Podcasts about Vocabulary

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 22, 2025 is: metonymy • muh-TAH-nuh-mee • noun Metonymy refers to a figure of speech in which a word that is associated with something is used to refer to the thing itself, as when crown is used to mean “king” or “queen.” // Wall Street, Silicon Valley, and Hollywood are common examples of metonymy. See the entry > Examples: “The stick used to command the crowd is called a ‘brigadier.' A brigadier is usually used to describe one who commands a military brigade, yes, but does not a stage manager lead his theater brigade? That's the idea, according to organizers. It was a term used so often to refer to a stick-wielding stage manager that, through the magic of metonymy, the stick itself is now referred to as a brigadier.” — Emma Bowman, NPR, 6 Aug. 2024 Did you know? When Mark Antony asks the people of Rome to lend him their ears in Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar he is asking them to listen to him, not to literally allow him to borrow their ears. It's a classic example of the rhetorical device known as metonymy, which comes to English (via Latin) from the Greek word of the same meaning, metōnymia: the use of a word that is associated with something to refer to the thing itself. Metonymy often appears in news articles and headlines, as when journalists use the term crown to refer to a king or queen. Another common example is the use of an author's name to refer to works written by that person, as in “They are studying Austen.” Metonymy is closely related to synecdoche, which is a figure of speech in which the word for a part of something is used to refer to the thing itself (as in “need some extra hands for the project”), or less commonly, the word for a thing itself is used to refer to part of that thing (as when society denotes “high society”).

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 21, 2025 is: bloviate • BLOH-vee-ayt • verb To bloviate is to speak or write in an arrogant tone and with more words than are necessary. // The podcaster tends to bloviate endlessly on topics about which he is not particularly knowledgeable. See the entry > Examples: "While other characters bloviate about their lives, Barbara is a much more internal character, her quietness making her seem all the more an outsider in her hometown." — Kristy Puchko, Mashable.com, 13 June 2025 Did you know? Warren G. Harding is often linked to the word bloviate, but to him the word wasn't insulting; it simply meant "to spend time idly." Harding used the word often in that "hanging around" sense, but during his tenure as the 29th U.S. President (1921-23), he became associated with the "verbose" sense of bloviate, as his speeches tended to be on the long-winded side. Although he is sometimes credited with having coined the word, it's more likely that Harding picked it up from local slang while hanging around with his boyhood buddies in Ohio in the late 1800s. The term likely comes from a combination of the word blow plus the suffix -ate.

In this episode of The Real Life English with Gabby, we're exploring the world of luck, good fortune, and all the expressions native speakers use to talk about those magical moments when everything seems to go right in your life. You'll learn 15 essential idioms, phrasal verbs, and slang expressions that real Americans use every day. You'll learn vocabulary like: a stroke of luck, pan out, the stars align and more! Through clear explanations, real-life examples, and an easy-to-follow story, you'll not only understand these expressions, you'll actually remember and use them confidently in your conversations.If you've ever felt confused by how native speakers talk about luck, chance, opportunities, or things working out, this episode is for you. We'll break everything down in a natural, friendly way and then guide you through how to practice the vocabulary so that it sticks in your brain. Whether you want to improve your speaking, sound more fluent, or understand English the way it's really spoken, this episode gives you the tools you need. Also, don't forget to download the free Study Guide that will help you practice what you learn in this episode! It includes:Definitions and example sentencesThe full transcriptPractice exercises that will challenge youand more!Click >> HERE > CLICK HERE

Send us a textWe learn about the Greek Rock Star Vasilis Papakonstantinou, because if we learn Greek and we don't learn about this musician and singer, we are not doing it right.Practice your Vocabulary, study new words and meet the people who have put huge stones in what we call "Greece".Read the text hereSupport the show

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 20, 2025 is: gauche • GOHSH • adjective Gauche describes someone or something having or showing a lack of awareness about the proper way to behave. When describing a person or a behavior, gauche can mean “socially awkward” or “tactless”; when describing an object (such as a product with a vulgar image or slogan on it) it can mean “crudely made or done.” // Some people view giving cash in lieu of a wrapped present to be terribly gauche, but I like knowing that my friends and family will be able to pick out something they truly want. See the entry > Examples: “Ignorance of classical music, for many people, is no longer something to be ashamed of, as it was sixty or seventy years ago. If you are indifferent to it, no one will notice; if you hate it, you may even be praised for your lack of snobbery. Almost no one will be so gauche as to tell you that you are missing out on something that could change your life.” — David Denby, The New Yorker, 20 July 2025 Did you know? Although it doesn't mean anything sinister, gauche is one of several words (including sinister) with ties to old suspicions and negative associations relating to the left side and use of the left hand. In French, gauche literally means “left,” and it has the extended meanings “awkward” and “clumsy.” These meanings may have come about because left-handed people could appear awkward trying to manage in a mostly right-handed world, or perhaps because right-handed people appear awkward when trying to use their left hand. Regardless, awkwardness is a likely culprit. Fittingly, awkward itself comes from the Middle English awke, meaning “turned the wrong way” or “left-handed.” On the other hand, adroit and dexterity have their roots in words meaning “right” or “on the right side.”

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 19, 2025 is: serendipity • sair-un-DIP-uh-tee • noun Serendipity refers to luck that takes the form of finding valuable or pleasant things that are not looked for, or to an instance of such luck. // They found each other by pure serendipity. See the entry > Examples: “For new music, I rely on ... radio shows like ‘Late Junction,' straight-up luck and serendipity, and my wife, who has impeccable taste.” — Liam Brickhill, LitHub.com, 5 Dec. 2024 Did you know? The word serendipity did not come about by luck; rather, it was intentionally coined by 18th century author Horace Walpole, who was eager to share a happenstance discovery he had made while researching a coat of arms. In a letter to his friend Horace Mann he wrote: “This discovery indeed is almost of that kind which I call Serendipity, a very expressive word, which ... I shall endeavor to explain to you: you will understand it better by the derivation than by the definition. I once read a silly fairy tale, called ‘The Three Princes of Serendip': as their highnesses travelled, they were always making discoveries, by accidents and sagacity, of things they were not in quest of ...” Walpole's memory of the tale (which, as luck would have it, was not quite accurate) gave serendipity the meaning it retains to this day.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 18, 2025 is: eccentric • ik-SEN-trik • adjective Eccentric usually describes people and things that deviate from conventional or accepted usage or behavior, especially in odd or whimsical ways. It is also used technically to mean "deviating from a circular path" and "located elsewhere than at the geometric center." // He's an endearingly eccentric scientist whose methods are quite inventive. // The dwarf planet Pluto has an eccentric orbit. See the entry > Examples: "The film [Annie Hall] is considered one of the great romantic comedies of all time, with [Diane] Keaton's eccentric, self-deprecating Annie at its heart." — Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2025 Did you know? Eccentric was originally a technical term at home in the fields of geometry and astronomy. It comes from the Medieval Latin adjective ecentricus, meaning "not having the earth at its center," and ultimately has its root in a Greek noun, kéntron, whose various meanings include "stationary point of a pair of compasses" and "midpoint of a circle or sphere." But its figurative use is long-established too: as far back as the 17th century the word has been used to describe people and things that deviate from what is conventional, usual, or accepted.

