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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 21, 2025 is: bodacious • boh-DAY-shuss • adjective Bodacious is used as an informal synonym of remarkable and noteworthy, as well as sexy and voluptuous. In some dialects of the Southern and Midland US, bodacious is used by its oldest meaning: "outright, unmistakable." // The bodacious decor of the boutique hotel is intended to appeal to the young and the hip. See the entry > Examples: "There's no need to lug in a 6-foot specimen tree to add bodacious botanicals into your home, because even the smallest planters can make a big impact when intentionally pairing striking foliage with a unique vessel." — Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 5 Mar. 2024 Did you know? Some of our readers may know bodacious as a word that figured prominently in the lingo of the 1989 film Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. Others may recall the term's frequent use in the long-running "Snuffy Smith" comic strip. Neither the creators of the comic strip nor the movie can claim to have coined bodacious, which began appearing in print in the mid-1800s, but both surely contributed to its popularity. The exact origin of the word is uncertain, but it is most likely a blend of bold and audacious, and it may be linked to boldacious, a now-rare British dialect term meaning "brazen" or "impudent."

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 20, 2025 is: resurrection • rez-uh-REK-shun • noun In Christian theology, Resurrection (typically capitalized in this use) refers to the event in which Jesus Christ returned to life after his death. In general contexts, resurrection refers to the act of causing something that had ended or been forgotten or lost to exist again, to be used again, etc. // Church members look forward to celebrating the Resurrection every Easter. // The community applauded the resurrection of the commuter rail system. See the entry > Examples: “Some of their efforts to follow Scripture were wonderfully zany. To wrest the death and resurrection of Jesus away from both pagan fertility rituals and Hallmark, they outlawed Easter egg hunts. ... She smashed chocolate Easter bunnies with a meat tenderizer and ripped the heads off marshmallow Peeps, while the boys gleefully gobbled the ruined remnants of consumer culture.” — Eliza Griswold, Circle of Hope: A Reckoning with Love, Power, and Justice in an American Church, 2024 Did you know? The word resurrection first arose in English in the 14th century, coming from the Anglo-French word resurreccioun, which in turn comes from the Late Latin verb resurgere, meaning “to rise from the dead.” Originally, the word was used in Christian contexts to refer to the rising of Christ from the dead or to the festival celebrating this rising (now known as Easter). Perhaps showing the influence of the Late Latin verb resurgere's Latin forerunner, which could mean “to rise again” (as from a recumbent position) as well as “to spring up again after being cut” (used of plants), resurrection soon began to be used more generally in the senses of “resurgence” or “revival.” It even forms part of the name of the resurrection fern, an iconic fern of the southern United States often seen growing on the limbs of live oak trees. The fern is so named due to the fact that in dry weather it curls up, turns brown, and appears dead, only to be “brought back to life” when exposed to moisture.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 19, 2025 is: fastidious • fass-TID-ee-us • adjective Someone described as fastidious is extremely or overly careful about how they do something. Fastidious may also describe someone who is difficult to please, or someone who always wants to be clean, neat, etc. // Our parents taught us to be fastidious in keeping our rooms clean, making sure to dust every surface and sweep out every corner. // He's a fastidious dresser whose fashion choices seem to anticipate the newest trends. See the entry > Examples: "Becoming Led Zeppelin, filmmaker Bernard MacMahon's new documentary about the band, certainly succeeds at taking Led Zeppelin seriously, in ways that might disappoint some viewers but that I found both compelling and refreshing. Becoming Led Zeppelin doesn't hide that it's an authorized biopic … but the film is so fastidious and detail-oriented that it never feels like hagiography." — Jack Hamilton, Slate, 11 Feb. 2025 Did you know? If you presume that the adjective fastidious bears some relation to fast, not so fast. Fastidious comes from Latin fastidium, meaning "aversion" or "disgust." Fastidium is believed to be a combination of fastus, meaning "arrogance," and taedium, "irksomeness" or "disgust." (Taedium is also the source of tedium and tedious.) In keeping with its Latin roots, fastidious once meant "haughty," "disgusting," and "disagreeable," but the word is now most often applied to people who are very meticulous or overly difficult to please, or to work which reflects a demanding or precise attitude. Our own fastidiousness requires us to point out that the familiar adjective fast comes not from Latin, but from Old English.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 18, 2025 is: collaborate • kuh-LAB-uh-rayt • verb To collaborate is to work with another person or group in order to do or achieve something. Collaborate can also be used disapprovingly to mean "to cooperate with or willingly assist an enemy of one's country and especially an enemy who occupies it during a war." // Several research teams from various countries collaborated closely on the project. // They were suspected of collaborating with enemy forces. See the entry > Examples: "Forever 21 collaborated with photographer Henry R. Jones II for the reveal of its Black History Month unisex collection. The 17-piece display delivers deeply personal pieces intimately connected to Jones' artistic journey. Known for his striking photography and poetry, Jones extends a unique invitation to the viewer, allowing them to immerse themselves in the intricate layers of his art." — Kenyatta Victoria, Essence, 1 May 2024 Did you know? The Latin prefix com-, meaning "with, together, or jointly," is a bit of a chameleon—it has a habit of changing its appearance depending on what it's next to. For example, if the word it precedes begins with l, com- becomes col-. In the case of collaborate, com- teamed up with the verb laborare ("to labor") to form the Late Latin word collaborare ("to labor together"). Be careful not to confuse collaborate with corroborate, another com- relative. This word was formed when com- (this time shape-shifting to cor-) joined forces with the Latin word robur ("strength"). Together, by way of the Latin verb corroborare, they created the meaning "to support or help prove (a statement, theory, etc.) by providing information or evidence," which carried over into the English word corroborate.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 17, 2025 is: uncouth • un-KOOTH • adjective Uncouth describes things, such as language or behavior, that are impolite or socially unacceptable. A person may also be described as uncouth if they are behaving in a rude way. // Stacy realized it would be uncouth to show up to the party without a gift, so she picked up a bottle of wine on the way. See the entry > Examples: “Perhaps people deride those who buy books solely for how they look because it reminds them that despite their primary love of literature, they still appreciate a beautiful cover. It's not of primary importance but liking how something looks in your home matters to some extent, even if it feels uncouth to acknowledge.” — Chiara Dello Joio, LitHub.com, 24 Jan. 2023 Did you know? Old English speakers used the word cūth to describe things that were familiar to them, and uncūth for the strange and mysterious. These words passed through Middle English into modern English with different spellings but the same meanings. While couth eventually dropped out of use, uncouth soldiered on. In Captain Singleton by English novelist Daniel Defoe, for example, the author refers to “a strange noise more uncouth than any they had ever heard,” while Shakespeare wrote of an “uncouth forest” in As You Like It. This “unfamiliar” sense of uncouth, however, joined couth in becoming, well, unfamiliar to most English users, giving way to the now-common meanings, “rude” and “lacking polish or grace.” The adjective couth in use today, meaning “sophisticated” or “polished,” arose at the turn of the 20th century, not from the earlier couth, but as a back-formation of uncouth, joining the ranks of other “uncommon opposites” such as kempt and gruntled.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 16, 2025 is: adversity • ad-VER-suh-tee • noun Adversity refers to a difficult situation or condition, or to a state of serious or continued difficulty or misfortune. // The soldiers were honored for acting with courage in the face of adversity. // The team overcame many adversities on their way to summiting the mountain. See the entry > Examples: “To foster self-reliance, colleges should focus on supports that empower students to face challenges. ... Instead of lowering demands to accommodate discomfort, institutions can create frameworks that help students cope, adapt and ultimately thrive in the face of adversity.” — Steven Mintz, Inside Higher Ed, 11 Mar. 2025 Did you know? The world, alas, is full of adversity of all kinds, from misfortune to outright calamity. But while we—being humble lexicographers, not sagacious philosophers—cannot explain the source of such adversity, we can explain the source of the word adversity. If you've ever faced adversity and felt like fate, the world, or something else was turned against you, it will not surprise you that adversity traces back to the Latin verb advertere, meaning “to turn toward, direct,” itself a combination of the verb vertere, “to turn,” and the prefix ad-, “to.” The past participle of advertere is adversus, meaning “turned toward, facing, opposed,” which eventually led (via a couple languages in between) to the Middle English word adversite, meaning “opposition, hostility, misfortune, or hardship,” and the adversity we know today.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 15, 2025 is: pugnacious • pug-NAY-shus • adjective Someone described as pugnacious shows a readiness or desire to fight or argue. // There's one pugnacious member on the committee who won't agree to anything. See the entry > Examples: "While looking through the Perkins telescope [at Saturn] one night, a pugnacious 10-year-old commented, 'Hey! I only see one ring. Rip off!'" — Tom Burns, The Delaware (Ohio) Gazette, 23 Oct. 2024 Did you know? Pugnacious individuals are often looking for a fight. While unpleasant, at least their fists are packing an etymological punch. Pugnacious comes from the Latin verb pugnare (meaning "to fight"), which in turn comes from the Latin word for "fist," pugnus. Another Latin word related to pugnus is pugil, meaning "boxer." Pugil is the source of our word pugilist, which means "fighter" and is used especially of professional boxers. Pugnare has also given us impugn ("to assail by words or arguments"), oppugn ("to fight against"), and repugnant (which is now used primarily in the sense of "exciting distaste or aversion," but which has also meant "characterized by contradictory opposition" and "hostile").

