- Today's Word
Accismus
ak-SIZ-muhs
Definition
- (noun) A rhetorical term for feigned refusal of something you actually want, often used to appear modest or disinterested.
Example
Her accismus was evident when she said she didn’t want dessert, only to eagerly eat a slice of cake when offered.
Fun Fact
Accismus comes from the Greek word akkismós, meaning “coyness” or “affected indifference.” A classic example is the fox in Aesop’s fable who declares the grapes he cannot reach as sour. This term highlights the subtle art of expressing desire while pretending otherwise, a hallmark of both literary characters and real-world social interactions.
(adjective) Light, delicate, and translucent; so fine in texture as to be nearly transparent
The diaphanous curtains billowed in the breeze, letting the morning light pour softly into the room.
Diaphanous comes from the Medieval Latin diaphanus, itself from the Greek diaphanes — from dia (“through”) + phainein (“to show” or “to appear”). It entered English in the early 17th century, originally used to describe fine fabrics and minerals that allowed light to pass through them visibly.