Hola! Today we're going to talk about the easiest topics in Spanish grammar? Do you think that Spanish has easy topics? This is a Spanish Lesson that will help you with listening practice. You will listen a native speaker and a student of Spanish that speak very fluently.Guys, if you want to study and practice conversational Spanish with me:https://t.me/SpanishwithDennishttps://discord.gg/HWGrnmTmyCYou can support me and my podcast if you want:Donate with PayPal:https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/spanishwithdennisYou can buy me a cup of coffee here:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/spanishwithdennisMy Youtube channel: Spanish with Dennishttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQVuRUMQGwtzBIp1YAImQFQEnjoy the episode :)My new Discord server and chat and you can already join and write to me there:https://discord.gg/HWGrnmTmyCMy new Telegram channel and you can already join and write to me or comment there:https://t.me/SpanishwithDennisYou can support me and my podcast if you want:Support me by joining my podcasts supporter club on Spreaker:https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/comprehensible-spanish-language--5595630/supportJoin my Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/spanishwithdennisDonate with Boosty:https://boosty.to/spanishwithdennis/donateDonate with Donation Alerts:https://www.donationalerts.com/r/dennisespinosaDonate with Crypto currency:Bitcoin (BTC)1DioiGPAQ6yYbEgcxEFRxWm5hZJcfLG9V6USDT (ERC20)0xeb8f678c0b8d37b639579662bf653be762e60855USDT (TRC20)TXoQwsaiTGBpWVkyeigApLT8xC82rQwRCNEthereum (ETH)0xeb8f678c0b8d37b639579662bf653be762e60855If you have any other suggestions or recommendations on what other platform you can support me and my podcasts, please let me know. You can write to me on telegram.Thank you in advance. 

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 17, 2025 is: crucible • KROO-suh-bul • noun A crucible, in the word's literal use, is a pot in which metals or other substances are heated to a very high temperature or melted. But crucible is more often encountered in figurative use referring to a difficult test or challenge, or to a place or situation that forces people to change or make difficult decisions. // The bronze was heated to 2,100 degrees in the crucible and then poured into molds designed by the artist. // Her latest novel follows two best friends in a fantastical, battle-ravaged kingdom who emerge from the crucible of war with opposing views and values on what should come next. See the entry > Examples: “... the original film follows four married couples—close friends who reunite once a year for a weeklong vacation together. On the surface, the retreat is meant to help them relax and reconnect, but it quickly becomes a crucible for examining the cracks in their relationships.” — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 1 Oct. 2025 Did you know? Unless you're studying Arthur Miller's The Crucible in school, it may not be crucial to learn the story behind crucible, but it can't hurt! Crucible looks like it should be closely related to the Latin combining form cruc- (“cross”); however, unlike crucial, it isn't. It was forged instead from the Medieval Latin crucibulum, a noun for an earthen pot used to melt metals, and in English it first referred to a vessel made of a very heat-resistant material (such as porcelain) used for melting a substance that requires a high degree of heat. It's possible that the resemblance between cruc- and crucible encouraged people to start using crucible to mean “a severe trial,” as that sense is synonymous with one meaning of cross, but the idea of simmering in a literal crucible also sounds plenty severe. The newest sense of crucible (“a situation in which great changes take place,” as in “forged in the crucible of war”) recalls the fire and heat required to transform some solids into liquids.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 16, 2025 is: writhe • RYTHE • verb To writhe is to twist one's body from side to side. The word is often used when the body or a bodily part is twisting in pain. // The injured player lay on the football field, writhing in pain. // At the instruction of their teacher, the children rolled the fallen log aside to reveal worms and other small critters writhing in the soft earth. See the entry > Examples: “The creatures named after writers are mostly bugs, which makes sense. There are a lot of those little guys writhing around, and I imagine most of them escaped our attention for long enough that science had to start reaching for new names. And a lot of them are wasps: Dante has two wasps named after him; Marx has two, Didion has one, Dickens has two, Zola has two, Thoreau has seven, and Shakespeare has three wasps and a bacterium. Nabokov has a lot of butterflies, naturally.” — James Folta, LitHub.com, 25 Aug. 2025 Did you know? Writhe wound its way to us from the Old English verb wrīthan, meaning “to twist,” and that ancestral meaning lives on in the word's current uses, most of which have to do with twists of one kind or another. Among the oldest of these uses is the meaning “to twist into coils or folds,” but in modern use writhing is more often about the physical contortions of one suffering from debilitating pain or attempting to remove oneself from a tight grasp (as, say, a snake from a hawk's talons). The word is also not infrequently applied to the twisting bodies of dancers. The closest relation of writhe in modern English lacks any of the painful connotations often present in writhe: wreath comes from Old English writha, which shares an ancestor with wrīthan.

Learn English for project managers in this lesson on dealing with conflicts with subcontractors. >>> The post BEP 419 – English for Projects: Managing Conflict with Contractors 2 first appeared on Business English Pod :: Learn Business English Online.

In this eye-opening episode, we debunk one of the biggest myths in language learning: that simply moving to an English-speaking country will automatically make you fluent. Many people believe immersion is a magic solution, but the reality is far more complex.We explore why passive immersion often fails and reveal the four critical steps that transform ineffective exposure into powerful language acquisition:Active Engagement Protocol: Learn how to convert passive exposure into deliberate practice through daily challenges, forced output situations, and contextual learning missions that make every interaction count.Strategic Interaction Design: Discover how to engineer learning situations at the optimal difficulty level—staying in the productive "learning zone" where growth happens fastest through progressive skill-building and real-world missions.Feedback Loop Creation: Understand why most immersion fails due to lack of corrections, and learn five powerful methods to get the feedback you need to prevent fossilization and accelerate your progress.Intentional Comprehensible Input: Master the art of curating English content at the perfect difficulty level (the 80/20 rule) that matches your goals and interests for maximum learning efficiency.Whether you're planning to move abroad, already living in an English-speaking country, or just want to maximize your English learning effectiveness, this episode provides actionable strategies to avoid the immersion trap and achieve real fluency.Key Takeaway: Immersion alone doesn't create fluency—strategic, active engagement with feedback and intentional input does. Transform your environment from background noise into a powerful learning laboratory.If you want to sign up for the free English email newsletter, go to https://speakenglishwithtiffani.com/newsletter

