Today's Word

Affable

AF-uh-buhl

Definition

(adjective) Friendly, approachable, and pleasant in manner.

Example

His affable nature made him an instant favorite at every party.

Fun Fact

From Latin affari, meaning “to speak to,” affable describes someone who not only talks to others—but makes them feel comfortable while doing it. It’s frequently used in character profiles, political campaigns, and even performance reviews. Being affable isn’t just about being nice—it’s about being welcoming without trying too hard.

Previous Words

Oblique

Today's Word

Oblique

oh-BLEEK

Definition

(adjective) Not expressed directly; indirect or evasive; also describes something angled or slanting rather than straight.

Example

Rather than criticizing his boss outright, Marcus made an oblique comment about “leadership styles in general.”

Word Origin

From Latin obliquus, meaning “slanting, sideways, indirect.” The word entered English in the 15th century through Old French oblique. In its earliest English uses it referred purely to geometry — a line that was neither perpendicular nor parallel. The figurative sense of indirectness followed naturally from that physical slant.

Fun Fact

In military history, the “oblique order” was a famous battlefield tactic — attacking at an angle rather than head-on to concentrate force on one part of an enemy’s line while the rest stood at a distance. Frederick the Great of Prussia used it to devastating effect in the 18th century. The same principle turns up everywhere: negotiators who approach sensitive topics obliquely, writers who reveal character through indirect detail, and diplomats who communicate through implication rather than declaration — all are using the oblique.

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Affable

Definition

Example

Previous Words

Oblique

Oblique

Definition

Example

Word Origin

Oblique

Verisimilitude

Parsimonious

Effervescent

Facetious