- Today's Word
Harmonaissance
[har-muh-nah-sahns]
Definition
- (noun) This captivating term combines “harmony,” signifying the combination of different musical notes to create a pleasing sound, with “renaissance,” representing a revival or awakening of art, culture, and creativity. It’s used to describe a musical revival, a renewed interest in harmony, or a period of artistic renewal and inspiration.
Example
Imagine attending a concert where musicians breathe new life into classic compositions, combining traditional instruments with modern elements, and creating a musical experience that feels both timeless and innovative. You might say, “The concert last night marked a true Harmonaissance. It was a beautiful blend of the old and the new.”
Fun Fact
“Harmony” comes from the Greek “harmonia,” signifying the joining of different things in a pleasing way. “Renaissance” is a term coined during a period of great cultural revival in Europe, known for its flourishing of art, music, and literature. “Harmonaissance” ingeniously combines these concepts to celebrate the revival of harmony and creativity in music and the arts.
(adjective) Excessively smooth and flattering in a way that feels insincere; oily in manner or speech.
The unctuous sales manager greeted every client with the same practiced warmth — hand on the shoulder, lingering eye contact, a laugh perfectly timed to make you feel chosen — until you realized he did it with everyone.
Unctuous derives from the Medieval Latin unctuosus, meaning “greasy” or “oily,” rooted in unctum — “ointment” — from ungere, meaning “to anoint.” The same root gives us unguent and unction, the latter still used in religious contexts to describe the act of anointing with oil. It entered English in the 14th century with its literal meaning of oily or greasy texture before acquiring its figurative sense of someone whose excessive smoothness and flattery feels slippery and insincere — the social equivalent of something you can’t quite get a grip on.