A giant black hole awakens and is multitasking bad for your brain? On This Day in History, we head back to the books as another important dictionary is released. From boring to bursting: Giant black hole awakens | ScienceDaily Why multitasking is bad for your brain, explained by a neuroscientist | BBC Science Focus Magazine Origins of English: Samuel Johnson's Dictionary A Dictionary of the English Language | Definition & Facts | Britannica Samuel Johnson's Dictionary of the English Language Johnson's Dictionary Online Go to my sponsor https://venice.ai/coolstuff and use code coolstuff to enjoy private, uncensored AI. Using our code will get you 20% off a pro plan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 14, 2025 is: druthers • DRUH-therz • noun plural Druthers is an informal word that refers to the power or opportunity to choose—in other words, free choice. It is used especially in the phrase if one had one's druthers. // If I had my druthers, I would travel all the time. See the entry > Examples: “If I had my druthers, if I made the sequel to ‘Companion,' it would just be a shot of her on the side of the road, cutting out her tracking chip and then cutting to her on a farm with a couple of million dollars.” — Drew Hancock, quoted in Variety, 1 Feb. 2025 Did you know? Nowadays, you're much more likely to encounter the plural noun druthers than its singular forebear, but that wasn't always the case. Druther, an alteration of “would rather” in some U.S. English dialects, first appeared in writing in the late 1800s. “Any way you druther have it, that is the way I druther have it,” says Huck to Tom in Mark Twain's Tom Sawyer, Detective (a sequel to the more famous Adventures of Tom Sawyer, which also included the word druther). This example of metanalysis (the shifting of a sound from one element of a phrase to another) had been around for some time in everyday speech when Twain put those words in Huck's mouth. By then, in fact, druthers had also become a plural noun, so Tom could reply, “There ain't any druthers about it, Huck Finn; nobody said anything about druthers,” though druthers didn't overtake druther in popularity (at least in print) until the mid-1900s.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 13, 2025 is: reminisce • rem-uh-NISS • verb To reminisce is to talk, think, or write about things that happened in the past. // After the official reunion dinner, the old friends gathered at a pub to reminisce about their high school days, now long past. See the entry > Examples: “Our parents would reminisce about their past happiness and point to the oversized photographic portrait taken of them at the county fair sometime in the mid-1970s, before we were born.” — Nora Lange, Us Fools, 2024 Did you know? Do you remember, say, the 21st night of September? Fantastic. Earth, Wind, and Fire does, too, on their classic hit from 1978, “September.” More than remember, the band reminisces—that is, they share details and express feelings about what they remember: dancing, a bell ringing, souls singing, et al. Reminisce distinguishes itself from words like remember and recollect by implying a casual recalling of experiences long past, often with a sense of nostalgia. Reminisce and its relatives reminiscence and reminiscent all trace back to the Latin verb reminisci, meaning “remember.” Reminisci in turn shares roots with mens, the Latin word for “mind.”

