- Today's Word
Appetence
AP-uh-tuhns
Definition
- (noun) A strong craving or natural inclination toward something.
Example
Her appetence for knowledge drove her to read every book she could get her hands on.
Fun Fact
“Appetence” comes from the Latin appetere, meaning “to strive after” or “to seek.” Once commonly used in literature to describe passionate desires or instincts, it has fallen into relative obscurity in modern English. Despite its rarity, it beautifully conveys the deep, instinctive yearnings that drive human behavior, from curiosity to ambition.
(adjective) Having little or no money; chronically poor
Despite his impecunious circumstances, he maintained an air of dignity that made it impossible to pity him.
Impecunious derives from the Latin im- (“not”) + pecuniosus (“wealthy”), itself from pecunia (“money”), which traces back to pecus (“cattle”) — reflecting the ancient Roman practice of using livestock as a measure of wealth. It entered English in the late 16th century as a more refined, literary alternative to simply saying “broke.”