- Today's Word
Pellucid
puh-LOO-sid
Definition
- (adjective) Transparently clear or easy to understand.
- Allowing the maximum amount of light to pass through; crystal clear.
Example
The author’s pellucid prose made even complex ideas accessible to a wide audience.
Fun Fact
“Pellucid” originates from the Latin pellucidus, combining per- (“through”) and lucidus (“clear”). The word captures both physical clarity, like glass or water, and intellectual clarity, such as easy-to-grasp writing or speech. Its dual meaning makes it a versatile and poetic choice in both scientific and literary contexts.
(verb) To suggest or assume something as a basis for reasoning or argument without prior proof.
The scientist postulated that the mysterious signals were coming from a previously undiscovered layer of the atmosphere, a theory that took years to confirm.
Postulate derives from the Latin postulare, meaning “to demand” or “to claim,” rooted in poscere, meaning “to ask urgently.” In medieval logic and mathematics, a postulate was a foundational assumption that didn’t require proof — something demanded to be accepted as a starting point. Euclid’s famous geometric postulates, written around 300 BCE, are among the most influential examples in intellectual history.