The boys discuss how to deal with loud talkers, Theseus and hot wifi

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 12, 2025 is: gustatory • GUSS-tuh-tor-ee • adjective Gustatory describes things that are related to or associated with eating or the sense of taste. // The deli has been widely praised for its astonishing variety of gustatory delights. See the entry > Examples: "For those who have never experienced the gustatory pleasure, these cream puffs consist of freshly baked pastry shells generously covered with powdered sugar and bloated with chilled vanilla pudding that has been pumped into them." — Carl Hamilton, The Cecil Whig (Elkton, Maryland), 12 Feb. 2025 Did you know? Gustatory is a member of a finite set of words that describe the senses with which we encounter our world, the other members being visual, aural, olfactory, and tactile. Like its peers, gustatory has its roots in Latin—in this case, the Latin word gustare, meaning "to taste." Gustare is a direct ancestor of gustatory, gustation, meaning "the act or sensation of tasting," and degustation, meaning "the action or an instance of tasting especially in a series of small portions." More distant relatives of gustare include choose and disgust.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 11, 2025 is: kitsch • KITCH • noun Kitsch refers to something that appeals to popular or lowbrow taste and is often cheap or tacky. Kitsch also refers to a tacky or lowbrow quality or condition. // The restaurant is decorated with 1950s furniture and kitsch from old TV shows. // The critic opined that the movie, despite its lofty ambitions, at times descended into kitsch. See the entry > Examples: “If you were dressing yourself in the early 2000s, you might feel some kind of way about Y2K fashion ruling the runways and the sidewalks once again. But if you weren't? It's entirely understandable that mining the annals of recent fashion history—and the vintage shops—would hold a certain appeal. For all its kitsch and camp, Y2K fashion is full of some intriguing gems.” — Boutayna Chokrane and Christina Pérez, Vogue, 26 Jan. 2025 Did you know? Have you ever browsed through a flea market or thrift shop? If so, chances are you're well-acquainted with kitsch, the various bits and bobs of popular culture—fuzzy dice, plastic flamingos, cartoon-themed plastic lunchboxes, etc.—that enjoy widespread popularity but don't hold much cultural esteem. Or maybe you're a fan of (what some might call) cheesy movies—action movies and rom-coms that score big at the box office but are panned by critics—kitsch often applies to them, too, as well as to “lowbrow” art of all kinds. English users borrowed kitsch in the early 20th century from German; according to scholars the word was popularized by Munich painters and art dealers in the 1860s and 1870s who used it to refer to popular and cheap artwork. The word's earlier origins are found in the German verb kitschen, meaning “to slap something (such as a work of art) together” as well as “to scrape up mud from the street.” Despite these muddy origins and the disapproving tone with which kitsch is often deployed, kitsch is not quite the “dirty” word it once was—kitsch today is as likely to be celebrated as it is to be derided.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 10, 2025 is: chary • CHAIR-ee • adjective Chary is usually used with about or of to describe someone who is cautious about doing something. // The director is chary about spending money. // I've always been chary of travelling alone. See the entry > Examples: “Overall, Rendell is chary about divulging the selling price of various documents, but he does occasionally reveal some financial details.” — Michael Dirda, The Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2024 Did you know? How did chary, which began as the opposite of cheery, become a synonym of wary? Don't worry, there's no need to be chary—the answer is not dreary. Chary's Middle English predecessor, charri, meant “sorrowful,” a sense that harks back to the Old English word cearig, meaning “troubled, troublesome, taking care,” which ultimately comes from an assumed-but-unattested Germanic word, karō, meaning “sorrow” or “worry,” that is also an ancestor of the word care. It's perhaps unsurprising then, that chary was once used to mean “dear” or “cherished.” Both sorrow and affection have largely faded from chary, and today the word is most often used as a synonym of careful.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 9, 2025 is: vouchsafe • vowch-SAYF • verb Vouchsafe is a formal and old-fashioned word meaning "to give (something) to someone as a promise or a privilege." // He vouchsafed the secret to only a few of his closest allies. See the entry > Examples: "[Arthur] Conan Doyle (1859-1930) wrote several horribly chilling tales of the supernatural, although this might surprise readers who only know his Sherlock Holmes stories. When there are eerie goings-on in the Holmes yarns, a rational explanation is inevitably vouchsafed, à la Scooby-Doo." — Jake Kerridge, The Daily Telegraph (London), 20 Dec. 2023 Did you know? Shakespeare fans are well acquainted with vouchsafe, which in its Middle English form vouchen sauf meant "to grant, consent, or deign." The word, which was borrowed with its present meaning from Anglo-French in the 14th century, pops up fairly frequently in the Bard's work—60 times, to be exact. "Vouchsafe me yet your picture for my love," beseeches Proteus of Silvia in The Two Gentlemen of Verona. "Vouchsafe me raiment, bed, and food," King Lear begs his daughter Regan. But you needn't turn to Shakespeare to find vouchsafe; today's writers still find it to be a perfectly useful word.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 8, 2025 is: apparatchik • ah-puh-RAH-chik • noun Apparatchik is used disapprovingly to refer to a blindly devoted official, follower, or member of an organization, such as a corporation or political party. // This generation of graduates wants more out of life than to become establishment apparatchiks. See the entry > Examples: "Played by What We Do in the Shadows' Matt Berry, Shazbor is a faithful party apparatchik and staunch defender of his country's traditions ..." — Damon Wise, Deadline, 25 Jan. 2025 Did you know? The apparat in apparatchik (a term English speakers borrowed from Russian) essentially means "party machine," with machine referring to a highly organized political group under the leadership of a boss or small group of individuals: apparatchik originally referred to someone functioning as a cog in the system of the Communist Party. The term is not a flattering one, and its negative connotations reflect the perception of some Communists as obedient drones in the great Party machine. In current use, however, a person doesn't have to be a member of the Communist Party to be called an apparatchik; they just have to be someone who mindlessly follows orders in an organization or bureaucracy.

Communication isn't about perfect word choice, it's about connecting with others.For native speakers and language learners alike, communicating comes with all kinds of challenges. But no matter how much we stumble over our words, Lindsay McMahon says communication isn't about perfection — it's about connection.The CEO and founder of All Ears English and host of the All Ears English podcast, McMahon is on a mission to help non-native English speakers around the world hone their ability to communicate and connect. Whether you're forming your first sentences in a new language or giving a presentation in the language you've spoken your whole life, “It's about human connection,” she says. “What really matters is are we connecting to our audience… the human being[s] in front of us?”In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, McMahon joins host Matt Abrahams to explore strategies for improving our communication — not by finding the right words, but by finding the right mindset. From active listening and cultural awareness to quieting nerves and building confidence, McMahon's practical approaches help communicators connect more authentically in any language or context.Episode Reference Links:Lindsay McMahon All Ears English Ep.8 Don't Get Lost in Translation: How Non-Native Speakers Can Communicate With Confidence Connect:Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart PremiumEmail Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.ioEpisode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:(00:00) - Introduction (01:44) - Common Challenges for English Learners (03:09) - Overcoming the Confidence Catch-22 (05:00) - Communication Lessons from CEOs (05:48) - The Art of Listening (07:35) - Idioms and Hidden Meanings (08:53) - Context Shapes Communication (10:40) - Cultural Analogies and Miscommunication (11:46) - Entering a New Role or Culture (14:05) - Immersive Language Learning (17:20) - The Final Three Questions (21:39) - Conclusion *****Stay Informed on Stanford's world changing research by signing up for the Stanford ReportJoin our upcoming 200th episode live event April 14 & 15Become a Faster Smarter Supporter by joining TFTS Premium.    

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 7, 2025 is: malleable • MAL-ee-uh-bul • adjective Something described as malleable is capable of being stretched or bent into different shapes, or capable of being easily changed or influenced. // Let the cookie dough thaw until it becomes malleable enough to thinly roll. // Students' minds are malleable and they need positive influences and guidance. See the entry > Examples: "She begins by sculpting with malleable French clays to create her figures, then she makes a mold." — Fina Badolato, The Rochester (New York) Democrat and Chronicle, 13 Feb. 2022 Did you know? Language is constantly evolving; the meanings, spellings, and pronunciations of words are reshaped over time. Take, for example, the Latin noun malleus, meaning "hammer." This word was adapted to create the Latin verb malleare, meaning "to hammer," which led eventually to the English adjective malleable. Malleable originally meant "capable of being extended or shaped by beating with a hammer," and over time adopted the broader sense "capable of being shaped, altered, or controlled." If you guessed that maul and mallet, other English words for specific types of hammers, are also modeled from malleus, you have hit the nail on the head.

Joel spoke with repeat guest Nijay Gupta and first-time guest Melissa Barciela Mandala about Paul's notion of "love." They discuss the impulse to find a "theological center" to Paul's New Testament writings, the success of Nijay's attempt to locate the love of God as this "center," and of course, what we are all currently reading and enjoying.Nijay K. Gupta is Julius R. Mantey Professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary. He is co-editor of the Dictionary of Paul and His Letters (2nd ed.), The State of New Testament Studies, The State of Pauline Studies, and serves as a senior translator for the New Living Translation. His publications include Paul and the Language of Faith, A Beginner's Guide to New Testament Studies, Strange Religion, and commentaries on Galatians, Philippians, Colossians, and 1–2 Thessalonians, as well as his brand-new publication from Eerdmans The Affections of Christ Jesus, which will be the focus of our conversation today.Melissa J. Barciela Mandala is Assistant Professor of New Testament at Palm Beach Atlantic University and works primarily in Pauline studies. A revised version of her doctoral dissertation entitled The Suffering Body as a Site of Virtue Formation in Philippians is forthcoming with Mohr Siebeck. Her research focused on the apostle Paul's view of the body and suffering within his ancient philosophical context. The subjects of current and past work include various approaches to Paul's Letter to the Romans, virtue ethics in relation to Paul, and explorations of comparative methodology in biblical studies more broadly. Books Mentioned in this Episode:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) The Affections of Christ Jesus: Love at the Heart of Paul's Theology by Nijay GuptaThe Suffering Body as a Site of Virtue Formation in Philippians by Melissa Barciela Mandala (forthcoming)1 Corinthians: A Theological, Pastoral and Missional Commentary by Michael GormanColossians and Philemon (Word and Spirit Commentary on the New Testament) by Holly BeersThe Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van Der KolkRemembering Paul: Ancient and Modern Contests over the Image of the Apostle by Benjamin WhiteThe Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing: A Theological Commentary by Jonathan PenningtonLife on the Silent Planet: Essays on Christian Living from C.S. Lewis' Ransom Trilogy ed. by Rhys LavertyOut of the Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis

