toothsome apple pie is tempting me to forget all about my diet. It’s so appetizing I simply don’t care about how many calories it contains.

Snarf is a verb that means to eat or drink quickly or greedily. 

The precise origin of our word of the day isn’t known, but snarf may be one of many words that were born in an effort to imitate the sound made by the word’s action. In other words, when you snarf down food or drink, you probably make a sound like snarf. 

I didn’t want to snarf down my meal at such a formal dinner party, but I was so famished, I could’t help but devour my beef stroganoff in a single gulp.

Indwell is a verb that means to be permanently present in someone's mind. 

Our word of the day is a combination of two fairly common English words ‘in’ and ‘dwell.’ It may be best to think of it as a verb that basically means to ‘dwell in’ someone’s mind. For example: Erica’s sentimental goodbye may indwell my head forever. I don’t think I’ll ever forget those lovely words.

Avulsion is a noun that means the act of pulling or tearing away. 

A combination of the Latin words for ‘from’ and ‘pluck’ give us avallere (ah val AIR ay). In time, this morphed into avulsion, meaning to pull or tear away. The word may be used literally or figuratively, as in: Chuck’s avulsion from his family was a painful thing to see. It’s never pleasant to watch someone get separated from loved ones.