Nugatory

Today's Word Nugatory NOO-guh-tor-ee Definition (adjective) Of no value or importance; worthless or futile. Example The committee’s recommendations proved nugatory since no one had the authority to implement them. Word Origin Early 17th century: from Latin “nugatorius,” from “nugari” meaning “to trifle,” derived from “nugae” meaning “jests” or “trifles.” Fun Fact Nugatory shares its Latin root with “nugacious” (trivial or futile) and connects to the idea of “nugae”—Roman slang for worthless chatter or trivial nonsense. Roman writers used “nugae” to describe everything from idle gossip to pointless poetry. Today, lawyers frequently deploy “nugatory” in legal writing to dismiss arguments as having no legal value whatsoever. It’s the formal, sophisticated way of saying something is completely pointless—though ironically, using such an elaborate word to express worthlessness might itself seem a bit nugatory.

Whit

Today's Word Whit WIT Definition (noun) The smallest part or amount imaginable; a tiny bit. Example She didn’t care a whit what others thought about her unconventional career choice. Word Origin Middle English: probably an alteration of “wight” (meaning creature or thing), used in phrases like “not a wight” meaning “not a creature” or “nothing at all.” Fun Fact “Whit” almost always appears in the negative—”not a whit,” “no whit better,” “doesn’t matter a whit.” It’s the linguistic equivalent of a shrug, used to emphasize complete indifference or absence. The phrase “every whit” (meaning entirely or completely) is its rarer positive cousin, but you’ll mostly find whit keeping company with “not” and “no.” Interestingly, despite sounding similar, “whit” has no relation to “wit” (cleverness)—though caring not a whit about grammar rules might show a different kind of wit altogether.

Glut

Today's Word Glut GLUHT Definition (noun/verb) An excessively abundant supply of something; or to supply or fill to excess. Example The market glut of avocados caused prices to plummet, leaving farmers with unsold crops. Word Origin Middle English: from Old French “gloutir” meaning “to swallow,” derived from Latin “gluttire” meaning “to gulp down.” Fun Fact A glut isn’t always about food—though the word’s swallowing origins suggest it. Economic gluts happen when supply dramatically exceeds demand, flooding markets and crashing prices. The 1980s oil glut saw prices collapse from oversupply. Tech companies experience gluts too—remember when warehouses overflowed with unsold fidget spinners? While abundance sounds positive, a glut reveals the delicate balance between plenty and excess. Too much of anything, even something valuable, can become worthless when there’s simply too much to go around.

Voluble

Today's Word Voluble VOL-yuh-buhl Definition (adjective) Speaking easily, rapidly, and at great length, especially with enthusiasm. Example At the dinner party, he became increasingly voluble as the conversation turned to politics. Word Origin Voluble comes from the Latin volubilis, meaning “rolling” or “turning easily,” from volvere (“to roll”). The word originally described physical motion, but over time it shifted metaphorically to describe speech that flows freely and continuously, as if words are rolling out without resistance. Fun Fact Voluble doesn’t necessarily imply intelligence or insight — only fluency and abundance. Someone can be voluble while saying very little of substance, which is why the word often carries a subtle tone of skepticism rather than praise.

Excoriate

Today's Word Excoriate eks-KOR-ee-ayt Definition (verb) To criticize someone or something severely and publicly, often with harsh or scathing language. Example The columnist excoriated the company’s leadership for ignoring repeated safety warnings. Word Origin 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. Fun Fact Excoriate is one of many English words where physical pain became a metaphor for emotional or reputational damage. Even today, the word carries a visceral quality—suggesting that intense criticism doesn’t just hurt feelings, but exposes, wounds, and leaves marks long after the words are spoken.