In this sermon, Mark addresses how the Third Way creates an alternative vocabulary in a time of tribalism. Ephesians 4:1-6, 25-32 www.thevineaustin.org DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Interact with the quote from Abraham Heschel- “words create worlds.” How have you seen that concept at work in your own life or our world? 2. What stayed with you from the sermon- either as confusing, curious or encouraging? 3. Read Ephesians 4:1-6. Verses 1, 2 and 3 seem to address different concepts, but how are they connected? 4. Read Ephesians 4:25-27. Is anger wrong or sinful by nature? If not, when does anger become sin? How does anger provide the enemy a foothold? 5. Read Ephesians 4:29-32. What does this passage say about God? How do these verses challenge the church to live differently? 6. A common practice in our world of division is to label and “other” people into tribes. What are ways we can push against that temptation? End in prayer for one another using Colossians 3:12-14 to be your prompt. Imagine putting on the posture of Jesus and taking off the antagonistic ways of this world. "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 15, 2025 is: radial • RAY-dee-ul • adjective Radial describes things that are arranged or have parts arranged in straight lines coming out from the center of a circle. // Her mosaics echo radial patterns observed in nature, from succulents to sea urchins. See the entry > Examples: "Inspired by flowers that grow organically, the project transforms organic patterns into space arrangements, embodying the idea of blooming. The design distills the essence of a flower's radial symmetry into a geometric language, creating a rhythmic play of radial patterns and sunburst lines." — Architecture Update (India), 19 Feb. 2025 Did you know? Picture the sun shining brightly on a cloudless day. Its rays stretch in every direction along radiant radii so far-reaching they radiate daylight. It's pretty rad, and it's a cinch to describe in English thanks to the expansive influence of the Latin noun radius, meaning "ray." As you might have guessed, radius is an ancestor of the English words ray, radiant, radiate, and of course radius. It's also the sunny source of radial, which joined our language in the 1500s as an adjective meaning "arranged or having parts arranged like rays." Radial has bourgeoned in meaning over the centuries, adopting unique applications across many fields including medicine, engineering, and astronomy.

In today's episode, we're learning 10 useful Persian verbs that use zadan as an auxiliary verb — and we'll show you how to use them naturally in a friendly conversation between two friends. Don't miss this fun and practical lesson!For extra practice, write a short story using all ten verbs and send it to us at: podgapp@gmail.com. We'd love to read your work!Want to dive deeper? By joining us on Patreon.com/podgapFull Persian transcriptions of every episodeA glossary & worksheets to practice withPlus extra learning goodies like Persian news, proverbs, vocabulary challenges, videos, and more!Let's keep learning and growing together — one word at a time

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 14, 2025 is: heyday • HAY-day • noun Heyday refers to the period of one's greatest popularity, vigor, or prosperity. It is usually used in the singular. // In its heyday, the circus was a major form of entertainment for the small town. See the entry > Examples: "In its heyday, there were more than 200 Chi-Chi's nationwide; the last restaurant closed in 2004." — Nicole Hvidsten, The Minnesota Star Tribune, 1 Oct. 2025 Did you know? The day in heyday originally had nothing to do with the kind of day that's made up of 24 hours. Heyday was first used in the first half of the 16th century as an extended form of the interjection hey, used since the 13th century to express elation or wonder, as it still often is in phrases like "hey, look at that!" The day part was most likely just an extra syllable tagged on for effect. By the end of the 16th century heyday had developed noun use with the meaning "high spirits," as when Shakespeare's Hamlet tells his mother, "You cannot call it love; for at your age / The heyday in the blood is tame …” It wasn't until the 18th century that the day syllable's resemblance to the word day likely influenced the development of the now-familiar use referring to the period when one's achievement or popularity has reached its zenith.

Talking About Climate Change with Confidence: A Conversation with Dr. Alice Alpert Climate change is a topic that affects every one of us, yet it can feel confusing, overwhelming, or even polarizing. That's why I was excited to welcome Dr. Alice Alpert, Senior Scientist at the Environmental Defense Fund, to the Go Natural English podcast. Dr. Alpert studies emerging climate technologies, evaluates their real-world impact, and works with teams focused on methane, climate policy, and international sustainability partnerships. In our conversation, we explored misconceptions, sources of hope, daily sustainability habits, and clear English vocabulary related to the climate conversation. What Does a Climate Scientist Do? Dr. Alpert evaluates new climate solutions, from clean energy to carbon-removal technologies to sustainable farming. Her work starts with two key questions: Does this solution meaningfully help reduce climate impact? What are the trade-offs or challenges that come with it? Her job is not just to imagine solutions but to determine what actually works. The Biggest Misunderstanding About Climate Change Dr. Alpert explained that a major misconception is the idea that climate action is "all or nothing." People often believe: "It's too late to do anything," or "It's someone else's responsibility." Both mindsets lead to inaction. "You don't have to be perfect," she said. "Every step forward helps. The idea of 'everything or nothing' isn't useful." How She Stays Hopeful Climate news can feel heavy, so I asked what keeps her motivated. Her answer was simple: the future. "I have three kids. That's three votes for the future. We are moving in the right direction, and I think we'll get most of the way there." Her optimism is practical and rooted in evidence. Many climate solutions are already working and becoming more affordable. Misconceptions About Sustainability, Especially in Texas One surprising part of our conversation was about renewable energy in Texas. Many people assume Texas is not sustainable, but the opposite is true. Texas produces more clean energy than any other U.S. state, and by a huge margin. Wind, solar, and battery storage are growing rapidly. Much of this growth is driven by economics, not ideology. "It's the cheapest energy," she said. "People are making money from it." Another misconception is that sustainability is always more expensive. In reality, the cheapest new energy to build today is solar. Short-Term Costs vs. Long-Term Benefits Many sustainable choices cost more upfront but save money over time: installing solar panels, buying an electric vehicle, or purchasing high-quality items that last longer. I shared the example of clothing I've kept for more than a decade. A well-made sweater ended up costing less over time than several cheaper ones. Dr. Alpert agreed. "The upfront investment is real. But long-term thinking matters." Everyday Sustainability: What Works for You Dr. Alpert emphasized that sustainability should be personal and realistic. A few examples we discussed: Thrifting and Secondhand Shopping Buying used items reduces waste and builds community. Reusing Items for Children Circulating children's items among families increases their lifespan and reduces unnecessary purchases. Flexible Eating Habits She chooses what feels natural. She doesn't eliminate any foods, but she eats less beef because she doesn't enjoy it much and knows it has a higher climate impact. Her philosophy is simple: do what works for your lifestyle, not someone else's. Cultural Differences in Sustainability Many listeners of Go Natural English live in the United States but grew up abroad. If that describes you, you may have noticed differences in: recycling habits how food is packaged energy use transportation diet choices We would love to hear about your experiences and what surprised you when comparing sustainability practices around the world. Key English Vocabulary for Talking About Climate Change Because much climate information is published in English, we reviewed several useful terms. Carbon footprint The amount of greenhouse gases created by an activity. Carbon neutral No net increase in emissions; emissions are balanced by removals. Renewable or clean energy Energy sources that do not rely on fossil fuels. Examples include wind, solar, hydro, geothermal, and sometimes nuclear. Fossil fuels Coal, oil, and natural gas. Dr. Alpert jokingly compared them to "burning dinosaurs." Move the needle To make a meaningful impact or measurable improvement. In the same boat Facing the same challenge or depending on the same shared resource. Individual Actions and Leadership Actions While individual choices matter, Dr. Alpert pointed out something important: You cannot expect one person to "save the world." Leadership and policy matter too. So how do we hold leaders accountable? Voting, especially at the local level Joining conservation-minded organizations Speaking up through social media or letters Staying informed on local policies Supporting leaders who prioritize clean energy and sustainability These steps make a meaningful difference. Where to Learn More Dr. Alpert recommends two easy places to start: The book "Not the End of the World" by Hannah Ritchie