Multiple Sources of Income:We want someone to join us as a scriptwriter, editor, mixer or showrunner, possibly even for co-founder rewards.If you are willing to dedicate the time to learn the craft, contact us at this link:⁠http://www.facebook.com/simplesuccesswithjohnbrandy⁠ Amazon Recommendations: ⁠⁠⁠Think and Grow Rich⁠⁠⁠ – A timeless guide to success and wealth-building. ⁠⁠⁠Jonathan Livingston Seagull⁠⁠⁠ – A powerful fable about self-discovery and pushing limits. ⁠⁠⁠Dictionary of Finance and Investment Terms⁠⁠⁠ – An essential reference for understanding financial jargon.Our Credits:These podcasts are productions of Little Red Hen Industries. OUR FIFTH YEAR!!Learn about financial education & personal finance with John Brandy on Simple Success on Mondays!Listen to great speeches with John on A Choice Voice, which comes out on Wednesdays!Learn more about ⁠⁠⁠Simple Success with John Brandy⁠⁠⁠ using our ⁠⁠⁠all-in-one access link here⁠⁠⁠Visit the ⁠⁠⁠Simple Success with John Brandy⁠⁠⁠ website today!Follow Us Here:https://podseo.com ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/simplesuccesswithjohnbrandy⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.pinterest.com/simplesuccesswithjohnbrandy/⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/simplesuccess⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.reddit.com/r/littleredhen/⁠⁠⁠All Little Red Hen Productions:

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 6, 2025 is: impresario • im-pruh-SAHR-ee-oh • noun An impresario is a person who manages, puts on, or sponsors a performance or other entertainment, such as a concert, play, or sporting event. // The former heavyweight retired from the ring and later became a boxing impresario. See the entry > Examples: “When he stepped on stage during a comedy open mic at Castle Street spot The Barzarre in June of 2022, Louis Maynor, better known as Louis Tee, was mainly known as a producer, a hip-hop impresario who'd been staging shows and concerts around Wilmington since the late 1990s.” — John Staton, The Wilmington (North Carolina) Star-News, 21 Dec. 2023 Did you know? Concerts, music festivals, television series, professional wrestling matches—these are quite the undertakings. Luckily, there's a word for the impressive individuals responsible for organizing and overseeing such productions: impresario. In the 1700s, English borrowed impresario directly from Italian, whose noun impresa means “undertaking.” (A close relative is the English word emprise, “an adventurous, daring, or chivalric enterprise,” which, like impresario, traces back to the Latin verb prehendere, meaning “to seize.”) At first English speakers used impresario as the Italians did, to refer to opera company managers, though today it is used much more broadly. It should be noted that, despite their apparent similarities, impress and impresario are not related. Impress is a descendant of the Latin verb pressare, a form of the word premere, meaning “to press.”

This week we're exploring what is, quite possibly, the weirdest and most mysterious of all the holidays: April Fools' Day. The real trick? No one even knows where this holiday came from or why we celebrate it. We'll dive in to some of the origin theories, from ancient Rome to medieval fables to Renaissance poetry. We'll also take a look how the holiday has evolved throughout time, including some of the greatest pranks ever pulled on April Fools' Day. Support the show! Join the Patreon (patreon.com/historyfixpodcast)Buy some merchBuy Me a CoffeeVenmo @Shea-LaFountaineSources: Library of Congress Blogs "April Fools: The Roots of an International Holiday"History.com "April Fools' Day"NPR "April Fools' Day might be the world's longest running joke. No one knows how it began"A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities BU Today "How a BU Prof April-Fooled the Country"Encyclopedia Britannica "Julian Calendar"History.com "9 Outrageous Pranks in History"Shoot me a message!

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 5, 2025 is: benign • bih-NYNE • adjective Benign describes something that does not cause harm or damage. In medical contexts it is used to describe something that does not threaten life or health (as in "a benign tumor"). Additional meanings include "mild and pleasant" (as in "benign weather conditions") and "showing kindness and gentleness" (as in "a benign outlook"). // The project required that we manage some inconvenient but ultimately benign conditions. See the entry > Examples: "'The era of innocent tourism—where it was seen as a benign and universally positive force—ended around 2015,' says Justin Francis, co-founder of Responsible Travel, a UK-based travel agency specialising in ethical tourism. 'In Europe and America, protests against overtourism are growing. People are realising their vacations can leave lasting impacts on others' homes.'" — Tarang Mohnot, BBC, 18 Feb. 2025 Did you know? Benign traces back to the Latin adjective benignus, which was formed from bene, meaning "well," and the verb gignere, "to beget"—that is, "to produce or create." Gignere is also the root of such English words as genius and germ, and even shares distant ancestry with kin. The meanings of benign range from describing an absence of danger or harm to that which shows kindness or is gracious or wholesome.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 4, 2025 is: hew • HYOO • verb Hew is commonly used with to to mean "to conform to or adhere to (something)." Hew on its own has several meanings having to do with cutting or shaping with a sharp tool, such as an ax. Both hewed and hewn are past participles of hew. // The senator has always hewed closely to the party line. // The explorers hewed logs for building cabins. See the entry > Examples: "The play hewed closely to the original script, with a few splashes of local color." — Chelsea Edgar, The New Yorker, 31 Jan. 2025 Did you know? Without context, the contrasting meanings of hew may seem arbitrary. What does shaping something with an ax have to do with conforming or adhering to something? If you're not a lumberjack, that's okay, we'll explain. The connection lies in the woodworking phrase "hew to the line," where line refers to the mark along the length of a log indicating where to chop in order to shape a beam. "Hewing to the line," literally, is cutting along the mark—adhering to it—until the side of the log is squared. In the 1800s, "hew to the line" was used figuratively as half of the idiom "hew to the line, let the chips fall where they may," to advise someone to stay true to a course of action, whatever the consequences may be. Over time the latter half of the phrase has been, well, hewn off.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 3, 2025 is: snark • SNAHRK • noun Snark is an informal word that refers to an attitude or expression of mocking irreverence and sarcasm. // The stand-up comedian's set was full of snark about current events, which had the audience rolling in the aisles. See the entry > Examples: “With snark and whimsy, [Zelda] Williams and the screenwriter Diablo Cody … put a playfully macabre spin on the Frankenstein legend that doubles as a subversive exploration of the universal desire to be loved and understood.” — Erik Piepenburg, The New York Times, 16 Aug. 2024 Did you know? Credit for snark is often given to Lewis Carroll, on the basis of his having written a poem with this word in the title, back in the 1870s. The modern snark, however, is a back-formation (“a word formed by subtraction of a real or supposed affix from an already existing longer word”), a class of words that includes burgle and back-stab. It comes from taking the longer word snarky and subtracting the -y. Snarky emerged in English around the turn of the 20th century, initially with the meaning of “snappish, crotchety,” and then later took on the sense of “sarcastic, impertinent, or irreverent in tone or manner.” The noun snark is a much more recent addition to the language, arising in the 1990s. It was preceded by the verb snark, “to make an irreverent or sarcastic comment, to say something snarky,” which dates to the late 1980s.

