- Today's Word
Whimsical
[WHIM-zi-kuhl]
Definition
- (adjective) something that is playfully quaint or fanciful, especially in an appealing and amusing way. It often refers to things that are unpredictably charming, capricious, or simply out of the ordinary.
Example
The children’s book author was known for her whimsical illustrations, featuring talking animals and trees with faces that captured young readers’ imaginations.
Fun Fact
The word “whimsical” derives from the noun “whimsy,” which originally meant “a fanciful or fantastic device” in the 1500s. It comes from the word “whim-wham,” an Middle English term for a fanciful object. The concept of whimsy has played a significant role in various art movements, particularly in the Surrealist movement of the early 20th century, where artists deliberately created works that were dreamlike and fantastical. In modern usage, “whimsical” has become associated with a lighthearted, carefree approach to life and art, often invoking a sense of childlike wonder or playfulness.
(verb) To criticize someone or something severely and publicly, often with harsh or scathing language.
The columnist excoriated the company’s leadership for ignoring repeated safety warnings.
Excoriate comes from the Latin excoriare, meaning “to strip off the skin,” from ex- (“off”) and corium (“hide” or “skin”). While the word originally described physical abrasion, its meaning shifted metaphorically over time to describe verbal attacks so harsh they feel skin-deep, leaving nothing protected.