- Today's Word
Abnegation
ab-nuh-GAY-shun
Definition
- (noun) The act of renouncing or rejecting something, often for moral or selfless reasons.
Example
His abnegation of wealth in favor of charity inspired many.
Fun Fact
Abnegation has long been a cornerstone of religious and philosophical traditions. In Buddhism, renouncing worldly pleasures is a path toward enlightenment, while in Stoic philosophy, self-denial fosters discipline and inner strength. Historical figures like Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa practiced abnegation in their dedication to service. Even in literature, self-sacrificing heroes—like Sydney Carton in A Tale of Two Cities—exemplify abnegation by putting others before themselves.
(verb) To suggest or assume something as a basis for reasoning or argument without prior proof.
The scientist postulated that the mysterious signals were coming from a previously undiscovered layer of the atmosphere, a theory that took years to confirm.
Postulate derives from the Latin postulare, meaning “to demand” or “to claim,” rooted in poscere, meaning “to ask urgently.” In medieval logic and mathematics, a postulate was a foundational assumption that didn’t require proof — something demanded to be accepted as a starting point. Euclid’s famous geometric postulates, written around 300 BCE, are among the most influential examples in intellectual history.