- Today's Word
Apricity
[uh-PRIS-i-tee]
Definition
- (noun) The warmth of the sun in winter. It describes the pleasant sensation of feeling the sun’s heat on your skin on a cold day, especially when contrasted with the chilly air around you.
Example
Despite the frosty morning, Sarah enjoyed the apricity as she sat on a park bench, basking in the weak winter sunlight that provided a comforting warmth against the crisp air.
Fun Fact
The word “apricity” was coined by English lexicographer Henry Cockeram in his 1623 dictionary “The English Dictionary; or, An Interpreter of Hard English Words.” It comes from the Latin word “apricus,” meaning “warmed by the sun.” Despite its charming and specific meaning, “apricity” never gained widespread use and is considered a rare word. However, it has been rediscovered by language enthusiasts in recent years, who appreciate its ability to capture a very specific and pleasant sensation that many people experience but struggle to describe succinctly.
(verb) To use vague or ambiguous language in order to avoid committing to a clear position or answer.
When asked directly whether he had approved the deal, the CEO equivocated for ten minutes without ever giving a straight answer.
Equivocate derives from the Medieval Latin aequivocare, meaning “to call by the same name,” built from aequus (“equal”) and vox (“voice” or “word”). The idea behind the root is of a word that sounds the same but carries two equally valid meanings — giving the speaker plausible deniability by exploiting ambiguity. It entered English in the 16th century, almost immediately acquiring its negative connotation of deliberate evasiveness.