Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 31, 2013 is: pinchbeck \PINCH-bek\ adjective 1 : made of an alloy of copper and zinc used especially to imitate gold in jewelry 2 : counterfeit or spurious Examples: Though our hosts were not outwardly unfriendly, we suspected that their kindness to us was pinchbeck. "Presently, your uncommon brooch will interest folks who collect scarab or Victorian jewelry, pinchbeck pieces or antique Egyptian items. If the pin has a strong, working clasp and no damage, it is valued at $75 to $125." — From an article by Alyce Hand Benham in The Press of Atlantic City, May 18, 2013 Did you know? On November 27, 1732, an advertisement ran in a British newspaper announcing that "the toys made of the late ingenious Mr. Pinchbeck's curious metal ... are now sold only by his son." The Mr. Pinchbeck in question was Christopher Pinchbeck, a London watchmaker who invented the alloy that would be posthumously named for him. Although the metal is used as a substitute for gold, the word "pinchbeck," which can also be used as a noun, didn't acquire its "counterfeit" sense until the 1790s, over 50 years after Pinchbeck's death.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 30, 2013 is: cocoon \kuh-KOON\ verb : to wrap or envelop in or as if in a cocoon Examples: Lily got out of the water and cocooned herself in a large beach blanket. "I discovered, and for years, lived by, the color-coded 'Mom’s Super Busy Schedule' calendar. For those of you who are cocooned in the electronic world of mobile apps, iPhones and digital reminders, let me tell you: Back in the day, when there was no gadget telling you where to go, when to arrive and how to get there, that calendar was a life saver. We pre-technology moms had to be savvy." — From an article by Diana Speer in the Press Citizen (Iowa), May 21, 2013 Did you know? Since at least 1679, English speakers have been using the noun "cocoon" for the silky covering that surrounds a caterpillar or other insect larva in the pupa stage of metamorphosis. The word came into English from French, which in turn borrowed it from an Occitan term for "eggshell." Linguists believe the Occitan term was probably born of the Latin word "coccum," a noun that has been translated as "kermes," the dried bodies of some insects that can be found on certain trees. The verb "cocoon" has been with us since at least 1881.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 29, 2013 is: suffuse \suh-FYOOZ\ verb : to spread over or through in the manner of fluid or light : flush, fill Examples: Mother opened the curtains and instantly the room was suffused with the light of morning. "Given that the 1999 original worked as a crude-but-endearing corrective to the likes of 'Porky's,' the gently bittersweet tone suffusing this labor-of-love project … is neither inappropriate nor unwelcome." — From a film review by Justin Chang in Variety, April 4, 2012 Did you know? If you are cold or embarrassed, your cheeks may become suffused with a red glow, as though coated on one side with paint. This is reflected in the word’s etymology. "Suffuse" derives from Latin "suffundere," meaning "to pour beneath," a blend of the prefix "sub-" ("under") and "fundere" ("to pour"). Other verbs related to "fundere" continue the theme of pouring or spreading: "diffuse" ("to pour out and spread freely"), "effuse" ("to pour or flow out"), "transfuse" ("to cause to pass from one to another"), and the verb "fuse" itself when it's used to mean "to meld or join."

