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.

Previous Words

Accord

Today's Word

Accord

uh-KORD

Definition

(noun/verb) A formal agreement or harmony between parties; or, to give or grant something as appropriate.

Example

After months of negotiation, the two nations signed an accord that neither side had believed possible.

Word Origin

From Old French acorder, derived from Medieval Latin accordare — ad- (“to”) + cor/cordis (“heart”). An accord, etymologically, is a meeting of hearts. The same Latin root cor gives us “cordial,” “courage,” and “concord” — all words involving the heart as the seat of agreement, warmth, and bravery.

Fun Fact

Music theory borrowed “accord” directly — in French and several other languages, the word for a musical chord is “accord,” because a chord is literally multiple notes coming into agreement. This isn’t a coincidence: the metaphor of harmony runs through the word at every level. Political accords, personal reconciliation, and musical chords are all describing the same thing — separate elements resolving into something unified. The Paris Peace Accords, the Oslo Accords, and the Kyoto Protocol are among the most significant accords in modern history, each representing that rare moment when discord becomes harmony.

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Appetence

Definition

Example

Previous Words

Accord

Accord

Definition

Example

Word Origin

Accord

Tantamount

Knotty

Harbinger

Machination