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 13, 2025 is: peremptory • puh-REMP-tuh-ree • adjective Peremptory is a formal word used especially in legal contexts to describe an order, command, etc., that requires immediate compliance with no opportunity to show why one should not comply. It is also used disapprovingly to describe someone with an arrogant attitude, or something indicative of such an attitude. // The soldiers were given a peremptory order to abandon the mission. // The company's president tends to adopt a peremptory manner especially at the negotiating table. See the entry > Examples: “Cook had changed. He seemed restless and preoccupied. There was a peremptory tone, a raw edge in some of his dealings. Perhaps he had started to believe his own celebrity. Or perhaps, showing his age and the long toll of so many rough miles at sea, he had become less tolerant of the hardships and drudgeries of transoceanic sailing.” — Hampton Sides, The Wide Wide Sea: Imperial Ambition, First Contact and the Fateful Final Voyage of Captain James Cook, 2024 Did you know? Peremptory comes from the Latin verb perimere, meaning “to take entirely” or “to destroy,” which in turn combines the prefix per- (“throughout” or “thoroughly”) and the verb emere (“to take”). Peremptory implies the removal of one's option to disagree or contest something, and sometimes suggests an abrupt dictatorial manner combined with an unwillingness to tolerate disobedience or dissent, as in “employees given a peremptory dismissal.” Not to sound peremptory ourselves, but don't confuse peremptory with the similar-sounding (and related) adjective preemptive, meaning “marked by the seizing of the initiative,” as in “a preemptive attack.”

Get your FREE PDF from the lesson:https://www.englishwiththiago.com/free-pdf-3Book a 1.1 call with me:https://www.englishwiththiago.com/fluency-discovery-callUpgrade Your English Vocabulary: From B1 to B2 in Easy Steps!Struggling to move from B1 to B2 English? Discover the secret to sounding more sophisticated and precise! This video focuses on upgrading your everyday B1 vocabulary to B2-level words, making your speech and writing more advanced. Learn key vocabulary shifts in verbs, adjectives, connectors, and abstract nouns. Plus, get tips on how to make your English sound more natural with B2 collocations. Don't miss the free PDF guide with all the words and examples discussed in the video. Watch now to start thinking, speaking, and writing like a B2-level English speaker!

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 12, 2025 is: abide • uh-BYDE • verb If someone cannot abide someone or something bad, unpleasant, etc., they cannot tolerate or accept that person or thing. Abide can also mean "to accept without objection" and "to remain or continue." // I just can't abide such blatant dishonesty. // Residents agree to abide by the dorm's rules. See the entry > Examples: "If a legal party ... doesn't like a district court ruling, it is free to challenge the decision to a federal appellate court and then the Supreme Court. But while the appeal plays out, the legal party must abide by the ruling." — Will Rogers, The Baltimore Sun, 22 July 2025 Did you know? Abide has abided in the English language since before the 12th century, picking up along the way several meanings and inflections that are now rare or no longer in use. For instance, one of abide's former meanings was "to stop" and its former past participle was abidden (whereas we now use abided or abode). Today, abide often turns up in the phrase "can't abide" to say that someone cannot tolerate or accept something. The expression abide by, which means "to accept and be guided by (something)," is also common. Related terms include abiding, meaning "continuing for a long time" or "not changing" (as in "an abiding friendship"), abidance ("continuance" or "the act or process of doing what you have been asked or ordered to do"), and abode ("the place where someone lives").

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 11, 2025 is: doughty • DOW-tee • adjective Doughty is a word with an old-fashioned flair used to describe someone who is brave, strong, and determined. // The monument celebrates the doughty townspeople who fended off invaders centuries ago. See the entry > Examples: “The film chooses to render our doughty heroes' super-costumes as cerulean-blue rollneck sweaters, which is a puzzling choice both aesthetically and practically: knitwear seems literally ill-fitted to derring-do.” — Glen Weldon, NPR, 25 July 2025 Did you know? There's no doubt that doughty has persevered in the English language—it's traceable all the way back to the Old English word dohtig—but how to pronounce it? One might assume that doughty should be pronounced DAW-tee, paralleling similarly spelled words like bought and sought, or perhaps with a long o, as in dough. But the vowel sound in doughty is the same as in doubt, and in fact, over the centuries, doughty's spelling was sometimes confused with that of the now obsolete word doubty (“full of doubt”), which could be the reason we have the pronunciation we use today. The homophonous dowdy (“having a dull or uninteresting appearance”) can also be a source of confusion; an easy way to remember the difference is that you can't spell doughty without the letters in tough (“physically and emotionally strong”).

Listen with FREE Interactive Transcript only on the RealLife App. Have you ever wondered why the same word can mean something totally different in the US, UK, and Australia?  In this fun and fast-paced RealLife English episode, Ethan, Andrea, and Olly explore some of the most common (and confusing!) vocabulary differences across English-speaking countries. From "bell pepper" to "capsicum", and many more, you'll laugh, learn, and discover how small words can open big cultural insights. Plus, you'll pick up tips to sound more natural and connect confidently with people from all over the English-speaking world! Read the show notes here. .......... Follow us on: RealLife English (YouTube) Learn English with TV Series (YouTube)

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 10, 2025 is: temerity • tuh-MAIR-uh-tee • noun Temerity is the quality of being confident and unafraid of danger or punishment, especially in a way that seems rude or foolish. Temerity may also refer to a rash or reckless act. // She had the temerity to ask me for another loan when she had yet to begin repaying the first one. // The students somehow convinced the principal that a prank of such temerity warranted only three days' detention. See the entry > Examples: "Once upon a time, music critics were known for being crankier than the average listener. [Taylor] Swift once castigated a writer who'd had the temerity to castigate her, singing, 'Why you gotta be so mean?'" — Kelefa Sanneh, The New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025 Did you know? When you're feeling saucy, there's no shortage of words in the English language you can use to describe the particular flavor of your metaphorical sauce, from audacity and effrontery to the Yiddish-derived fan favorite chutzpah. If we may be so bold, let us also suggest temerity: it comes from the Latin temere, meaning "recklessly" or "haphazardly," and is good for suggesting boldness even in the face of danger or likely punishment. Temerity is a formal word, rarely used in casual writing or conversation, but provided you have the cheek to flout this convention, you may be thinking "what have I got to lose?"