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 28, 2013 is: maverick \MAV-rik\ noun 1 : an unbranded range animal; especially : a motherless calf 2 : an independent individual who does not go along with a group or party Examples: The award-winning columnist was regarded as a political maverick who clashed with his colleagues on many issues. "His famous dishes look more like freaky sea-life than food, but there's no denying Adria is a maverick and an innovator, a chef who rewrote the rules of running a restaurant, turning his food into an event in the process."— From an article by Ben Norum in Time Out, June 18, 2013 Did you know? When a client gave Samuel A. Maverick 400 cattle to settle a $1,200 debt, the 19th-century south Texas lawyer had no use for them, so he left the cattle unbranded and allowed them to roam freely (supposedly under the supervision of one of his employees). Neighboring stockmen recognized their opportunity and seized it, branding and herding the stray cattle as their own. Maverick eventually recognized the folly of the situation and sold what was left of his depleted herd, but not before his name became synonymous with such unbranded livestock. By the end of the 19th century, the term "maverick" was being used to refer to individuals who prefer to blaze their own trails.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 27, 2013 is: cineast \SIN-ee-ast\ noun : a devotee of motion pictures; also : moviemaker Examples: The once modest film festival is now a huge commercial event that draws cineasts and movie-industry insiders from around the world. "This just strikes me as a film that cineasts will savor, but the general public might have trouble digesting, considering how bleak and disturbing so many scenes are." — From an article by Bob Tremblay in the Allston-Brighton TAB (Massachusetts), July 13, 2012 Did you know? "Cineast" is a French borrowing that made its American premiere in the mid-1920s. The French spliced together "ciné" and "-aste" to create "cinéaste," a word for a filmmaker or movie director. "Ciné" in French is just another word for "cinema," and "-aste" is a suffix that appears in words like "gymnaste" and "enthousiaste." "Cinéaste" underwent several changes once it was established in English. Some writers anglicized its spelling, shortening "-aste" to "-ast" (although "cineaste" and "cinéaste" are also still used). Others began to use "cineast" to mean "film buff," and that's the sense that is most common today.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 26, 2013 is: labile \LAY-byle\ adjective 1 a : readily or frequently changing: as b : readily or continually undergoing chemical, physical, or biological change or breakdown c : characterized by wide fluctuations (as in blood pressure) d : emotionally unstable Examples: The researcher spent years studying chemically labile compounds in the hopes that they could be adapted into new medications. "Pat takes this to heart. He develops 'game plans' for how he will handle conflicts and setbacks. And he applies them to his burgeoning relationship with an emotionally labile young woman who recruits him to train for a dance competition with her." — From a movie review by Christen Giblin in the Sentinel-Tribune (Ohio), April 25, 2013 Did you know? We are confident that you won't slip up or err in learning today's word, despite its etymology. "Labile" was borrowed into English from French and can be traced back (by way of Middle French "labile," meaning "prone to err") to the Latin verb "labi," meaning "to slip or fall." Indeed, the first sense of "labile" in English was "prone to slip, err, or lapse," but that usage is now obsolete. Other "labi" descendants in English include "collapse," "elapse," "prolapse," and simply "lapse."

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 25, 2013 is: repertoire \REP-er-twahr\ noun 1 : a list or supply of plays, operas, pieces, or parts which a company or performer is prepared to present 2 : a supply of skills, devices, or expedients; broadly : amount, supply 3 : a list or supply of capabilities Examples: Though I have a limited repertoire when it comes to cooking, I managed to put together a decent meal that all of my guests seemed to enjoy. "She's got the classic looks, the incredible singing voice, and a repertoire that sparkles with torchy twang, growly rockabilly, and, when she has a mind to, vintage R&B and swing." — From a concert listing by James Reed in the Boston Globe, June 20, 2013 Did you know? The Late Latin noun "repertorium," meaning "list," has given us two words that can be used to speak of the broad range of things that someone or something can do. One is "repertory," perhaps most commonly known as a word for a company that presents several different plays, operas, or other works at one theater, or the theater where such works are performed. "Repertoire," which comes from "repertorium" via French, once meant the same thing as "repertory" but later came to refer to the range of skills that a person has under his or her belt, such as the different pitches a baseball pitcher can throw or the particular dishes that are a chef's specialty.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 24, 2013 is: fard \FAHRD\ verb : to paint (the face) with cosmetics Examples: We were greeted at the door by a young woman with heavily farded cheeks. "Truda drew her tin from her top pocket. 'Isa, you've been too long in my company. Why should I harbor you? You look as if you're farded up for Hallows Eve!'" — From Anna Lawrence Pietroni's 2010 novel Ruby's Spoon Did you know? Though a relatively uncommon little word, "fard" is used to describe a very familiar activity—the application of cosmetics. When it is encountered these days it is often in participle form, as in our first example above, or simply as an example of an unusual or old-timey word. "Fard" was borrowed from Anglo-French (from the verb "farder") and first appeared in English in the mid-1400s. It is ultimately of Germanic origin and akin to the Old High German word "faro," meaning "colored."

