Today's Word

Baleful

BAYL-full

Definition

(adjective) Threatening harm or expressing hostility; ominous in tone or intent.

Example

The villain gave a baleful glare that silenced the entire room.

Word Origin

Old English bealufull, from bealu meaning “evil” or “harm.”

Fun Fact

Baleful shows up a lot in literature, especially when describing dark atmospheres or intense characters. It can describe looks, gestures, or environments that signal danger before it strikes. A baleful sky? Storm’s coming. A baleful glance? You’re on thin ice. It’s a great word for when something feels wrong—even if nothing’s happened yet.

Previous Words

Extant

Today's Word

Extant

EK-stant (or EK-stənt)

Definition

(adjective) Still in existence; surviving from the past.

Example

Despite centuries of conflict, several extant manuscripts from the era are still preserved in the library’s archives.

Word Origin

From Latin exstare, meaning “to stand out” or “to exist.”

Fun Fact

Extant is often used when talking about ancient artifacts, fossils, rare documents, or species on the edge of disappearance. It doesn’t mean “abundant”—it simply means it still exists, often against the odds. Scholars treasure extant texts because they offer rare windows into civilizations long gone, while biologists track extant species to protect what remains of Earth’s biodiversity.

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Baleful

Definition

Example

Word Origin

Previous Words

Extant

Extant

Definition

Example

Word Origin

Extant

Winsome

Harangue

Susurrous

Vituperate