Word of the Day

Word of the Day :  May 13, 2025 Apotropaic adjective ap-uh-troh-PAY-ik What It Means Something described as apotropaic is designed or intended to avert evil. // The etchings are believed to be associated with ancient apotropaic rituals. See the entry > APOTROPAIC In Context “Scholars ... say witches were believed to be attracted to the scent of a … Continue reading Word of the Day: Apotropaic

Word of the Day : May 12, 2025 Fester verb FESS-ter What It Means Something that festers becomes worse as time passes. Fester can also mean, in the context of wounds, sores, etc., “to become painful and infected.” // We should deal with these problems now instead of allowing them to fester. See the entry > FESTER In Context … Continue reading Word of the Day: Fester

Word of the Day :  May 9, 2025 Gloss verb GLAHSS What It Means To gloss a word or phrase is to provide its meaning, or in other words, to explain or define it. // Many unfamiliar terms are glossed in the book’s introduction. See the entry > GLOSS In Context “It is revealing that early dictionaries regularly … Continue reading Word of the Day: Gloss

Word of the Day : Modicum Modicum  noun MAH-dih-kum What It Means Modicum is a formal word that means “a small amount.” It is almost always used with of. // The band enjoyed a modicum of success in the early 2010s before becoming an international sensation. See the entry > MODICUM In Context “Imagine, for example, that the gods decided … Continue reading Word of the Day : Modicum