- Today's Word
Jumble
[JUM-buhl]
Definition
- (noun) A confused mixture or a disorderly collection of things. As a verb, to “jumble” means to mix up in a confused or disordered way.
Example
The attic was a jumble of old furniture, boxes, and forgotten knick-knacks, making it nearly impossible to find anything specific.
Fun Fact
The word “jumble” has been in use since the mid-16th century. It’s believed to be related to the Middle English word “jombren,” meaning “to disturb” or “to confuse.” Interestingly, “jumble” also refers to a type of small, thin, sweet cookie or biscuit that was popular in the 17th and 18th centuries. These cookies were often made in twisted shapes, which may explain the connection to the idea of mixing or confusing. The versatility of “jumble” as both a noun and a verb makes it a useful and expressive word in many contexts, from describing physical clutter to mental confusion.
(adjective) Deserving praise or reward on the basis of genuine effort, skill, or achievement.
The meritorious work of the research team went unrecognized for years before a junior colleague finally submitted it for the award it had always deserved.
Meritorious derives from the Latin meritorius, meaning “that by which money is earned,” rooted in merere — “to earn” or “to deserve.” The same root gives us merit, meritocracy, and emeritus — all words built around the idea of something earned rather than given. It entered English in the 15th century, initially used in theological contexts to describe acts worthy of divine reward before expanding into its broader secular sense of anything genuinely deserving of recognition.