Webster's Dictionary defines challenge as:  to dispute especially as being unjust, invalid, or outmoded; to confront or defy boldly; to arouse or stimulate especially by presenting with difficulties. You can become more intentional in just 30 days! Sign up for Dr. Randy’s INTENTIONAL ONE THING CHALLENGE. Here’s an Intentional Living Blog for Inspiration! Stuck in […]

We're all across the pros & cons of using drugs like Ozempic for weight loss, but what about the side effects? Turns out there's a recently discovered side effect that affects women way more than it does men. Plus, from rizz to gigil, we're unpacking new additions to the Oxford English Dictionary. And in today's headlines two men have been arrested after they allegedly took loaded guns into the MCG for an AFL match last night; Underworld figure Tony Mokbel will find out if he can leave prison on bail today; Abbie Chatfield has been cleared of any breaches of the Electoral Act; Trump fires National Security Council officials after he met with far right conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer Mamamia Votes Survey click here THE END BITS Support independent women's media Check out The Quicky Instagram here Tell us what's important to you this election: Take the Mamamia Votes survey here GET IN TOUCH Share your story, feedback, or dilemma! Send us a voice note or email us at thequicky@mamamia.com.au CREDITS Hosts: Taylah Strano & Claire Murphy Guests: Erin Docherty, Mamamia's Beauty & Lifestyle Editor Executive Producer: Taylah Strano Audio Producer: Lu Hill Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 2, 2025 is: effusive • ih-FYOO-siv • adjective Someone or something described as effusive is expressing or showing a lot of emotion or enthusiasm. // Jay positively glowed as effusive compliments on the meal echoed around the table. See the entry > Examples: "More recently, Billboard ranked Grande, who also writes and produces her own work, high on its list of the greatest pop stars of the 21st century. ... Rolling Stone has been similarly effusive, praising 'a whistle tone that rivals Mariah Carey's in her prime.'" — Lacey Rose, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Feb. 2025 Did you know? English speakers have used effusive to describe excessive outpourings since the 17th century. Its oldest and still most common sense relates to the expression of abundant emotion or enthusiasm, but in the 1800s, geologists adopted a specific sense characterizing flowing lava, or hardened rock formed from flowing lava. Effusive can be traced, via the Medieval Latin adjective effūsīvus ("generating profusely, lavish"), to the Latin verb effundere ("to pour out"), which itself comes from fundere ("to pour") plus a modification of the prefix ex- ("out"). Our verb effuse has the same Latin ancestors. A person effuses when speaking effusively. Liquids can effuse as well, as in "water effusing from a pipe."

Show #2379 Show Notes: ‘Vortex’: https://webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary/vortex Walmart and Retail stores closing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGvl6j_jtEk LAN 21 Day Fast: https://thelibertyactionnetwork.com/21-day-intercession-for-gods-will/ Nisan: https://biblehub.com/topical/n/nisan.htm History of the Modern Calendar: https://youtu.be/kzprsR2SvrQ?si=nfKdJVM0mOfiXvu2 Jewish Months of the Year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozC73Zlyizg Psalm 2: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%202&version=KJV Dave Daubenmire, a […]

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 1, 2025 is: cynosure • SYE-nuh-shur • noun A cynosure is a person or thing that attracts a lot of attention or interest. As a proper noun, Cynosure may refer to the North Star or its constellation Ursa Minor. // He was the cynosure of all eyes as he walked into the room. See the entry > Examples: "Look at any picture of Kashmir and you'll understand why it is called heaven on earth. And Srinagar, framed by the majestic Zabarwan Mountains, is the cynosure of all travel itineraries, offering a mix of breathtaking landscapes, rich culture, and spirituality." — Mallika Bhagat, Times Now (Mumbai, India), 17 Dec. 2024 Did you know? Ancient mariners noted that all the stars in the heavens seemed to revolve around a particular star, and they relied on that star to guide their navigation. The constellation that this bright star appears in is known to English speakers today as Ursa Minor, or the Little Dipper, but the Ancient Greeks called it Kynósoura, a term that comes from a phrase meaning "dog's tail." Kynósoura passed into Latin and Middle French, becoming cynosure. When English speakers adopted the term in the 16th century, they used it as a name for both the constellation and the star (which is also known as the North Star or Polaris) and also to identify a guide of any kind. By the 17th century, cynosure was also being used figuratively for anything or anyone that, like the North Star, is the focus of attention or observation.

Webster's Dictionary defines challenge as:  to dispute especially as being unjust, invalid, or outmoded; to confront or defy boldly; to arouse or stimulate especially by presenting with difficulties. You can become more intentional in just 30 days! Sign up for Dr. Randy’s INTENTIONAL ONE THING CHALLENGE. Here’s an Intentional Living Blog for Inspiration! When You […]

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 31, 2025 is: penchant • PEN-chunt • noun Penchant refers to a strong liking for something, or a strong tendency to behave in a certain way. It is usually used with for. // My penchant for mathematics helped me become an engineer. See the entry > Examples: "Sly Lives! is exceptionally strong in its attention to musical detail—even more than Questlove's previous cinematic effort, the Academy Award–winning Summer of Soul, Sly Lives! feels like a film made by a great musician. The film's interviewees offer illuminating ruminations on Sly's vocal arrangements, including his penchant for switching back and forth between unison vocal parts and harmonized ones ..." — Jack Hamilton, Slate, 13 Feb. 2025 Did you know? English has multiple p-words that imply a strong instinct or liking for something, including propensity and proclivity, but to keep things precise, penchant is the proper word for implying a pronounced, persistent taste in a person ("a penchant for pretty pendants") or a predominant predilection for performing particular actions ("a penchant for petting penguins"). Penchant traces back all the way to the Latin verb pendere, meaning "to weigh," but is more immediately preceded in English by the French word penchant, from the present participle of pencher, meaning "to incline."

New untranslatable words in the dictionary, what happened with Morgan Wallen on "SNL," and BOOB TUBE: "Mid-Century Modern," "The Righteous Gemstones," and "The Pitt" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jon and Kurt pick up the scent from an earlier episode where they discovered John Koenig's “The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows.” Basically, he made up words to fit common feelings that deserve and need to be named. Never missing a chance to make up words (in the hopes of one day making it into the OED), Jon and Kurt hope they aren't thrust into “joculimbo” when they try to entertain by making up words to describe the feeling of actually cutting the bagel in two equal parts or the feeling of getting into crisp clean sheets…and many others. After listening, you may have a feeling of “euphicity” (but you'd need a beer for that).

