- Today's Word
Aquilux
[ak-wi-luhks]
Definition
- (noun) This captivating term combines “aqua,” representing water and its reflective qualities, with “lux,” the Latin word for light. It’s used to describe a place or moment where the radiance of light combines with the freedom and tranquility of water, creating a vivid and liberating experience.
Example
Imagine standing on the shore of a tranquil lake at sunrise, watching as the first rays of sunlight dance upon the water’s surface. You might say, “This morning by the lake was a true Aquilux. The combination of light and water was simply breathtaking.”
Fun Fact
“Aqua” is Latin for “water,” while “lux” is Latin for “light.” “Aquilux” ingeniously combines these concepts to capture the essence of a radiant and liberating experience, often found in serene natural settings.
(verb) To use vague or ambiguous language in order to avoid committing to a clear position or answer.
When asked directly whether he had approved the deal, the CEO equivocated for ten minutes without ever giving a straight answer.
Equivocate derives from the Medieval Latin aequivocare, meaning “to call by the same name,” built from aequus (“equal”) and vox (“voice” or “word”). The idea behind the root is of a word that sounds the same but carries two equally valid meanings — giving the speaker plausible deniability by exploiting ambiguity. It entered English in the 16th century, almost immediately acquiring its negative connotation of deliberate evasiveness.