Sometimes poetry is a shield.Please Support Breaking Form!Review the show on Apple Podcasts here.Aaron's STOP LYING is available from the Pitt Poetry Series.James's ROMANTIC COMEDY is available from Four Way Books.Show Notes:Poems and poets mentioned in this episode include:Galway Kinnell, "Prayer"  A. Van Jordan, "Details Torn from MacNolia's Diary." Read a consideration of the book on Poetry Daily here.Jaime Gil de Biedma, "Contra Jaime Gil de Biedma" and the translation here. Read this LitHub article considering the life and poetry of de Biedma by Spencer Reece.Gregory Orr writes about the accident in which his brother died here. Aaron posted a photo of "Poem for My Dead Mother" on his FaceBook here. The poem was first published in the Antioch Review in Vol. 31, No. 1, Spring, 1971Ethna McKiernan, "Washing My Mother's Hair." Read an obit for the poet in The Irish Times here . Kathy Fagan's "A Vocabulary of Icons" was first published in Southwest Review Vol. 83, No. 3, 1998Julia Kasdorf's "Eve Curse" is from her book Eve's Striptease. Visit her website.Jane Kenyon, "Let Evening Come"Toi Dericotte's poem "Clitoris" was first published in Kenyon Review, Spring 1994, Vol. XVI No. 2

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 9, 2025 is: improvident • im-PRAH-vuh-dunt • adjective Improvident is a formal word used to describe something that does not foresee or provide for the future, especially with regard to money. An improvident relationship, habit, or practice is financially unwise or impractical. // The directors were blasted at the committee hearing for their improvident use of public money. See the entry > Examples: “The problem is worst in affluent countries like the U.S., where more than two hundred pounds of food per person get thrown away each year. ‘Even modest food waste reductions would translate into considerable cumulative savings,' Smil observes. Then, there's the waste that results from improvident eating habits. If photosynthesis has a low conversion rate, feeding crops to animals compounds the problem many times over.” — Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 23 June 2025 Did you know? Improvident describes someone's actions or habits as being unwise with regard to saving or providing for the future. It's a formal word, but the behavior it describes is well illustrated by many of the stories people hear or read as children, including some of the world's oldest. In Aesop's fable “The Ant and the Grasshopper,” the grasshopper could certainly be called improvident—he spends all summer singing and dancing while the ant works hard to prepare for winter by storing food, and at the end of the short tale is cold and starving. While today improvident is used mostly in the context of money, and those who are irresponsible with it, one can be improvident with other things (such as time or food), even happily. In another children's tale, The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies, author Beatrix Potter introduces the titular family of bunnies, sleepy from eating too much lettuce, as follows: “they were very improvident and cheerful.”

Ever wondered why native English speakers seem to respond instantly in conversations while you're still processing what was said? In this episode, we break down the four cognitive steps that native speakers use automatically—and show you exactly how to develop these same skills.What You'll Learn:Step 1: Parallel Processing - Discover how native speakers listen and prepare responses simultaneously, eliminating awkward pauses and maintaining natural conversational flow. Learn 5 practical exercises to develop this dual-processing ability.Step 2: Chunk Recognition - Understand why native speakers process phrases as single units rather than individual words, dramatically reducing cognitive load. Master 5 techniques to recognize and use multi-word chunks automatically.Step 3: Response Priming - Learn how native speakers keep potential responses "warmed up" and ready to deploy, explaining why they never seem caught off guard. Practice 5 strategies to pre-load your conversational responses.Step 4: Rhythm Synchronization - Explore how matching the conversational beat makes you sound fluent even when your words aren't perfect. Develop timing and pacing skills through 5 rhythm-focused exercises.This episode transforms abstract fluency into concrete, trainable skills. Whether you're preparing for meetings, social conversations, or just want to feel more confident in English, these four steps will accelerate your journey to natural, native-like conversation processing.Perfect for: Intermediate to advanced English learners who understand the language but struggle with real-time conversation speed and natural response timing.If you want to sign up for the free English email newsletter, go to https://speakenglishwithtiffani.com/newsletter

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 8, 2025 is: bromide • BROH-myde • noun A bromide is a statement intended to make someone feel happier or calmer, but too dull and unoriginal to be effective. // Their speech had nothing more to offer than the usual bromides about how everyone needs to work together. See the entry > Examples: “According to the old bromide, the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. My grandfather, who had limited formal education but a wealth of common sense, countered that with, ‘Just water and fertilize your own grass. After all, it's your grass and you are in charge of how it grows! Besides, that other stuff may be nothing but AstroTurf.'” — Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes, 4 Sept. 2024 Did you know? A bromide is a statement so worn and trite as to be ineffective when it's offered to make someone feel better. Before the sigh-inducing type, though, bromides were most familiar in compounds like potassium bromide, used in the late 19th century as a sedative to treat everything from epilepsy to sleeplessness. (The chemical element bromine had been discovered in 1826.) Such compounds fell from use with the invention of barbiturates in the early 20th century, around the same time that the word bromide started to be applied to anything or anyone dull enough to make one drowsy.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 7, 2025 is: vamoose • vuh-MOOSS • verb Vamoose is an informal word that means "to depart quickly." // With the sheriff hot on their tails, the bank robbers knew they had better vamoose. See the entry > Examples: "... I spotted the culprit, a young racoon, attempting to dislodge one of my feeders. Caught in the act, he ran for his life when I opened the window and told him to vamoose." — Margaret Haylock Capon, The Picton County Weekly News (Ontario, Canada), 19 June 2025 Did you know? In the 1820s and '30s, the American Southwest was rough-and-tumble territory—the true Wild West. English-speaking cowboys, Texas Rangers, and gold prospectors regularly rubbed elbows with Spanish-speaking vaqueros in the local saloons, and a certain amount of linguistic intermixing was inevitable. One Spanish term that caught on with English speakers was vamos, which means "let's go." Cowpokes and dudes alike adopted the word, at first using a range of spellings and pronunciations that varied considerably in their proximity to the original Spanish form. But when the dust settled, the version most American English speakers were using was vamoose.

