Word of the Day (January 31, 2015)

Word of the Day (January 31, 2015)

Vacillate – (v.) to repeatedly change your opinions or desires

Example: “ Women often vacillate than men.”

Origin: Latin “vacillatus,” past participle of “vacillare” to sway, waver.

First use: 1597

(Reference: Merriam Webster Dictionary. Merriam-Webster Dictionary Application. Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2015.)

Word of the Day (January 30, 2015)

Word of the Day (January 30, 2015)

Paragon – (n.) a person or thing that is perfect or excellent in some way and should be considered a model or example to be copied

Example: “ Miss Universe 2015 is a paragon of beauty.”

Origin: Middle French, from Old Italian “paragone,” literally, touchstone, from “paragonare” to test on a touchstone, from Greek “parakonan” to sharpen, from “para-“ + “akonē” Whetstone, from “akē” point; akin to Greek “akmē” point.

First use: circa 1548

(Reference: Merriam Webster Dictionary. Merriam-Webster Dictionary Application. Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2015.)

Word of the Day (January 29, 2015)

Word of the Day (January 29, 2015)

Veracity – (n.) truth or accuracy (also: the quality of being truthful or honest)

Example: “The police verified the veracity of his statements.”

Origin: Latin “verac”

First use: circa 1677

(Reference: Merriam Webster Dictionary. Merriam-Webster Dictionary Application. Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2015.)

Word of the Day (January 28, 2015)

Word of the Day (January 28, 2015)

Obdurate – (adj.) refusing to do what other people want (also: not willing to change your opinion or the way you do something

Example: “Their boss is obdurate in his decisions and plans for the company.”

Origin: Middle English, from Latin “obduratus,” past participle of “obdurare” to harden, from “ob-“ against + “durus” hard.

First use: 15^th century

(Reference: Merriam Webster Dictionary. Merriam-Webster Dictionary Application. Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2015.)

Word for the Day (January 27, 2015)

Word of the Day (January 27, 2015)

Mellifluous – (adj.) having a smooth, flowing sound

Example: “ The mother’s mellifluous voice lulled her baby to sleep.”

Origin: Middle English “mellyfluous,” from Late Latin “mellifluus,” from Latin “mell-,” “mel” honey + “fluere” to flow; akin to Gothic “milith” honey, Greek “melit-,” “meli.”

First use: 15^th century

(Reference: Merriam Webster Dictionary. Merriam-Webster Dictionary Application. Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2015.)

Word of the Day (January 26, 2015)

Word of the Day (January 26, 2015)

Unkempt – (adj.) not neat or orderly (also: messy or untidy)

Example: “Because of her busy schedule, her hair looks unkempt even during class hours.”

Origin: Middle English “unkemd,” “unkempt,” from “un-“ + “kembed,” “kempt,” past participle of “kemben” to comb, from Old English “cemban;” akin to Old High German “chempen” to comb, Old English “camb” comb.

First use: 14^th century

(Reference: Merriam Webster Dictionary. Merriam-Webster Dictionary Application. Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2015.)