Calque is a noun that refers to a word that comes from one language and enters another with the same meaning.

Our word of the day comes from the French word calquer (kal KAY) which means ‘copy.’ When a word gets copied from one language to another it is a calque. It may be helpful to remember that calque itself is a calque. Here’s an example:

For an English speaker, Spanish is a relatively easy language to learn. Because there are so many calques, It’s not so difficult to remember Spanish words that are the same in English. 

Benignant is an adjective that means kindly or benevolent. 

In addition to our word of the day, the Latin word bene (BEN ay) has given the English language words like ‘beneficial,’ ‘benefactor,’ and ‘benediction.’ Benignant is best used to describe sweet or kind behavior, for example:

I’ve always found that acting in a benignant manner is a good idea for salesman. After all, who wants to buy a car from somebody who acts like a jerk?

Idler is a noun that refers to a habitually lazy person.

Our word of the day has its origin in the Old English word idel (EE deel) meaning ‘empty’ or ‘useless.’ It soon evolved into the contemporary English word idle and with it, came the word idler to describe someone inclined to be idle or useless. Here’s an example:

You can’t really be an idler in the real estate business. If you sit around and waste your time when you should be hustling, someone else will take your sales. 

Venturesome is an adjective that means willing to take risks.

Coming from Middle English, the word venture is an abbreviated version of ‘adventure,’ or exciting hazardous activity. The suffix SOME means ‘characterized by being.’ We see it in words like ‘tiresome,’ ‘fearsome’ and our word of the day venturesome. Here’s an example of it in use:

I wasn’t what you’d call a venturesome child. My idea of taking risks was riding my bike across the street without the training wheels. 

Bane is a noun that refers to a cause of great distress or annoyance.

The Old English word bana (BAH nah) means ‘death or poison.’ In time this word drifted into English with a less lethal meaning. It now simply refers to a source of irritation or frustration. Example:

That annoying construction crew next door has become the bane of the neighborhood. How can anybody get any sleep with all that noise?

Maladroit is an adjective that means ineffective or bungling. 

The word adroit has French origins and means skilful or clever. Our word of the day adds the prefix M-A-L which means ‘not,’ and gets us a word that means useless or unskilled. Here’s an example of maladroit in use:

Given our basketball team’s tendency toward maladroit ball handling, it’s a wonder we ever scored any points. An inability to handle the ball with skill is usually not a good sign for a team. 

Whirligig is a noun that refers to a toy that spins around. 

Our word of the day came from Late Middle English and meant ‘a whipping top.’ Although it originally referred to a specific toy, it later was used to describe any kind of toy that spins. Example:

That whirligig had my son transfixed all day. I’m sure in time, it’ll take much more to capture his attention, but for now, it's fun to see that a simple spinning toy can give him so much joy. 

Coppice is a noun that refers to a thick growth of shrubbery, small trees or underbrush. 

The Latin word colpus (COLE poos) means ‘a blow.’ From there our word of the day shifted its meaning and by the Late Middle English period, it came to refer to a shrubbery. Here’s an example:

The coppice out back was lovely. It’s nice to see some greenery this far into the desert. 

Tetchy is an adjective that means bad-tempered and irritable. 

Our word of the day has something of a mysterious origin, but it seems it may have been derived from the Scots word tache (TACH) which means ‘fault.’ After drifting into English it’s maintained its current form since the late 16th century. 

Steve is a brilliant plumber but his tetchy personality makes it hard for him to get clients. Sometimes the best career advice is to simply not be a grouch.  

Covey is a noun that refers to a small party or flock of birds. 

The Latin word cubare (coo BAR ay) means ‘lie down.’ 

Our word of the day began life in the Middle English period and has since mostly been used to describe a gathering of birds, but can be used to describe anything — even people. Here’s an example:

I was shocked to see a covey of trick-or-treaters at my door last week, partly because it wasn’t even dark outside yet, but also because it won’t be Halloween for another ten months.