Global English Pronunciation⁠ is available now. We'll show the 8 native secrets to clear English pronunciation. This is our newest course! Join today to get access to all 8 modules, interactive exercises, AI pronunciation analysis and scoring, teacher feedback, weekly live conversation practice, and more. Go here to enroll now. Save $50 this week only on basic or personal coach plans. Learn what other courses don't teach you about English pronunciation.  The special offer ends 11/9 at midnight.  ⁠Join here now.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to The Real Life English with Gabby Podcast. Have you ever felt like everything was going wrong, like maybe you had bad luck? Did you ever do something that you thought might change your luck in some way? In episode #71, we dive into the world of bad luck, fate, and superstitions. You'll learn 13 real American idioms, slang, and phrasal verbs that will help you speak confidently about luck. You'll also hear fun examples from everyday life, talk about popular superstitions from around the world and even learn some grammar-the first conditional.We'll talk about expressions like knock on wood, jinx, Murphy's Law, and when it rains, it pours and how you can use them naturally in conversation.Also, don't forget that this episode includes a free Study Guide that will help you practice what you learn in this episode! It includes:Definitions and example sentencesReview of the First ConditionalThe full transcriptPractice exercises that will challenge youand more!Click >> HERE > CLICK HERE

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 6, 2025 is: conciliatory • kun-SILL-yuh-tor-ee • adjective Something described as conciliatory is intended to reduce hostility or to gain favor or goodwill. // As the customer's voice rose, the manager adopted a soothing, conciliatory tone and promised that the situation would be remedied. See the entry > Examples: “When I was younger, and my father found me in bed after my mother had said or done something to send me there, he would sit for a moment by my feet and tell me, in an awkward, conciliatory way, that it wasn't my mother's fault. She was sad, and worried, and she had been sad and worried for a long time, so I had to try harder to be a good, thoughtful child.” — Farah Ali, The River, The Town: A Novel, 2025 Did you know? If you are conciliatory toward someone, you're trying to win that person over to your side, usually by making them less angry. The verb conciliate was borrowed into English in the mid-16th century and descends from the Latin verb conciliare, meaning “to assemble, unite, or win over.” Conciliare, in turn, comes from the noun concilium, meaning “assembly” or “council.” Conciliatory, which appeared in English a bit later in the 16th century, also traces back to conciliare, and is used especially to describe things like tones, gestures, and approaches intended to turn someone's frown upside down. Another word that has conciliare as a root is reconcile, the earliest meaning of which is “to restore to friendship or harmony.”

Learn English for project management in this lesson on dealing with conflict with subcontractors. >>> The post BEP 418 – English for Projects: Managing Conflict with Contractors 1 first appeared on Business English Pod :: Learn Business English Online.

learn about the five most common home supplies found in a Romanian house

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 5, 2025 is: lout • LOUT • noun A lout is an awkward brutish person. // It was difficult for us to focus on the movie due to the noise coming from the group of louts seated in front of us. See the entry > Examples: “Fortunately for Vince, Jake is about to sell their mother's house, and the proceeds should cover his deep debts. As is often the case with ne'er-do-wells, however, Vince doesn't make anything easy, and [actor Jason] Bateman casts him as an arrogant lout ... who's always playing the angles to his own benefit, damn the damage he causes to everyone else.” — Nick Schager, The Daily Beast, 18 Sept. 2025 Did you know? Lout belongs to a large group of words that we use to indicate a particular sort of offensive and insensitive person, that group also including such terms as boor, oaf, jerk, and churl. English speakers have used lout in this way since the mid-1500s. Well before the 12th century, however, lout functioned as a verb with the meaning “to bow in respect.” No one is quite sure how—or even if—the verb sense developed into a noun meaning “an awkward brutish person.” The noun could have been coined independently, but if its source was the verb, perhaps the awkward posture of one bowing down led over the centuries to the idea that the bowing person was base and awkward as well.

Nikki and Chad discuss how to model and teach emotional language to help kids build a strong emotional vocabulary to express themselves from an early age.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 4, 2025 is: spontaneous • spahn-TAY-nee-us • adjective Spontaneous describes something that is done or said in a natural and often sudden way and without a lot of thought or planning. It can describe a person who does things that have not been planned but that seem enjoyable and worth doing at a particular time. // The kitten captured our hearts, and we made the spontaneous decision to adopt. // He's a fun and spontaneous guy, always ready for the next big adventure. See the entry > Examples: "The Harlem Renaissance was filled with poetry and song—and with performance, as enshrined in [filmmaker William] Greaves's footage which features many spontaneous, thrillingly theatrical recitations of poems by Bontemps, Hughes, Cullen, and McKay." — Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 23 Sept. 2025 Did you know? When English philosopher Thomas Hobbes penned his 1654 treatise Of Libertie and Necessitie he included the following: "all voluntary actions … are called also spontaneous, and said to be done by a man's own accord." Hobbes was writing in English, but he knew Latin perfectly well too, including the source of spontaneous; the word comes (via Late Latin spontāneus, meaning "voluntary, unconstrained") from the Latin sponte, meaning "of one's free will, voluntarily." In modern use, the word spontaneous is frequently heard in more mundane settings, where it often describes what is done or said without a lot of thought or planning.

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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 3, 2025 is: fidelity • fuh-DELL-uh-tee • noun Fidelity is the quality or state of being faithful to a person, such as a partner or spouse, or a thing, such as one's country. Fidelity can also refer to accuracy or exactness in details, or the degree to which an electronic device (such as a television) accurately reproduces its effect (such as sound or picture). // After almost three decades on the job, no one can doubt their fidelity to the company. // The movie's director insisted on total fidelity to the book. See the entry > Examples: “The origins of the role [of ring bearer] actually have their roots in ancient Egypt, where a young boy would be enlisted to carry rings to a couple as a symbol of love, fidelity, and fertility.” — Shelby Wax, Vogue, 10 July 2025 Did you know? Fidelity came to English by way of Middle French in the 15th century, and can ultimately be traced back to the Latin adjective fidēlis, meaning “faithful, loyal, trustworthy.” While fidelity was originally exclusively about loyalty, it has for centuries also been used to refer to accuracy, as in “questions about the fidelity of the translation.” Nowadays fidelity is often used in reference to recording and broadcast devices, conveying the idea that a broadcast or recording is “faithful” to the live sound or picture that it reproduces.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 2, 2025 is: arbitrary • AHR-buh-trair-ee • adjective Arbitrary describes something that is not planned or chosen for a particular reason, is not based on reason or evidence, or is done without concern for what is fair or right. // Because the committee wasn't transparent about the selection process, the results of the process appeared to be wholly arbitrary. // An arbitrary number will be assigned to each participant. See the entry > Examples: “The authority of the crown, contemporaries believed, was instituted by God to rule the kingdom and its people. England's sovereign was required to be both a warrior and a judge, to protect the realm from external attack and internal anarchy. To depose the king, therefore, was to risk everything—worldly security and immortal soul—by challenging the order of God's creation. Such devastatingly radical action could never be justified unless kingship became tyranny: rule by arbitrary will rather than law, threatening the interests of kingdom and people instead of defending them.” — Helen Castor, The Eagle and the Hart: The Tragedy of Richard II and Henry IV, 2024 Did you know? Donning black robes and a powdered wig to learn about arbitrary might seem to be an arbitrary—that is, random or capricious—choice, but it would in fact jibe with the word's etymology. Arbitrary comes from the Latin noun arbiter, which means “judge” and is the source of the English word arbiter, also meaning “judge.” In English, arbitrary first meant “depending upon choice or discretion” and was specifically used to indicate the sort of decision (as for punishment) left up to the expert determination of a judge rather than defined by law. Today, it can also be used for anything determined by or as if by chance or whim.