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 23, 2013 is: aseptic \ay-SEP-tik\ adjective 1 a : preventing infection b : free or freed from pathogenic microorganisms 2 : lacking vitality, emotion, or warmth Examples: Patients with compromised immune systems must be treated in aseptic environments. "[The company's] innovative technology enables it to kill the bacteria that cause foods to go bad and make people sick without ruining the flavor. Not only does that produce tastier, more nutritious food but, by using aseptic packaging that is lighter and more space-efficient than cans, the overall carbon footprint is reduced, [David] Kirkpatrick said." — From an article by David Ranii in the News & Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina), May 3, 2013 Did you know? Things cleaned specifically in a way that prevents infection were first described as "aseptic" in the late 19th century. The word combines the prefix "a-," meaning "not," and "septic," from Greek "sēptikos," meaning "putrifying." "Aseptic" was preceded by more than a century by "antiseptic" (from "anti-," meaning "opposing," and "sēptikos"), which entered English with the meaning "opposing sepsis, putrefaction, or decay." Both words can also be used, like "sterile," to suggest a lack of emotion, warmth, or interest. Evelyn Toynton used "aseptic" thus in The New York Times Book Review, November 22, 1987: "It's hard not to feel that an element of romance has been lost, that the vast chilly reaches of outer space are a pretty aseptic substitute for the shadowy depths under the ground.…"

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 22, 2013 is: chicanery \shih-KAY-nuh-ree\ noun 1 : deception by artful subterfuge or sophistry : trickery 2 : a piece of sharp practice (as at law) : trick Examples: The mayor's spokeswoman quickly denied the charges of nepotism, financial indiscretions, and political chicanery. "[The film] Now You See Me tries to mystify you with its cinematic chicanery while constantly reminding you that you're not paying attention to what's truly going down." — From a movie review by Craig D. Lindsey at nashvillescene.com, June 6, 2013 Did you know? "We have hardly any words that do so fully expresse the French clinquant, naiveté … chicaneries." So lamented English writer John Evelyn in a letter to Sir Peter Wyche in 1665. Evelyn and Wyche were members of a group called the Royal Society, which had formed a committee emulating the French Academy for the purpose of "improving the English language." We can surmise that, in Evelyn's estimation, the addition of "chicanery" to English from French was an improvement. What he apparently didn't realize was that English speakers had adopted the word from the French "chicanerie" before he wished for it; the term appears in English manuscripts dating from 1609. Similarly, "clinquant" ("glittering with gold or tinsel") dates from 1591. "Naïveté," on the other hand, waited until 1673 to appear.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 21, 2013 is: irascible \ir-RASS-uh-bul\ adjective : marked by hot temper and easily provoked anger Examples: That tidy little house belongs to an irascible old crank who never has a kind word for any of his neighbors. "Barra has written a close study of two ballplayers who were heroes to him when he (and they) were younger. In the end, his heart goes out to Mantle, who admitted his failings as death neared, who became more knowable. Barra has a harder time with an irascible, less open, elderly Mays." — From a book review by Floyd Skloot in the Boston Globe, May 24, 2013 Did you know? If you try to take apart "irascible" in the same manner as "irrational," "irresistible," or "irresponsible," you might find yourself wondering what "ascible" means—but that's not how "irascible" came to be. The key to the meaning of "irascible" isn't the negative prefix "ir-" (which is used before words that begin with "r"), but the Latin noun "ira," meaning "anger." From "ira," which is also the root of "irate" and "ire," came the Latin verb "irasci" ("to become angry"), which led to French "irascible." English speakers borrowed the word from French in the 16th century.