Today's Word

Castigate

KAS-tih-gayt

Definition

(verb) To reprimand someone severely; to criticize harshly.

Example

The editor castigated the writer for missing yet another deadline.

Word Origin

Early 17th century: from Latin castigare, from castus ‘pure’ + agere ‘to drive’.

Fun Fact

Castigate doesn’t just mean to critique—it means to come down hard, often with a tone of moral authority. In the past, it could even refer to physical punishment, but today it’s used more metaphorically: a boss tearing into an employee, a coach yelling during halftime, or a pundit scolding a public figure. It’s always loud, sharp, and meant to correct.

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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Castigate

Definition

Example

Word Origin

Previous Words

Extant

Extant

Definition

Example

Word Origin

Extant

Winsome

Harangue

Susurrous

Vituperate