Quaff

Today's Word Quaff KWAHF Definition (verb/noun) To drink something heartily or in large gulps. Example After the long hike, they quaffed cold water straight from their canteens. Word Origin Late 16th century: origin uncertain, possibly imitative of the sound of drinking deeply, or potentially from obsolete German “quassen” meaning “to overindulge in food or drink.” Fun Fact Quaff carries a jovial, celebratory connotation that “drink” simply doesn’t capture. You don’t quaff medicine or sip tea delicately—you quaff ale at a tavern, mead at a feast, or cold lemonade on a hot day. The word appears frequently in fantasy literature and medieval settings, giving it an almost theatrical quality. Shakespeare used it multiple times, and it remains the preferred verb for describing how Vikings, pirates, and adventurers consume their beverages. Modern craft beer enthusiasts have embraced “quaff” to describe easy-drinking, sessionable beers meant for enthusiastic consumption rather than careful contemplation.

Bucolic

Today's Word Bucolic byoo-KAH-lik Definition (adjective) Relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life; pastoral and rustic. Example They escaped the city chaos for a bucolic weekend retreat among rolling hills and farmland. Word Origin Early 16th century: from Latin “bucolicus,” from Greek “boukolikos,” from “boukolos” meaning “herdsman,” derived from “bous” meaning “ox.” Fun Fact Bucolic poetry became a literary genre in ancient Greece, where poets idealized shepherd life as simple, peaceful, and free from urban corruption. Theocritus pioneered these pastoral poems in the 3rd century BCE, and Virgil later perfected the form in his “Eclogues.” The bucolic tradition often presents a romanticized countryside that glosses over the hard realities of rural labor—it’s the pastoral fantasy rather than the farming truth. Today, when we call something bucolic, we’re still invoking that same idealized vision of country peace that poets have been selling for over two millennia.

Remunerate

Today's Word Remunerate rih-MYOO-nuh-rayt Definition (verb) To pay someone for services rendered or work done; to compensate. Example The company remunerates its employees generously, offering both competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits. Word Origin Early 16th century: from Latin “remuneratus,” past participle of “remunerari,” from “re-” (expressing intensive force) + “munerari” meaning “to give,” from “munus” meaning “gift.” Fun Fact While “remunerate” and “pay” mean essentially the same thing, remunerate carries a tone of formality and fairness—suggesting proper compensation rather than just handing over money. The word implies that the payment matches the value of work performed. Interestingly, the Latin root “munus” (gift) also gives us “munificent” (generous) and “immunity” (originally a freedom from public service duties). So remuneration isn’t just payment—it’s etymologically linked to the concept of gifts and generous reciprocity, making it feel more dignified than a simple paycheck.

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.