Today's Word

Incipient

in-SIP-ee-uhnt

Definition

(adjective) In an initial stage; beginning to happen or develop.

Example

They noticed the incipient signs of a storm forming on the horizon.

Word Origin

Mid 17th century: from Latin incipient- ‘beginning’, from incipere ‘to begin’.

Fun Fact

Incipient is a favorite in science, medicine, and psychology—used to describe early warning signs or developments just taking shape. You’ll hear it in phrases like “incipient illness,” “incipient rebellion,” or “incipient innovation.” It’s a more precise way to say something’s starting, especially when that something may grow quickly or change everything.

Previous Words

Dulcet

Today's Word

Dulcet

DUL-sit

Definition

(adjective) Sweet and soothing to the ear; melodious and gentle in sound

Example

The dulcet tones of the jazz trio drifted through the open windows and out into the warm evening air.

Word Origin

Dulcet derives from the Old French doucet, a diminutive of doux (“sweet”), itself from the Latin dulcis (“sweet”). It entered English in the 15th century, used first in music and poetry to describe sounds of particular sweetness and gentleness, and has retained that musical, lyrical quality ever since.

Fun Fact

Dulcet shares its Latin root dulcis with a surprising range of words — including dulce de leche, the caramel confection beloved across Latin America, and dulcimer, the stringed folk instrument whose very name means “sweet sound.” The connection between sweetness and pleasant sound is ancient and cross-cultural: in many languages, the same word for “sweet” does double duty to describe both taste and sound, suggesting that humans have long understood beauty in these two senses as fundamentally linked.

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Incipient

Definition

Example

Word Origin

Previous Words

Dulcet

Dulcet

Definition

Example

Word Origin

Dulcet

Waylay

Recalcitrant

Hedonist

Abjure