Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 12, 2008 is: iconoclast • \eye-KAH-nuh-klast\  • noun 1 : a person who destroys religious images or opposes their veneration *2 : a person who attacks settled beliefs or institutions Example sentence: Susan's irreverent opinion of Shakespeare made her an iconoclast in the eyes of many of her fellow English majors. Did you know? "Iconoclast" is a word that often shows up on vocabulary lists and Colle...more

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 11, 2008 is: treacle • \TREE-kul\  • noun 1 : a medicinal compound formerly in wide use as a remedy against poison 2 a chiefly British : molassesb : a blend of molasses, invert sugar, and corn syrup used as syrup *3 : something (as a tone of voice) heavily sweet and cloying Example sentence: The film is engaging for about an hour, but then it nose-dives into sentimental treacle and never recovers. Did you know? ...more

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 10, 2008 is: livid • \LIV-id\  • adjective 1 : discolored by bruising : black-and-blue 2 : ashen, pallid 3 : reddish *4 : very angry : enraged Example sentence: "When my mother caught me sneaking in after midnight, she was livid," Manny reported. Did you know? "Livid" has a colorful history. The Latin adjective "lividus" means "dull, grayish, or leaden blue." From thi...more

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 09, 2008 is: chockablock • \CHAH-kuh-blahk\  • adjective 1 : brought close together *2 : very full Example sentence: Chandra's tiny apartment is chockablock with fabric, yarn, and other craft supplies. Did you know? "Chockablock" started out as a nautical term. A block is a metal or wooden case with one or more pulleys inside. Sometimes, two or more blocks are used (as part of a rope and pulley system...more

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 08, 2008 is: scavenger • \SKAV-un-jer\  • noun *1 : one who collects or salvages garbage or junk 2 : an organism that typically feeds on refuse or carrion Example sentence: Scavengers took the broken lamp that I left on the curb last night. Did you know? You might guess that "scavenger" is a derivative of "scavenge," but the reverse is actually true; "scavenger" is the older word, ...more

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 07, 2008 is: beau geste • \boh-ZHEST\  • noun *1 : a graceful or magnanimous gesture 2 : an ingratiating conciliatory gesture Example sentence: Rather than compete against his best friend for the scholarship, Brayden gallantly stepped aside, a beau geste that Anthony never forgot. Did you know? "Beau geste" is a phrase borrowed from French; the literal translation is "beautiful gesture." Bea...more

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 06, 2008 is: veritable • \VAIR-uh-tuh-bul\  • adjective : being in fact the thing named and not false, unreal, or imaginary Example sentence: Melissa is a veritable wellspring of information on local history and folklore. Did you know? "Veritable," like its close relative "verity" ("truth"), came to English through Anglo-French from Latin. It is ultimately derived from "verus,&quo...more

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 05, 2008 is: posthaste • \POHST-HAYST\  • adverb : with all possible speed Example sentence: When it became clear that the interviewee was inebriated and unable to speak coherently, the television station cut to commercial posthaste. Did you know? In the 16th century, "haste, post, haste" was used to inform "posts," as couriers were then called, that a letter was urgent and must be hastily deliv...more

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 04, 2008 is: kindred • \KIN-drud\  • adjective *1 : of a similar nature or character : like 2 : of the same ancestry Example sentence: The rock-climbing club tends to attract kindred spirits -- outdoorsy, adventurous types who derive satisfaction from conquering new challenges. Did you know? If you believe that advice and relatives are inseparable, the etymology of "kindred" will prove you right. &quo...more

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 03, 2008 is: modicum • \MAH-dih-kum\  • noun : a small portion : a limited quantity Example sentence: If you had possessed a modicum of sense, you would have paused to think before accepting such a dangerous job. Did you know? What does "modicum" have to do with a toilet? It just so happens that "modicum" shares the same Latin parent as "commode," which is a synonym of "toilet.&qu...more