- 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 criticize someone or something severely and publicly, often with harsh or scathing language.
The columnist excoriated the company’s leadership for ignoring repeated safety warnings.
Excoriate comes from the Latin excoriare, meaning “to strip off the skin,” from ex- (“off”) and corium (“hide” or “skin”). While the word originally described physical abrasion, its meaning shifted metaphorically over time to describe verbal attacks so harsh they feel skin-deep, leaving nothing protected.