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 20, 2013 is: hawkshaw \HAWK-shaw\ noun : detective Examples: Though she risked being late for an appointment, Amanda could not bring herself to set the book down until the novel's hawkshaw had solved the mystery. "The imitators never quite get the personality right. He's too sarcastic or too smug, never Doyle's gleeful hawkshaw who dazzles with deductions…." — From a book review by Don Crinklaw in Booklist, November 1, 2010 Did you know? If you're a fan of mystery writing, you may have a favorite fictional detective. Perhaps it's Hercule Poirot (created by Agatha Christie), Lord Peter Wimsey (created by Dorothy L. Sayers), or Mike Hammer (created by Mickey Spillane). These and other famous sleuths from the mystery genre follow in the tradition of a fictional detective from the 19th century: Hawkshaw, a theatrical gumshoe introduced in the 1863 play The Ticket of Leave Man by British dramatist Tom Taylor. "Hawkshaw" gained further popularity as a general term for a detective when the name was used for a character in a comic strip by American cartoonist Gus Mager.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 19, 2013 is: umbrage \UM-brij\ noun 1 : shade, shadow 2 a : vague suggestion : hint b : a reason for doubt 3 : a feeling of resentment at some often fancied slight or insult Examples: I take umbrage at her suggestion that I just couldn't be bothered to call. "If someone disagrees with him, he doesn't take umbrage. He treats all people alike, a colleague says. He's a listener." — From an article by Fred Barnes in The Weekly Standard, December 31, 2012 - January 7, 2013 Did you know? "Deare amber lockes gave umbrage to her face." This line from a poem by William Drummond, published in 1616, uses "umbrage" in its original sense of "shade or shadow," a meaning shared by its Latin source, "umbra." ("Umbella," the diminutive form of "umbra," means "a sunshade or parasol" in Latin and is an ancestor of our word "umbrella.") Beginning in the early 17th century, "umbrage" was also used to mean "a shadowy suggestion or semblance of something," as when Shakespeare, in Hamlet, wrote, "His semblable is his mirror, and who else would trace him, his umbrage, nothing more." In the same century, "umbrage" took on the pejorative senses "a shadow of suspicion cast on someone" and "displeasure, offense"; the latter is commonly used today in the phrases "give umbrage" or "take umbrage."

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 18, 2013 is: addlepated \AD-ul-pay-tud\ adjective 1 : being mixed up : confused 2 : eccentric Examples: The patient was blabbering like an addlepated fool. "She had lost what little ability she ever had to concentrate and her addlepated mind flitted butterflylike from one often unrelated subject to another." — From Tessa Harris's 2012 novel The Anatomist's Apprentice Did you know? In Middle English an "adel eye" was a putrid egg. The stench of such an egg apparently affected the minds of some witty thinkers, who hatched a comparison between the diminished, unsound quality of an "adel" (or "addle") egg and an empty, confused head—or pate. "Your owne imagination, which was no lesse Idle, then your head was addle all that day," wrote one 17th-century wit at play with the words "idle" and "addle." Today, "addle" is often found in combination with words referring to one's noggin, as in "addlepated," "addlebrained," and "addle-headed."

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 17, 2013 is: resplendent \rih-SPLEN-dunt\ adjective : shining brilliantly : characterized by a glowing splendor Examples: All eyes were drawn to the beautiful young woman—resplendent in an elegant evening gown—who had just appeared at the top of the stairway. "On a dazzling Saturday afternoon, splashed with resplendent sunshine after too many cool gray days of rain, I slowly picked my way through the hordes of tourists...." — From an article by Kaelen Wilson-Goldie in Artforum, June 8, 2013 Did you know? "Resplendent" has a lot in common with "splendid" (meaning "shining" or "brilliant"), "splendent" ("shining" or "glossy"), and "splendor" ("brightness" or "luster"). Each of those glowing terms gets its shine from the Latin verb "splendēre" ("to shine"). Etymologists believe "splendēre" might also be related to Middle Irish "lainn," meaning "bright." "Splendent," "splendor," and "resplendent" first showed their lustrous senses in English during the 15th century, but "splendid" didn't light up our language until over 175 years later; its earliest known use dates from 1624.