- Today's Word
Nominal
NOM-uh-nuhl
Definition
- (adjective) Existing in name only, not actual or substantial.
- Very small or minimal, especially in comparison to expectations.
Example
Despite his nominal title of “manager,” he had little authority within the organization.
Fun Fact
“Nominal” comes from the Latin nomen, meaning “name.” Originally referring to something “in name only,” it evolved to also describe something trivial or negligible. In science and technology, it often has a positive meaning, indicating that a system or process is functioning as expected, as in “all systems nominal.”
(noun) A natural craving or strong desire; an instinctive inclination toward something
She couldn’t explain her appetence for solo travel — it was simply part of who she was.
Appetence comes from the Latin appetentia, derived from appetere — meaning “to strive after” or “to desire” — itself a combination of ad (“toward”) and petere (“to seek” or “to aim at”). The word entered English in the 17th century, used by philosophers and naturalists to describe instinctive drives in both humans and animals.