Webster's Dictionary defines challenge as:  to dispute especially as being unjust, invalid, or outmoded; to confront or defy boldly; to arouse or stimulate especially by presenting with difficulties. You can become more intentional in just 30 days! Sign up for Dr. Randy’s INTENTIONAL ONE THING CHALLENGE. Here’s an Intentional Living Blog for Inspiration! Stuck in […]

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 30, 2025 is: untoward • un-TOH-erd • adjective Untoward is a formal word that describes something that is improper or inappropriate, or that is adverse or unfavorable. // The medication is safe and effective, with no known untoward side effects. // The investigation found that nothing untoward had happened at the event. See the entry > Examples: “You might be thinking that the best course of action would be to make sure that any such generative AI is completely unable to spew out any kind of untoward content. Just do whatever ... AI trickery is needed to ensure that the good stuff is emitted and the bad stuff is kept under lock and key. ... The rub is that trying to simultaneously have generative AI that appears to be fluent and capable in composing natural language and yet also can refrain from emitting the bad stuff is a lot harder of a problem than you might assume.” — Lance Eliot, Forbes, 1 May 2023 Did you know? For centuries, the adjective toward described “forward-moving” youngsters, the kind who showed promise and were open to listening to their elders. The adjective then came to mean amiable or obliging. The opposite of this now-obsolete sense of toward is froward, meaning “disobedient.” Froward has fallen out of common use, but thankfully another toward antonym, untoward, obliged in picking up the slack. In addition to describing people or things that are “difficult to guide, manage, or work with,” untoward today is applied to that which is unfavorable or adverse, as well as to things that are inappropriate or in bad taste.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 29, 2025 is: elucidate • ih-LOO-suh-dayt • verb To elucidate something is to make it clear or easy to understand. // The writer elucidates complex medical findings for a general audience. See the entry > Examples: “Building flexible classrooms gives the building a lifespan beyond one class or even one era of pedagogy, which, as [Lee] Fertig elucidates, are sure to evolve.” — Maya Chawla, Architectural Digest, 25 Sep. 2024 Did you know? In 1974, the discovery of a remarkably intact Australopithecus skeleton elucidated a key moment in human evolution. She was famously nicknamed Lucy in reference to the Beatles' “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds,” but we'd still love Lucy were it simply an homage to the light she shed. You see, the Latin luc- or lux puts the “light” in many English utterances (including the name Lucy). Take, for instance, lucent (“glowing with light”), luculent (“clear in thought or expression”), luciferous (“bringing light or insight”), lucid (“clear, sane, intelligible”), and elucidate (“to make clear or understandable”). Those last two words come from the Latin lucidus, which literally translates to “lucid.” Lucidus, in turn, comes from the verb lucēre, meaning “to shine.” Elucidating, therefore, can be thought of as the figurative equivalent of shining a light on something to make it easier to see.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 28, 2025 is: derelict • DAIR-uh-likt • adjective Derelict is a formal word that describes something that is no longer cared for or used by anyone. It can also describe someone who is negligent or who fails to do what needs to be done. // The kids made sure to stay away from the spooky derelict houses in the neighborhood on Halloween. // The officers were charged with being derelict in their duty. See the entry > Examples: "In a movie that spends most of its time confined to the disorienting guts of a derelict spaceship, tracking Kenneth's de-evolution from Kennedy wannabe to a used car salesman version of Colonel Kurtz is often the only moral compass we have to find our way towards a better tomorrow." — David Ehrlich, Indie Wire, 15 Feb. 2025 Did you know? The Latin verb relinquere, meaning "to leave behind," left English with a number of words, including derelict. Something derelict has been left behind, or at least appears that way. In another sense, someone who is derelict leaves behind or neglects their duties or obligations. Another descendant of relinquere is relinquish, meaning "to leave behind," "to give up," or "to release." Relic also ultimately comes from relinquere. Relics, in the original sense of the term, are things treasured for their association with a saint or martyr—that is, objects saints and martyrs left behind. Relinquere also gives English its name for the containers or shrines which hold relics, reliquary.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 27, 2025 is: archetype • AHR-kih-type • noun Archetype refers to someone or something that is seen to be a perfect example. It is also a word for the original pattern or model of which all things of the same type are representations or copies. // The college's most popular philosophy professor is the archetype of the preoccupied academic, complete with the messy desk, disheveled hair, and brilliant theories. // The film is considered a sci-fi archetype for its pioneering use of special effects and prosthetics to depict an alien world. See the entry > Examples: “One of the most notable features of folktales, fairy tales, myths, and legends are their simplicity. These stories, many of them passed down to us across generations, are compelling because of the recognizable archetypes they incorporate (the evil stepmother, the dutiful daughter, the greedy king, etc.), their straightforward moral arcs, and their use of magic and transformation as catalysts for the plot.” — Gina Chung, LitHub.com, 13 Mar. 2024 Did you know? In her 2024 book Doppelganger: A Trip into the Mirror World, author Naomi Klein writes that “the doppelganger archetype has appeared across time to explore issues of life and death, the body versus the soul, the ego versus the id …” Klein doesn't mean that the same double, evil twin, or changeling keeps popping up throughout history, of course, but that the original concept of a doppelganger has served as a pattern, model, or template for writers to use in different ways, each supplying it with their own imagined details. Archetype's origins are in two Greek words: the verb archein, meaning “to begin,” and the noun typos, meaning “type.” Since its debut in English in the mid-1500s, archetype has taken on uses specific to the ideas of Plato, John Locke, and Carl Jung, but in everyday prose, archetype is most commonly used to mean “a perfect example,” as in “Robert Louis Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is considered an archetype of doppelganger fiction.”

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 26, 2025 is: flippant • FLIP-unt • adjective Something described as flippant, such as behavior or a comment, is lacking in proper respect or seriousness. // The celebrity made a flippant remark when questioned about the scandal. See the entry > Examples: "While the show seems to take a flippant attitude to the neatly packaged solutions offered by wellness tourism, I'm curious to see what it makes of these treatments' underlying Buddhist and Hindu philosophies." — Kate Gordon, The Case Western Reserve Observer, 28 Feb. 2025 Did you know? Consider the spatula, humble friend to many a cook: admire the pliancy with which it flips pancakes, eggs, your more wieldy cuts of meat. We're not being flippant—that is, facetious or smart-alecky—utensils are important, and spatulas are particularly useful for understanding the origins of flippant. Flippant is believed to come from the English verb flip, which, in turn, is a supposed imitation of the sound of something (say, a flapjack) flipping. The earliest uses of flippant described flexible things (like a spatula) or nimble, spry people, capable of moving this way and that with ease. Soon enough, flippant began to be used not only for people fluent in their movements, but those whose words flow easily. To be this kind of flippant was once a good thing; however, as people who speak freely can sometimes speak more freely than propriety permits, English users eventually flipped the script on flippant, and the positive sense fell into disuse, bending to the "disrespectful" sense we know today.

Webster's Dictionary defines challenge as:  to dispute especially as being unjust, invalid, or outmoded; to confront or defy boldly; to arouse or stimulate especially by presenting with difficulties. You can become more intentional in just 30 days! Sign up for Dr. Randy’s INTENTIONAL ONE THING CHALLENGE. Here’s an Intentional Living Blog for Inspiration! Ten Ways […]