Do you understand English perfectly when you listen or read, but freeze when it's time to speak? You're not alone—and it's not about learning more vocabulary or grammar rules. In this episode, we uncover the real reason behind this frustrating gap and reveal the four critical steps to transform your passive English knowledge into active speaking fluency.What You'll Learn:Receptive Vocabulary Activation: Discover why you have thousands of words locked in "passive storage" and learn 5 proven techniques to activate them for real-time conversation—including rapid word association games, reverse dictionary practice, and shadowing with gap-filling.Motor Programming: Understand why speaking is a physical skill that requires muscle memory training. Get 5 practical exercises to train your mouth muscles for English, from articulation drills to marathon speaking sessions that build physical speaking endurance.Spontaneous Formulation: Learn how to create English sentences in real-time without planning. Master 5 powerful techniques, including 3-second response challenges and live commentary practice that force your brain to think directly in English patterns.Error Tolerance Development: Break free from perfectionism paralysis. Discover 5 ways to reprogram your fear of mistakes, including stream-of-consciousness speaking and the no-editing speaking rule that prioritizes communication over accuracy.Key Takeaway:The gap between understanding and speaking isn't about knowledge—it's about training four distinct skills your brain needs to convert passive comprehension into active fluency. This episode gives you a complete roadmap with 20 actionable techniques you can start practicing today to finally speak the English you already understand.Perfect For: English learners who understand conversations, movies, and podcasts but struggle to express themselves confidently in real-time conversations.If you want to sign up for the free English email newsletter, go to https://speakenglishwithtiffani.com/newsletter

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 1, 2025 is: ostracize • AH-struh-syze • verb To ostracize someone is to exclude them from a group by the agreement of the group's members. // She was ostracized by her community after refusing to sign the petition. See the entry > Examples: "Telling stories with affection and noodging, [comedian Sarah] Silverman has always been encouraged by her family, who embraced rather than ostracized her for revealing family secrets on the way to reaping howls of laughter." — Thelma Adams, The Boston Globe, 19 May 2025 Did you know? In ancient Greece, citizens whose power or influence threatened the stability of the state could be exiled by a practice involving voters writing that person's name down on a potsherd—a fragment of earthenware or pottery. Those receiving enough votes would then be subject to temporary exile from the state. Ostracize comes from the Greek verb ostrakízein (itself from the noun óstrakon meaning "potsherd"), used in 5th century Athens for the action of banishing someone by way of such a vote. Someone ostracized today is not exiled, but instead is excluded from a group by the agreement of the group's members.

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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 31, 2025 is: hobgoblin • HAHB-gahb-lin • noun A hobgoblin is a mischievous goblin that plays tricks in children's stories. When used figuratively, hobgoblin refers to something that causes fear or worry. // This Halloween we were greeted at our door by werewolves, mummies, and a wide assortment of sweet-toothed hobgoblins. See the entry > Examples: “Vampires and zombies took a big bite out of the horror box office in Sinners and 28 Years Later, and with Del Toro's Frankenstein hitting theaters next week, it would seem that a return to classic marquee monsters is one of the stories of this summer's movie season. But there's one old-school hobgoblin that's lurking around the edges of this narrative, omnipresent, repeated across a number of notable new titles, but still somehow avoiding the limelight: the witch ...” — Payton McCarty-Simas, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Aug. 2025 Did you know? While a goblin is traditionally regarded in folklore as a grotesque, evil, and malicious creature, a hobgoblin tends to be more of a playful troublemaker. (The character of Puck from Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream might be regarded as one.) First appearing in English in the early 1500s, hobgoblin combined goblin (ultimately from the Greek word for “rogue,” kobalos) with hob, a word from Hobbe (a nickname for Robert) that was used both for clownish louts and rustics and in fairy tales for a mischievous sprite or elf. The American writer Ralph Waldo Emerson famously applied the word's extended sense in his essay Self-Reliance: “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines.”

In this episode, you're getting a preview of the types of conversations happening with educators in our bonus subscription episodes.   This month, Shannon and Mary chat with Dr. Jasmine Rogers, a reading specialist and college educator, about her dual roles in literacy.   Dr. Rogers discusses her research on African American English (AAE) and structured literacy, emphasizing the importance of affirming behaviors in promoting student motivation and effective communication. Drawing on personal experiences and professional expertise, she emphasizes the importance of affirming diverse dialects, including Black English, and fostering an inclusive and supportive classroom environment. The episode also covers translanguaging and strategies for teachers to support multilingual students, highlighting the significance of creating a positive, inclusive, and affirming classroom environment.  Tune in to learn more about effective teaching practices, the science of reading, and how teachers can better support students from diverse linguistic backgrounds.0:00 Welcome to the Reading Teacher Lounge01:09 Introducing Dr. Jasmine Rogers02:37 Understanding Black Language in Education04:34 Research on Affirming Student Language07:32 The Importance of Cultural Awareness in Teaching13:55 Personal Experiences and Reflections15:48 Journey into Structured Literacy17:37 Merging Identity with Teaching Practices22:14 Reflecting on Teaching Practices23:03 The Power of Translanguaging24:57 Effective Communication Techniques26:55 Building Positive Classroom Environments30:04 Supporting Teachers and Students31:29 The Importance of Authenticity in Teaching32:59 Insights from Research36:12 Morphology and Language Learning39:50 Final Thoughts and FarewellsRESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE EPISODEDr. Jasmine's websiteConnect with Dr. Jasmine Rogers through her websiteConnect with Dr. Jasmine Rogers through LinkedIn44 Phonemes Video from RRFTS (Rollins Center for Language and Literacy)DC Public Schools Reading ClinicFrayer ModelStrive for Five Conversations by Tricia Zucker and Sonia Cabell *Amazon affiliate linkEducation Week:  What is Translanguaging and How Is it Used in the Classroom?Buy us a coffeeGet a FREE Green Chef box with our linkBonus Episodes access through your podcast appBonus episodes access through PatreonFree Rubrics Guide created by usFinding Good Books Guide created by usSupport the showGet Literacy Support through our Patreon

