Today's Word

Inure

ih-NUR

Definition

(verb) To become accustomed to something, especially something unpleasant.

Example

Over time, she became inured to the constant noise of the city.

Word Origin

Late Middle English: from Old French enurer, based on Latin inurare — in- (into) + urere (to burn), originally meaning “to burn in” or “harden by fire.”

Fun Fact

Inure often describes the mental or emotional process of adapting to difficulty, stress, or discomfort. It’s frequently used in psychology, journalism, and military contexts—anywhere people learn to cope with harsh conditions. You might become inured to cold weather, online trolling, or even tragic news headlines. It’s a word that suggests resilience—but also desensitization.

Previous Words

Austere

Today's Word

Austere

aw-STEER

Definition

(adjective) Severe or strict in manner or appearance; having no comforts or luxuries; pleasingly simple and unadorned.

Example

The monastery’s austere design — bare stone walls, minimal furniture, and no decoration — was intentional, meant to keep the monks focused on contemplation rather than comfort.

Word Origin

Austere comes from the Greek austēros, meaning “harsh” or “rough to the taste,” originally used to describe the bitter, drying quality of unripe fruit. The word passed into Latin as austerus and then into Old French before arriving in English in the 14th century. Its early use referred to physical sensations before expanding to describe strict, unadorned behavior and environments.

Fun Fact

The ancient Spartans were the ancient world’s most famous practitioners of austerity — so much so that the word spartan itself became a synonym for bare-bones living. But “austerity” as a modern economic and political term surged in the 20th century, particularly during the Great Depression and again after the 2008 financial crisis, when governments cut public spending to reduce debt. Critics and supporters still hotly debate whether austerity measures actually work — making this a word that started describing a bitter taste and ended up at the center of global economic policy debates.

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Inure

Definition

Example

Word Origin

Previous Words

Austere

Austere

Definition

Example

Word Origin

Austere

Traduce

Fructify

Stultify

Exegesis