Synecdoche is a noun that refers to a figure of speech by which a part is used for the whole.

Our word of the day is derived from a variety of Greek phrases that roughly translate to ‘take up together.’ Here’s an example of it in use:

I told my co-workers that I needed new wheels and they thought I simply needed the wheels replaced on my car. They didn’t understand that ‘wheels’ was often used to refer to a car when I grew up. If I want to avoid confusion in the future, I’ll make sure to never use a synecdoche again.

Metonym is a noun that refers to a metaphoric substitute.

The Greek word metonumia (MET oh me ah) means ‘change of name.’ Another way to think of a metonym is to think of it as a substitute word. For example, when we use the term ‘Washington DC’ to refer to the federal government, we are using a substitute — or a metonym. Here’s an example:

I think I confused my family when I told them my business was going to the dogs. I was using a metonym, but they thought I was working at a dog kennel.

Elision is a noun that refers to an omission of a passage in a book, speech or film.

Frequently used in reference to books or other literary material, our word of the day comes from the Latin word elidere (el ee DARE ay) which means ‘crush out.’

The elision of my favorite passage from a Charles Dickens novel annoyed me a great deal. I don’t think it’s a great idea to tamper with great works of art by removing parts that contemporary readers don’t like.

Testator is a noun that refers to a person who leaves a will.

Our word of the day is mostly used in legal contexts and is derived from the Latin word testari (Tess TAR ee) for ‘testify.’ Simply put, a testator is the person leaving their last will and testament.

The work of a lawyer can be heartbreaking at times. On one occasion, I had to explain to a testator that no matter how much she loved her teddy bear Alfred, she could not legally bequeath Alfred her home in her will.

Catalyze is a verb that means to bring about or inspire.

Our word of the day’s origin is in the realm of chemistry. The Greek word katalysis (ka TAL us sis) means ‘dissolution,’ and when the word evolved into the English word ‘catalyst,’ it has been used mostly to refer to a process performed in a chemistry lab.

But catalyze can also be used outside of a scientific context to simply mean ‘inspire’ or ‘urge.’ Here’s an example:

In an effort to catalyze the kids out of bed on a Saturday morning, I told them I had new presents for them in the driveway. I neglected to mention they had to shovel the driveway in order to find them.

Abessive is an adjective that means indicating an absence.

Our word of the day is derived from the Latin word abesse (ah BESS ee), which means ‘missing.’ Abessive can be used to describe anything absent. Here’s an example:

I’d say the abessive leadership in our office was a key reason for the ineptitude of our department. Without a strong and competent manager, it’s hard to get things done. This isn’t easy for me to admit as I was the office manager.

Canicular is an adjective that means related to the dog days.

The Latin word Canis (CON eese) means ‘dog.’ The period between early July and early September came to be known as the ‘dog days’ for reasons that have nothing to do with the weather of that period or with the way dogs feel about those months. Instead, the name ‘dog days’ became associated with that time frame because that time of year is under the star Sirius, whose Latin name was Canicula, meaning ‘small dog.’

That canicular period of late summer can be really rough on a heating duct repairman. With temperatures soaring during the dog days, who wants to get their heating repaired?

Torrential is an adjective that means falling in rushing or violent streams.

The word torrent comes directly from Latin and it means ‘boiling’ or ‘roaring.’ Our word of the day modifies this word into an adjective to describe things that boil or roar — often from the sky.

The torrential rains on the field caused so much damage we had to delay the game for weeks. These kinds of violent storms are a good reason why Hawaii hasn’t been a popular location for baseball.

Cynegetic is an adjective that means related to hunting.

Our word of the day is derived from the Greek word for dog, which has indirectly led us to its present meaning of ‘related to hunting.’ Here’s an example of cynegetic in use:

It’s often said that there’s a cynegetic element to archeology. They are, after all, hunting for information and artifacts. It’s just that the prey they are stalking died hundreds of thousands of years ago.

Abnegate is a verb that means to deny or renounce.

The Latin word Abnegare (ob nay GAR ay) means deny. Our word of the day was imported into English in the early 17th century and has retained this same basic meaning. Abnegate is often , but not always, used in a religious context. Here’s an example of its use:

When he decided to run for office, Jamie thought he should abnegate his controversial views — and for good reason. Being a Yankees fan would make someone an awfully unpopular candidate in the Boston area.