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 30, 2025 is: truculent • TRUCK-yuh-lunt • adjective Truculent describes a person who is easily annoyed and eager to argue or fight. It can also describe the mood or attitude of such a person. // The approach of multiple deadlines had put me in a truculent mood, and I could tell my colleagues were avoiding me. See the entry > Examples: “It's the holidays, and strings of gaudy rainbow lights twinkle from gables. In cozy living rooms, the elders doze in their chairs while middle-aged siblings bicker and booze it up around the dining table. Little kids squirm in makeshift beds trying to stay awake for Santa, while truculent teenagers sneak out into the suburban night to do secret teenager things.” — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 24 May 2024 Did you know? English speakers adopted truculent from Latin in the mid-16th century, trimming truculentus, a form of the Latin adjective trux, meaning “savage,” and keeping the word's meaning. Apparently in need of a new way to describe what is cruel and fierce, they applied truculent both to brutal things (wars, for example) and people (such as tyrants). Eventually even a plague could be truculent. In current use, though, the word has lost much of its etymological fierceness. It now typically describes the sort of person who is easily annoyed and eager to argue, or language that is notably harsh.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 29, 2025 is: deliquesce • del-ih-KWESS • verb Deliquesce can mean "to dissolve or melt away" or, in reference to some fungal structures (such as mushroom gills), "to become soft or liquid with age or maturity." // The mushrooms deliquesced into an inky fluid. See the entry > Examples: "He would mould his figures in full in wax, then take a hot knife and—like a metaphysical surgeon—cut away triangles, rhomboids, flaps and scraps, until only a latticework was left. These new shapeshifting figures comprised more gaps than joins: bodies in the delicate, arduous process of shedding their skins, scattering into metal petals, being eroded and deliquesced. Things were freshly able to pass through these painstakingly hard-to-cast bronzes: light, air, sight." — Robert Macfarlane, Apollo, 1 May 2025 Did you know? Deliquesce comes from the prefix de- ("from, down, away") and a form of the Latin verb liquēre, meaning "to be fluid." Things that deliquesce, it could be said, turn to mush in more ways than one. In scientific contexts, a substance that deliquesces absorbs moisture from the atmosphere until it dissolves in the absorbed water and forms a solution. When plants and fungi deliquesce, they lose rigidity as they age. When deliquesce is used in non-scientific contexts, it is often in a figurative or humorous way to suggest the act of "melting away" under exhaustion, heat, or idleness, as in "teenagers deliquescing in 90-degree temperatures."

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 28, 2025 is: menagerie • muh-NAJ-uh-ree • noun Menagerie refers to a collection of animals kept especially to be shown to the public, as well as a place where such animals are kept. It can also refer figuratively to any varied mixture of things. // The aviary featured a menagerie of exotic birds. // The space is eclectically furnished with a menagerie of flea market finds. See the entry > Examples: “The creatures are usually found hanging from phones or handbags ... or clutched as a kind of pet. They come in a menagerie of more than three hundred collectible forms. They can be matched to a personal style or mood: pink fur for when you're feeling flirty; glowing red eyes for a bit of an edge ...” — Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 20 Aug. 2025 Did you know? Back in the days of Middle French, ménagerie meant “the management of a household or farm” or “a place where animals are tended.” When English speakers adopted menagerie in the 1600s, they applied it specifically to places where wild and often also foreign animals were kept and trained for exhibition, as well as to the animals so kept. This second meaning was eventually generalized to refer to any varied mixture, especially one that includes things that are strange or foreign to one's experience.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 27, 2025 is: acerbic • uh-SER-bik • adjective Something described as acerbic is sharply or bitingly critical, sarcastic, or ironic in temper, mood, or tone. // The comedian draws crowds that appreciate his acerbic wit. See the entry > Examples: "Whether she's giving a sarcastic eye-roll, tossing off an acerbic zinger, or seducing with a come-hither stare, [actress Jennifer] Simard intimately understands the art of underplaying." — Christopher Wallenberg, The Boston Globe, 1 June 2025 Did you know? English speakers created acerbic in the 19th century by combining the adjective acerb with the suffix -ic-. Acerb had already been around for a couple centuries, but for most of that time it had been used only to describe foods with a sour taste. (Acerb is still around today, but now it's simply a less common synonym of acerbic.) Acerbic and acerb ultimately come from the Latin adjective acerbus, which can mean "harsh" or "unpleasant." Another English word that comes from acerbus is exacerbate, which means "to make more violent or severe."

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 26, 2025 is: cognoscente • kahn-yuh-SHEN-tee • noun Cognoscente refers to a person with expert knowledge in a subject. It is usually encountered in its plural form, cognoscenti, and preceded by the. // The audience at the club, though small, was full of writers, musicians, and other noteworthy members of the jazz cognoscenti. See the entry > Examples: "Even as [Ray] Bradbury was embraced by the New York cognoscenti—traveling to the city in the fall of '46, drawing the attention of Truman Capote, meeting Gore Vidal, dancing with Carson McCullers at a Manhattan party—Mars beckoned. Yet he would not dare tell his New York associates, for fear of being laughed out of the room." — Sam Weller, LitHub.com, 28 Apr. 2025 Did you know? Cognoscente and connoisseur—both terms for those in the know—are more than synonyms; they're also linguistic cousins. Both terms descend from the Latin verb cognōscere, meaning "to know," and they're not alone. You might guess that cognizance and cognition are members of the cognōscere clan. Do you also recognize a family resemblance in recognize? Can you see through the disguise of incognito? Did you have a premonition that we would mention precognition? Cognoscente itself came to English by way of Italian and has been a part of the language since the late 1700s.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 25, 2025 is: wreak • REEK • verb Wreak means “to cause something very harmful or damaging.” It is often used with on or upon. // The virus wreaked havoc on my laptop. See the entry > Examples: “Ours is a geography of cataclysm: Santa Anas wreak their psychic wrath; the odor of disaster seeps from the street like that sulfurous egg smell of the La Brea Tar Pits.” — John Lopez, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Sept. 2025 Did you know? In its early days, wreak was synonymous with avenge, a meaning exemplified when Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus proclaims “We will solicit heaven, and move the gods / To send down Justice for to wreak our wrongs.” This sense is now archaic, but the association hasn't been lost: although wreak is today most often paired with havoc, it is also still sometimes paired with words like vengeance and destruction. We humbly suggest you avoid wreaking any of that, however, no matter how badly you may crave your just deserts.