Today's Word

Onerous

OH-ner-uhs

Definition

(adjective) Burdensome, oppressive, or difficult to carry out.

Example

Fulfilling the contract’s onerous terms drained their finances and energy.

Fun Fact

Derived from the Latin onus, meaning “burden,” onerous is often used in legal or financial settings to describe obligations that are more trouble than they’re worth. From taxes to chores to unfair contracts, an onerous task is one that weighs heavily—not just physically, but mentally and emotionally too.

Previous Words

Hermetic

Today's Word

Hermetic

her-MET-ik

Definition

(adjective) Completely airtight and sealed; or, completely closed off from outside influence or interference.

Example

The research team worked in hermetic isolation for three months, communicating with no one outside the facility.

Word Origin

From the name Hermes Trismegistus — “Hermes the Thrice-Great” — a legendary Greco-Egyptian figure credited with inventing a miraculous airtight seal used in alchemy. “Hermetic sealing” was named after him, referring to a glass-fusion technique that made containers completely airtight. The word entered English in the 17th century, first in alchemical contexts before broadening into its modern senses.

Fun Fact

The “Hermetic tradition” is a body of philosophical and spiritual writing attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, blending Greek philosophy, Egyptian religion, and early mysticism. It was wildly influential during the Renaissance — figures like Marsilio Ficino and Giordano Bruno believed it represented a secret ancient wisdom older than Christianity. Modern Freemasonry, Rosicrucianism, and many esoteric traditions trace spiritual lineage to Hermetic philosophy. The word “hermetically sealed” still carries a faint echo of that sense of sacred, impenetrable mystery.

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Onerous

Definition

Example

Previous Words

Hermetic

Hermetic

Definition

Example

Word Origin

Hermetic

Gossamer

Nexus

Accord

Tantamount