Ken

Today's Word Ken ken Definition (noun) The range of one’s knowledge, understanding, or awareness. Example Quantum physics lies far beyond my ken, no matter how many articles I read. Word Origin Ken comes from Old English cennan, meaning “to know” or “to make known,” and is closely related to Middle English and Scots usage where it meant knowledge, perception, or recognition. Over time, the word narrowed to describe the limits of what someone knows or understands, which is why it’s often used today in phrases like “beyond my ken.” Fun Fact Although ken feels archaic, it survives almost entirely through its idiomatic use. Writers and speakers still rely on it because no other single word captures the idea of a mental boundary—a point where familiarity ends and the unknown begins. That makes ken less about intelligence and more about perspective: everyone’s ken is different.

Pragmatic

Today's Word Pragmatic prag-MAT-ik Definition (adjective) focused on practical results and real-world consequences rather than ideals, theories, or abstract principles. Example Instead of arguing over perfect solutions, she took a pragmatic approach and fixed what could be done immediately. Word Origin Pragmatic traces back to the Greek word pragmatikos, meaning “relating to deeds or actions,” from pragma (“thing done” or “action”). It entered English in the late 16th century, originally referring to people skilled in managing practical affairs, before evolving into its modern meaning of valuing usefulness and outcomes over theory. Fun Fact In philosophy, pragmatism became a major movement in the late 1800s, arguing that ideas should be judged by how well they work in real life—not by whether they sound good in theory. That mindset still shapes modern problem-solving, from business decisions to software design, where a “good enough” solution that works today often beats a perfect one that never ships.

Semaphore

Today's Word Semaphore SEM-uh-for Definition (noun) a system of conveying information through visual signals, often using flags, lights, or mechanical arms, especially over long distances. Example Before modern radio communication, ships relied on semaphore to send urgent messages across open water. Word Origin Semaphore comes from the early 19th-century French word sémaphore, which itself is rooted in the Greek words sēma (meaning “sign”) and phoros (meaning “bearing” or “carrying”), literally translating to “sign-bearer.” The term was first used to describe mechanical signaling towers across France that transmitted messages visually from station to station long before electrical communication existed. Fun Fact Semaphore comes from the early 19th-century French word sémaphore, which itself is rooted in the Greek words sēma (meaning “sign”) and phoros (meaning “bearing” or “carrying”), literally translating to “sign-bearer.” The term was first used to describe mechanical signaling towers across France that transmitted messages visually from station to station long before electrical communication existed.

Portentous

Today's Word Portentous por-TEN-tuhs Definition (adjective) Giving a sign or warning that something momentous, often negative, is likely to happen; ominous. Example The sudden silence before the storm felt portentous, as if the air itself were holding its breath. Word Origin Portentous comes from the Latin portentosus, meaning “full of omens,” derived from portentum, a sign or warning of future events. In ancient times, portents were believed to be messages from the gods—unusual natural occurrences that signaled major change, disaster, or destiny. Fun Fact Across cultures, humans have always searched for meaning in unusual signs. Eclipses, comets, sudden animal behavior, and strange weather patterns were often seen as portentous—warnings of war, collapse, or transformation. Even today, psychological studies show that people instinctively assign meaning to silence, darkness, or sudden changes in atmosphere, proving that our brains are still wired to sense when “something big is coming.”

Blandishment

Today's Word Blandishment BLAN-dish-ment Definition (noun) A flattering or coaxing remark meant to gently persuade someone to do something. Example No amount of blandishment from the salesman could convince her to buy the overpriced warranty. Word Origin Blandishment comes from the French blandir, meaning “to soften,” which itself traces back to the Latin blandus, meaning “smooth, flattering, or mild.” Over time it came to describe gentle persuasion—words that feel sweet on the surface but are often used with intention beneath. Fun Fact Psychologists studying persuasion have found that humans respond far more strongly to praise than to pressure. In sales, negotiations, and even everyday conversation, a well-placed compliment can lower resistance and shift decision-making. This behavioral tendency is part of what makes blandishments so effective—they feel harmless but can subtly shape choices without the person realizing it.