Supertemporal is an adjective that means being beyond time or eternal.

The Latin word tempus (TEM poos) means ‘time.’ The addition of the prefix S-U-P-E-R brings our word of the day to the meaning of ‘beyond time.’ Here’s an example of it in use:

I hoped I would have a game that was supertemporal last night, but the only thing eternal about it was that people will be laughing about my mistakes for all eternity.

Pique is a noun that refers to a feeling of irritation or resentment from a slight.

Our word of the day has many meanings, but today we’re focusing on the noun that refers to a sense of annoyance or frustration that comes from a slight. Pique is derived from an Old French word for ‘stabbing blow.’ Here’s an example of it in use:

Mr. Henderson left the office in a fit of pique. He couldn’t believe they selected the pizza for the party without consulting him.

Furphy is a noun that refers to a false report or rumor.

The exact origin or our word of the day is unclear, but it is an Australian slang that’s been around since World War 1, when it became used by journalists trying to report the news.

We received a Furphy regarding the Senator and his financial dealings, but the reports were later proven false. It’s a good thing we’ve learned not to believe every rumor we hear.

Guttural is an adjective that means related to a harsh sound produced in the throat.

The Latin word guttur (GOO tour) means ‘throat.’ Guttural is often used in a medical context, but it can have an everyday meaning when used to refer to the sounds in creates. Here’s an example:

The guttural sounds my dog made last week suggested he was having trouble breathing. It turned out he had some throat problems that we’ve since had corrected.

Soiree is a noun that refers to an evening party.

The French word soir (swah) means evening, and our word of the day lifts it directly without changing it much. Soiree is a word probably best used for a sophisticated evening event — not poker night with your buddies.

The soiree we attended last week was a joy. Not only was the wine exceptional, but the music by the string orchestra made the evening complete.

Finitude is noun that means the state of having limits or bounds.

The Latin word finitus (FEE knee toose) provides the origin for our word of the day. It means ‘specific bounds or limits.’ Its distant cousin Finitude has been an English word for several centuries, maintaining the same basic meaning. Here’s an example:

The finitude of my job can be frustrating at times. No matter how much I want to change things, there’s a limit to how much my duties allow me to do so.

Gallicism is a noun that refers to a French expression adopted by speakers of another language.

Although it refers to The French language, Gallicism — like the French language itself — has its origin in Latin. The word refers to people descended from Gaul, a region that later became France. Here’s an example:

Lisa’s use of the phrase je ne sais quoi confused me a little before I realized it was a Gallicism. Here I was thinking my daughter had learned French when really she was just using a French term that is common among English speakers.

Phatic is an adjective that denotes language used for social interaction.

The Greek word phatos (FAH tose) means ‘spoken.’ Since entering English in the 1920s, its distant relative phatic has come to mean ‘used for social interaction.’

When I asked Carly how she was doing, she gave me a long-winded answer about how she felt pretty good after a rough weekend. It was as if she didn’t understand that my question was phatic, not intended to get any actual information.

Eidolon is a noun that refers to an idealized person or thing.

The Greek word eidos (EE dose) means ‘form.’ An eidolon is the form of a perfect person or thing. Example:

The character ‘Betty’ in the book didn’t seem very realistic to me. She seemed more like an eidolon. That author has used many idealized characters in the past.

Torpor is a noun that refers to a state of physical or mental inactivity.

In Latin, the word torpore (tore POOR ay) means ‘be numb’ or ‘sluggish.’ Our word of the day may refer to a time of mental inactivity or it may generally refer to lethargy.

After running the marathon, I felt a torpor for a few days. This kind of sluggishness is common for marathon runners.