Fetor is a noun that refers to a strong, foul smell. 

Our word of the day comes directly from the Latin word for ‘soul smell.’ It’s been around since the 17th century and is used to describe foul smells that have been around much longer. Example:

The fetor coming from the parking lot dumpster became such a distraction that we had to move it. Rotten smells aren’t exactly the kind of things you want customers to be exposed to after leaving a restaurant. 

Theriac is a noun that refers to a medicine that is reputed to cure all. 

Our word of the day comes directly from ancient Greece where it referred to the venom of a snake reputed to contain healing properties. Centuries later, doctors no longer believe in prescribing snake venom to their patients, but the term theriac is still very much around describing all manner of cure-alls. 

After getting sick, I tried a little of the theriac that my friend insists will offer an immediate cure. Not only did this so-called theriac not cure me, but it also added to my list of problems a giant stomach ache.

Agglutinate is a verb that means to firmly stick together to form a mass. 

The Latin word gluten (GLUE ten) meaning ‘to adhere’ has given birth to the word ‘glue’ as well as our word of the day. Agglutinate has stuck around since the mid-16th century. It’s often sued in a medical context. Here’s an example:

In medical school, we learned how red blood cells often agglutinate and form intricate meshes. We later learned how important it is for these cells to stick together. 

Palladian is an adjective that means wise or learned. 

Our word of the day is an eponym, meaning it is a word named after a historical figure. Palladian takes its name from an architect of the 18th century named Andrea Palladio. Palladio was known for his elegant style. Here’s an example:

This Palladian apartment building I’ve just moved into makes me feel like I’ve stumbled into 18th-century Europe. I love the elegance but I just hope the plumbing is a little more up-to-date.

Mimesis is a noun that refers to duplication or mimicry. 

Our word of the day comes directly from the Greek word that means ‘to imitate.’ It’s been around since the mid-16th century. Example:

As a kid, I drove my parents crazy trying to imitate them. This got laughs from everybody — except my parents. They didn’t have much admiration for skill at mimesis. 

Macrology is a noun that refers to the use of more words than necessary. 

Our word of the day is derived from two words of Greek origin, ‘macro,’ meaning ‘long,’ and ‘logos,’ which means ‘words.’ Simply put, macrology is the use of too many words. Example:

The Mayor’s tendency toward macrology made listening to him a very tedious affair. It would take him five thousand words to say ‘good morning.’

Ostensible is an adjective that means stated or appearing to be true, but not necessarily so. 

Having been around since the mid-18th century, our word of the is derived from the Latin word ostentere (oh sten TEAR ay) which means ‘to display.’ Here’s an example:

The ostensible reason for not giving the employees free coffee anymore was that the company could no longer afford it. But looking at the money the company spends on decorating the hallways makes it hard to believe that.

Deipnosophist is a noun that refers to a person skilled at dinner talk. 

The Greek word for ‘meal’ provides the prefix D-E-I-P-N-O of our word of the day, while the suffix S-O-P-H-I-S-T comes from the Greek word for ‘wisdom.’ Here’s an example of it in use:

My son has become something of a deipnosophist at the dinner table lately. He can discuss a wide range of topics, but his favorite thing to talk about at the table is what he wants for dessert.

Deepfake is a noun that refers to an image or recording altered to misrepresent someone. 

A recent addition to the English language, our word of the day is derived from two common words of Old English origin, ‘Deep’ and ‘fake’ and describes a practice that has only become possible in the past few decades. Here’s an example:

That deepfake of my favorite actor looked so convincing I nearly believed they were preparing to star in a new production. But I soon realized they were being misrepresented when they claimed to be staring in a new production on the moon. 

Satiate is a verb that means to satisfy a desire. 

The Latin word satis (saw TEES) means ‘enough.’ Its linguistic offspring satiate has been around since the Late Middle English period and can be thought of as a synonym for quench or satisfy. 

After a long day at work, it takes more than a tiny sandwich to satiate me. Some days it may take nine or ten sandwiches before I can truly consider myself satisfied.