Word of the Day

Word of the Day : July 6, 2021 Deter verb dih-TER Definition 1 : to turn aside, discourage, or prevent from acting 2 : inhibit Did you know? The word deter is rooted in fear. It was borrowed into English around the mid-16th century from the Latin verb deterrēre, which in turn was formed by combining de-, meaning "from" or "away," with terrēre, … Continue reading Word of the Day – Deter

Word of the Day : July 5, 2021 Quondam adjective KWAHN-dum Defintion : former, sometime Did you know? Looking for an unusual and creative way to say "former"? Quondam (which came to English in the 16th century from Latin quondam, meaning "at one time" or "formerly") certainly fits the bill. Or maybe you'd prefer one of its synonyms: whilom, ci-devant, or preterit. Or you … Continue reading Word of the Day – Quondam

Word of the Day : July 2, 2021 Gormandize verb GOR-mun-dyze Defintion : to eat greedily, gluttonously, or ravenously : devour Did you know? Gormandize entered English in the mid-1500s as a modification of gourmand, a term borrowed from the French that served as a synonym for glutton. The meanings of both gourmand and gormandize were clearly disparaging until the 19th century, when gourmet came into use to refer to … Continue reading Word of the Day – Gormandize

Word of the Day : July 1, 2021 Bijou noun BEE-zhoo Definition 1 : a small dainty usually ornamental piece of delicate workmanship : jewel 2 : something delicate, elegant, or highly prized Did you know? Bijou (which can be pluralized as either bijoux or bijous) has adorned English since the late 17th century. We borrowed it from French, but the word ultimately traces … Continue reading Word of the day – Bijou