Today's Word

Baleful

BAYL-full

Definition

(adjective) Threatening harm or expressing hostility; ominous in tone or intent.

Example

The villain gave a baleful glare that silenced the entire room.

Word Origin

Old English bealufull, from bealu meaning “evil” or “harm.”

Fun Fact

Baleful shows up a lot in literature, especially when describing dark atmospheres or intense characters. It can describe looks, gestures, or environments that signal danger before it strikes. A baleful sky? Storm’s coming. A baleful glance? You’re on thin ice. It’s a great word for when something feels wrong—even if nothing’s happened yet.

Previous Words

Ken

Today's Word

Ken

ken

Definition

(noun) The range of one’s knowledge, understanding, or awareness.

Example

Quantum physics lies far beyond my ken, no matter how many articles I read.

Word Origin

Ken comes from Old English cennan, meaning “to know” or “to make known,” and is closely related to Middle English and Scots usage where it meant knowledge, perception, or recognition. Over time, the word narrowed to describe the limits of what someone knows or understands, which is why it’s often used today in phrases like “beyond my ken.”

Fun Fact

Although ken feels archaic, it survives almost entirely through its idiomatic use. Writers and speakers still rely on it because no other single word captures the idea of a mental boundary—a point where familiarity ends and the unknown begins. That makes ken less about intelligence and more about perspective: everyone’s ken is different.

READ MORE...

Baleful

Definition

Example

Word Origin

Previous Words

Ken

Ken

Definition

Example

Word Origin

Ken

Pragmatic

Semaphore

Portentous

Blandishment