Today's word of the day is numinous, N-U-M-I-N-O-U-S. Numinous is an adjective that means supernatural or mysterious.

The Latin word numen (NOO men) for 'divine will' got things started, but the word numinous picked up steam in the seventeenth century, broadening to mean anything mysterious. Something doesn't have to actually come from the heavens above to be described as numinous, it only has to seem as though it had.

My daughter's skill at painting is nothing short of numinous. It looks as if her paintbrush was guided by forces from above.

Numinous is spelled N-U-M-I-N-O-U-S. 

Today's word of the day is vermicular. It's spelled V-E-R-M-I-C-U-L-A-R. Vermicular is an adjective that means resembling a worm.

If you look closely you'll find a worm hidden in today's word of the day. The root word is the Latin vermis (VER mis) which simply ‘means’ worm and over the years, those first four letters evolved into worm, which may make it easier to recall vermicular's meaning.

The dancing these kids do today tends to puzzle grandpa. Those strange, vermicular motions make him long for the days of Fred Astaire.

Once again, vermicular is spelled V-E-R-M-I-C-U-L-A-R.

Today's word of the day is comity, C-O-M-I-T-Y. Comity is a noun that means Friendly civility.

Coming from the Latin word Comitus (KAAM uh tus) meaning courteousness, comity is often used in a formal settings and may sound out of place if used casually. So instead of: my son and daughter have found a comity between them, you might say: after a contentious, ugly election, the candidates have settled into a welcome comity.

Once again, comity is spelled C-O-M-I-T-Y. 

Today's word of the day is alterity. It's spelled A-L-T-E-R-I-T-Y. Alterity is a noun that means otherness.

The Latin word alter (AHL ter) means the other and it has given us such words and phrases as alternative and alter ego. Alterity refers to the state of being something else, usually something alien or unusual. 

Rob's red dreadlocks increased the sense of alterity when he worked on Wall Street. His strange haircut made him even more of an outsider.

The spelling of alterity is A-L-T-E-R-I-T-Y. 

Today's word of the day is sylvan, S-Y-L-V-A-N. Sylvan is an adjective that means located in the woods or Forrest.

A sylvan creature is one that lurks in the forrest. If you're familiar with Greek mythology you may think of the Greek god pan as such a being. And it is no coincidence that the Roman equivalent of Pan is named Sylvanus.

The forrest has always made James uneasy. He's put off by the thought of all those sylvan critters lurking in the bushes and weeds.

Once again, sylvan is spelled S-Y-L-V-A-N.

Today's word of the day is ululate. It's spelled U-L-U-L-A-T-E. Ululate is a verb that means to howl or wail. 

It's very likely that the sound of wailing birds inspired the origin of the Latin word ululare (oo loo LAHR ay) which, of course, means, to wail. Ululate can also apply to humans, but it's best to use it when describing humans making an animal-like wail. 

When I heard Maria's stunning singing voice emerge from the basement, I mistook her for an owl. That's how beautiful it sounds when she ululates. 

Ululate is spelled U-L-U-L-A-T-E. 

Today’s word of the day is pungle. P-U-N-G-L-E. Pungle is a verb that means to make a payment or contribution of money.

Derived from the Spanish word pongale (pon GAHL ay) pungle emerged in the mid nineteenth century in the American West. It's frequently used in an informal context combined with the word 'up.' For example: The five of us were starving after a night of poker and we thought about cooking something. Instead we decided to pungle up for a pizza.

The spelling of pungle is P-U-N-G-L-E.

Today’s Word of the day is Psephology. It’s spelled P-S-E-P-H-O-L -O-G-Y. Psephology ia a noun that means the scientific study of elections. 

The Greeks gave us the word psephos (SEE fos) which means pebbles. Why pebbles? Because tiny rocks were used to count votes in Ancient Greece. And you probably recognize the 'ology' part of the word as a suffix that means we're referring to a body of knowledge.

Her background in psephology gave Allie an edge in the election. Knowing so much about what drives voters meant she could understand how to please them.

Once again, psephology is spelled P–S–E-P-H-O-L-O-GY.

Today's word of the day is supercilious, S-U-P-E-R-C-I-L-I-O-U-S. Supercilious is an adjective that means behaving as if one thinks one is superior to others. 

Super is often used as a word or prefix in a way that is admirable or positive. But supercilious reminds us that 'super' a prefix of Ancient Greek descent that simply means 'above,' can be negative or positive depending on its context.

In this case it combines with the Latin word for eyebrow in a way that gives us supercilious, which means arrogant. If eyebrow seems like a strange word to get us there, keep in mind the phrase 'high brow,' which is often used as a synonym of conceited or haughty.

We all enjoyed Ron's donation's to our charity. But there's no denying that he can get a little supercilious from time to time.

The spelling of supercilious is S-U-P-E-R-C-I-L-I-O-US. 

Today's word of the day is uxorial. It's spelled U-X-O-R-I-A-L. Uxorial is an adjective that means related to the characteristics of a wife.

The Latin word for wife is uxor (OOK sor). While the word can be used in any context that refers to a wife, it is probably most appropriate to use this old world sounding word in an old world context, such as: 

Linda didn't enjoy her marriage to George. She found that being married to an older man meant living up to old-fashioned uxorial standards.

Once again, uxorial is spelled U-X-O-R-I-A-L.