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 25, 2025 is: hobbit • HAH-bit • noun A hobbit is a member of a fictitious peaceful and friendly race of small humanlike creatures that dwell underground. // The story was filled with all sorts of imaginary people, including hobbits. See the entry > Examples: "Hobbits were no part of Tolkien's original plan. They entered rather late and through a side door, as the unexpected central characters in a children's story, The Hobbit, which Tolkien invented for his own children but which found an immediate and lasting worldwide audience. And of which The Lord of the Rings was the commissioned, long-awaited and trebly successful sequel." — Verlyn Flieger, LitHub.com, 24 June 2025 Did you know? "What is a hobbit?" wrote J.R.R. Tolkien in the 1937 fantasy novel that introduced Mr. Bilbo Baggins. The author then answered himself: "They are (or were) little people, about half our height, and smaller than the bearded Dwarves. ... There is little or no magic about them, except the ordinary everyday sort which helps them to disappear when large stupid folk like you and me come blundering along ..." Tolkien tells us that hobbits "are inclined to be fat," and that they "dress in bright colours"; they "have good-natured faces, and deep fruity laughs (especially after dinner)." Tolkien, a professional linguist who taught at Oxford, coined the word hobbit (and many other terms—in fact, a whole new language) for The Hobbit and for his enormously popular three-part novel The Lord of the Rings.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 25, 2025 is: hobbit • HAH-bit • noun A hobbit is a member of a fictitious peaceful and friendly race of small humanlike creatures that dwell underground. // The story was filled with all sorts of imaginary people, including hobbits. See the entry > Examples: "Hobbits were no part of Tolkien's original plan. They entered rather late and through a side door, as the unexpected central characters in a children's story, The Hobbit, which Tolkien invented for his own children but which found an immediate and lasting worldwide audience. And of which The Lord of the Rings was the commissioned, long-awaited and trebly successful sequel." — Verlyn Flieger, LitHub.com, 24 June 2024 Did you know? "What is a hobbit?" wrote J.R.R. Tolkien in the 1937 fantasy novel that introduced Mr. Bilbo Baggins. The author then answered himself: "They are (or were) little people, about half our height, and smaller than the bearded Dwarves. ... There is little or no magic about them, except the ordinary everyday sort which helps them to disappear when large stupid folk like you and me come blundering along ..." Tolkien tells us that hobbits "are inclined to be fat," and that they "dress in bright colours"; they "have good-natured faces, and deep fruity laughs (especially after dinner)." Tolkien, a professional linguist who taught at Oxford, coined the word hobbit (and many other terms—in fact, a whole new language) for The Hobbit and for his enormously popular three-part novel The Lord of the Rings.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 25, 2025 is: hobbit • HAH-bit • noun A hobbit is a member of a fictitious peaceful and friendly race of small humanlike creatures that dwell underground. // The story was filled with all sorts of imaginary people, including hobbits. See the entry > Examples: "Hobbits were no part of Tolkien's original plan. They entered rather late and through a side door, as the unexpected central characters in a children's story, The Hobbit, which Tolkien invented for his own children but which found an immediate and lasting worldwide audience. And of which The Lord of the Rings was the commissioned, long-awaited and trebly successful sequel." — Verlyn Flieger, LitHub.com, 24 June 2024 Did you know? "What is a hobbit?" wrote J.R.R. Tolkien in the 1937 fantasy novel that introduced Mr. Bilbo Baggins. The author then answered himself: "They are (or were) little people, about half our height, and smaller than the bearded Dwarves. ... There is little or no magic about them, except the ordinary everyday sort which helps them to disappear when large stupid folk like you and me come blundering along ..." Tolkien tells us that hobbits "are inclined to be fat," and that they "dress in bright colours"; they "have good-natured faces, and deep fruity laughs (especially after dinner)." Tolkien, a professional linguist who taught at Oxford, coined the word hobbit (and many other terms—in fact, a whole new language) for The Hobbit and for his enormously popular three-part novel The Lord of the Rings.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 24, 2025 is: garble • GAR-bul • verb To garble something, such as a word, name, message, etc., is to cause it to be unclear or distorted. This type of garbling can be the result of an accident, ignorance, or a transmission error. Garble can also mean "to so alter or distort as to create a wrong impression or change the meaning." // I was so nervous I garbled their names. See the entry > Examples: "Noisy environments and interruptions garbled the audio or led to the services transcribing voices of people in the office who weren't in our meeting." — Danielle Abril, The Washington Post, 17 Aug. 2023 Did you know? Garble is a word with a spicy history, and we're not just saying that to curry favor with gastronomes. It is presumed that this word was passed from Arabic to Mediterranean Europe through trade in Eastern spices, and was first introduced into English from the Anglo-French verb garbeler, used for the action of sifting out impurities—such as dust, dirt, husks, etc.—from spices. In the 15th century, the English garble carried this same meaning as well as "to cull," i.e., to sort or pick out the best parts of something. If these origins seem curious given garble's now more common meanings of "to so alter or distort as to create a wrong impression" and "to cause to be unclear or confusing; to introduce error into," consider that one way of garbling someone's story is to take bits and pieces out of context.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 23, 2025 is: de rigueur • duh-ree-GUR • adjective De rigueur is a formal adjective that describes things that are necessary if you want to be fashionable, popular, socially acceptable, etc.—in other words, things required by fashion, etiquette, or custom. // Dark sunglasses are de rigueur these days among fashionistas. See the entry > Examples: “Summer swimwear has come a long way since itty-bitty string bikinis were de rigueur for the beach and by the pool.” — Amanda Randone, Refinery29.com, 31 May 2024 Did you know? It takes a lot of work to be cool. One needs to wear the right clothes, understand the right pop culture references, and use the right lingo before it ceases to be, ahem, on fleek. Rigor is required, is what we're saying—a strict precision in adhering to the dictates of fashion. Such rigor is at the crux of the adjective de rigueur, a direct borrowing from French where it means “out of strictness” or “according to strict etiquette.” Rigor is also what distinguishes de rigueur from a similar French borrowing, du jour. While the latter describes things that are popular, fashionable, or prominent at a particular time, as in “topic/style/buzzword du jour,” de rigueur describes that which is considered mandatory by fashion, etiquette, or custom for acceptability within a given social sphere or context. A bucket hat, for example, may be the chapeau du jour if it is currently popular or prevalent, but it would only be de rigueur if, among a certain crowd, you would be given the side-eye for not wearing one.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 22, 2025 is: neologism • nee-AH-luh-jiz-um • noun Neologism can refer either to a new word or expression or to a new meaning of an existing word. // I love seeing all the slangy neologisms that pop up on social media every year. See the entry > Examples: "… [U]ndertakers refashioned themselves … as funeral directors over the span of a few decades in the early twentieth century. … [T]he new generation of morticians (another neologism meant to conjure expertise) bought up shambling Victorian mansions in swish residential districts and invented a new form of comfort." — Dan Piepenbring, Harper's, 2 Feb. 2024 Did you know? The English language is constantly picking up neologisms. In recent decades, for example, social media has added a number of new terms to the language. Finsta, rizz, influencer, meme, and doomscroll are just a few examples of modern-day neologisms that have been integrated into American English. The word neologism was itself a brand-new coinage in the latter half of the 18th century, when English speakers borrowed the French term néologisme, meaning both "the habit of forming new words" and "a newly formed word." The French term, which comes from néologie, meaning "coining of new words," comprises familiar elements: we recognize our own neo-, with various meanings relating to what is new, as in neoclassical, and -logy, meaning "oral or written expression," as in trilogy.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 21, 2025 is: permeate • PER-mee-ayt • verb To permeate is to pass or spread through something. // The scent of lilacs permeated the room. // A feeling of anxiety permeated the office as everyone rushed to meet the deadline. See the entry > Examples: "The smell of sawdust permeates the air, and the din of buzzing chainsaws echoes from crews working to clear debris." — Chris Boyette, CNN, 3 Oct. 2024 Did you know? Permeate was borrowed into English in the 17th century from Latin permeatus, which comes from the prefix per- ("through") and the verb meare, meaning "to go" or "to pass." Meare hasn't exactly permeated English. Aside from permeate itself, its other English descendants include the relatively common permeable as well as the medical meatus ("a natural body passage") and the downright rare irremeable ("offering no possibility of return").

