Today's Word

Vaunt

vahnt

Definition

(verb) To boast or speak proudly about something, often in a showy or self-important way.

Example

The brand vaunted its eco-friendly practices in every ad campaign.

Fun Fact

Vaunt dates back to the 15th century and shares a root with vain. It was once used almost poetically in Shakespearean language, but now it often shows up in marketing critiques and political commentary. Whether you’re vaunting your skills on LinkedIn or your dinner on Instagram, the word carries a whiff of self-promotion—sometimes admired, sometimes eye-roll-inducing.

Previous Words

Harbinger

Today's Word

Harbinger

HAR-bin-jer

Definition

(noun) A person or thing that signals or foreshadows what is to come; a forerunner or omen of something approaching.

Example

The first robin of the season has always been considered a harbinger of spring.

Word Origin

From Old French herbergier (“one who provides lodging”), derived from herberge (“shelter, lodging”). In medieval England, a harbinger was a royal official who rode ahead of a traveling court to arrange accommodation. Over time, the meaning shifted from “one who goes ahead” to “one who announces what’s coming” — the literal advance man became a metaphorical one.

Fun Fact

In astronomy, the planet Venus was long called the “harbinger of dawn” because it rises in the sky just before the sun, reliably announcing the coming of morning. Ancient cultures across the world independently noticed this and assigned the planet a messenger role in their mythologies. The Romans named it after their goddess of love, but its function in the sky was always the same — arriving first, signaling what follows. Today Venus is still sometimes called the “morning star” for exactly this reason.

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Vaunt

Definition

Example

Previous Words

Harbinger

Harbinger

Definition

Example

Word Origin

Harbinger

Machination

Descry

Sardonic

Oblique