BLAN-dish
She blandished her parents with compliments in hopes of borrowing the car for the evening.
Fun Fact
Blandishment, the noun form, often appears in literature to describe characters manipulating others. Shakespeare frequently used the concept of blandishment to showcase the power dynamics in relationships.
RAIR-uh-fyd
(adjective) Distant from the ordinary; elevated, refined, or thin (as in air at high altitudes).
The scientist’s rarefied theories fascinated her peers but left the public scratching their heads.
From Latin rarefacere, meaning “to make thin.”
Fun Fact
Originally used in physics to describe air thinned at high altitudes, rarefied later took on a metaphorical sense—ideas, lifestyles, or circles of influence that exist far above everyday experience. A rarefied discussion might deal with abstract philosophy, while a rarefied atmosphere could describe both mountaintops and elite social circles. The word captures the tension between refinement and isolation—how elevation, whether intellectual or physical, can be both exhilarating and lonely.
Today's Word Salubrious suh-LOO-bree-us Definition (adjective) Health-giving; promoting well-being. Example...
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