tranz-MYOOT
(verb) To change in form, nature, or substance.
The alchemist hoped to transmute lead into gold.
Fun Fact
“Transmute” has its roots in alchemy, the ancient pursuit of transforming base metals into noble ones. Today, it’s used in science, psychology, and metaphysics—where emotional pain might be transmuted into growth, or innovation transmutes ideas into technology. It’s all about profound transformation, not just surface change.
TAW-dree
(adjective) Showy but cheap and of poor quality; lacking good taste.
The room was filled with tawdry decorations that looked like they came from a discount bin.
Mid 17th century: contraction of St. Audrey’s lace, which referred to cheap lace sold at fairs in honor of St. Audrey. Over time, the lace was seen as gaudy and tasteless, and St. Audrey became tawdry.
Fun Fact
The transformation from St. Audrey to tawdry is a classic case of how language evolves through cultural snobbery. Once a respected religious figure, St. Audrey lent her name to lace accessories sold at fairs. But as styles changed, those accessories were considered garish or outdated, and the word became an insult. Today, tawdry is used to describe anything that’s cheaply flashy, overly glitzy, or just in bad taste—from outfits to gossip.