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 20, 2025 is: vernal • VER-nul • adjective Vernal is a formal adjective that describes something that relates to or occurs in the spring. // It is such a relief after a long, cold winter to see the trees and flowers in their glorious vernal bloom. See the entry > Examples: “I visited the wetland as best I could, given my professional obligations and peripatetic lifestyle, which often nurtured anything but stillness. Still, I baked and sweated in the summer sun, drew a thick down jacket around me on cold and snowy winter days, huddled in vernal rain, lounged in fall light.” — Christopher Norment, Terrain.org, 18 Sept. 2024 Did you know? “The sun's coming soon. / A future, then, of warmth and runoff, / and old faces surprised to see us. / A cache of love, I'd call it, / opened up, vernal, refreshed.” These are the closing lines of the poem “Runoff” by Sidney Burris, and even if you don't (yet) know the word vernal, you can probably divine its meaning from context. The sun's arrival? Melting snow and ice? Optimism? It all sure sounds like spring, the muse of many a poet and the essence of vernal, an adjective that describes all things related to the season. While the sun has been crossing the equator since time immemorial, producing a vernal equinox in the northern hemisphere in late March and in the southern hemisphere in late September, the word vernal has only been in use in English since the early 16th century, when it blossomed from the Latin adjective vernālis. That word in turn traces back to the noun vēr, meaning “spring.”

Lillian Exum Clement Stafford was one of the first women in North Carolina to practice law, and the first woman in the South to be elected to a state legislature. Research: “Letter from Elias Eller Stafford to Lillian Exum Clement, 1920.” North Carolina Archives. https://fromthepage.com/ncdcr-ncarchives/women-s-history-v5/pc-2804-lillian-exum-papers-b2f25-corr-eller-1920 “Lillian Exum Clement." NCpedia. Accessed on February 19th, 2025. https://www.ncpedia.org/anchor/lillian-exum-clement. “Public laws and resolutions passed by the General Assembly at its session of 1925.” https://archive.org/details/publiclawsresolu1925nort/ “Wouldn’t Vote?” Asheville Citizen-Times. 11/3/1920. https://www.newspapers.com/image/196317737/ Asheville Citizen. “Society and Personals.” 4/5/1917. https://www.newspapers.com/image/200917154/ Asheville Citizen. “Speakers Heard at Suffrage Meeting.” 3/17/1916. https://www.newspapers.com/image/78407560/ Asheville Citizen. “The Legislative Race.” 10/30/1920. https://www.newspapers.com/image/196310876/ Buncombe County Government. “Lillian Exum Clement Stafford.” Buncombe County Special Collectoins Flickr photoset. https://www.flickr.com/photos/buncombecounty/albums/72157641973318403/ Calder, Thomas. “Asheville Archives: Lillian Exum Clement takes her seat in the House, 1921.” MountainXPress. 3/7/2019. https://mountainx.com/news/asheville-archives-lillian-exum-clement-takes-her-seat-in-the-house-1921/ Chesky, Anne. “WNC History: Lillian Exum Clement's road to Raleigh.” Asheville Citizen Times. 8/3/2024. https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2024/08/03/wnc-history-lillian-exum-clements-road-to-raleigh/74615111007/ Cline, Ned. “First Step.” Our State. Apr 28, 2011. https://www.ourstate.com/lillian-exum-clement/ Cotten, Alice R. "Stafford, Lillian Exum Clement." NCpedia. Dictionary of North Carolina Biography, University of North Carolina Press. Accessed on February 19th, 2025. https://www.ncpedia.org/biography/stafford-lillian. Ellison, Jon. “Remembering Buncombe’s groundbreaking female legislator.” Carolina Public Press. 2/4/2014. https://carolinapublicpress.org/17570/remembering-buncombes-groundbreaking-female-legislator/ Journal of the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the State of North Carolina. Session 1921. https://archive.org/details/journalofhouseof1921nort Kinston Free Press. “Buncombe County Woman Withdraws from Campaign.” 5/28/1920. https://www.newspapers.com/image/75778748/ Letter from Elias Eller Stafford to Lillian Exum Clement, January 12, 1921. https://digital.ncdcr.gov/Documents/Detail/letter-from-elias-eller-stafford-to-lillian-exum-clement-january-12-1921/779584?item=779589 Letter from Lillian Exum Clement to Elias Eller Stafford, January 17, 1921. https://digital.ncdcr.gov/Documents/Detail/letter-from-lillian-exum-clement-to-elias-eller-stafford-january-17-1921/772715 Matthews, Mrs. A. “Mrs. Exum Clement Stafford.” The Sunday Citizen. 6/14/2025. https://www.newspapers.com/image/200026423/ My Home N.C. “Lillian Exum Clement, NC's first woman legislator | My Home, NC.” N.C. PBS. Via YouTube. 4/18/2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgbroQAtM0Q Neufield, Rob. “Visiting Our Past: Personal look at Lillian Exum Clement, Asheville's pioneering lawmaker.” Asheville Citizen Times. 2/21/2021. https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2021/02/21/visiting-our-past-look-pioneering-lawmaker-lillian-exum-clement/4515306001/ North Carolina Digital Collections. “Clippings related to Lillian Exum Clement Stafford.” 1916. https://digital.ncdcr.gov/Documents/Detail/clippings-related-to-lillian-exum-clement-stafford/766860 North Carolina Digital Collections. “Clippings related to Lillian Exum Clement Stafford.” June 1920. https://digital.ncdcr.gov/Documents/Detail/clippings-related-to-lillian-exum-clement-stafford/762410 North Carolina Digital Collections. “Clippings related to Lillian Exum Clement Stafford.” 1921. https://digital.ncdcr.gov/Documents/Detail/clippings-related-to-lillian-exum-clement-stafford/764401 North Carolina Digital Collections. “Letter from B. G. Crisp to Lillian Exum Clement, March 22, 1921” https://digital.ncdcr.gov/Documents/Detail/letter-from-b.-g.-crisp-to-lillian-exum-clement-march-22-1921/761040 North Carolina Digital Collectoins. Clippings related to Lillian Exum Clement Stafford's death. https://digital.ncdcr.gov/Documents/Detail/clippings-related-to-lillian-exum-clement-staffords-death/766201?item=766218 Nothstine, Kellie Slappey. “Lillian Exum Clement Stafford.” North Carolina History Project. https://northcarolinahistory.org/encyclopedia/lillian-exum-clement-1894-1925/ Smith, Anne Chesky. “You Have to Start a Thing: The South’s First Female Legislator, Lillian Exum Clement.” Swannanoa Valley Museum & History Center. https://www.history.swannanoavalleymuseum.org/you-have-to-start-a-thing-the-souths-first-female-legislator-lillian-exum-clement/ Swannanoa Valley Museum and History Center. “Lillian Exum Clement.” https://www.history.swannanoavalleymuseum.org/lillian-exum-clement/ The Asheville Times. “Chief Justice Clark Congratulates Woman.” 6/7/1920. https://www.newspapers.com/image/942373558 The Asheville Times. “Miss Clement Takes Oath Tomorrow.” 2/16/1920. https://www.newspapers.com/image/61366064/ The Sunday Citizen. “Brief Sketches of Four Leagues of N.C. Equal Suffrage Association.” 4/21/1918. https://www.newspapers.com/image/200910113/ Vander-Weide, Jacob. “Tombstone Tales: 1st female legislator in the South buried in Asheville.” 828 News Now. 7/27/2024. https://828newsnow.com/news/228822-tombstone-tales-1st-female-legislator-in-the-south-buried-in-asheville/ Waggoner, Martha. “Inscription in Bible links Vanderbilts to Lillian's List.” Times-News. 12/25/2014. https://www.blueridgenow.com/story/news/2014/12/25/inscription-in-bible-links-vanderbilts-to-lillians-list/28325769007/ Whittle, Ashley McGhee. “Asheville Women in History: Catalysts For Change.” Special Collections at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. https://libjournals.unca.edu/specialcollections/asheville/asheville-women-in-history-catalysts-for-change/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.