Today's Word

Cupidity

kyoo-PID-ih-tee

Definition

(noun) Excessive desire for wealth or material possessions; greed.

Example

His cupidity led him to embezzle millions from the company.

Fun Fact

Despite sounding romantic, “cupidity” is no love story—it comes from Cupid, the Roman god of desire. While Cupid usually represents romantic longing, cupidity refers to a more selfish craving, particularly for money or power. It’s been a central trait in classic tragic heroes and villains alike—from Ebenezer Scrooge to modern financial fraudsters.

Previous Words

Undaunted

Today's Word

Undaunted

un-DAWN-ted

Definition

(adjective) Not intimidated or discouraged by difficulty, danger, or repeated setbacks; resolutely and fearlessly persistent.

Example

Undaunted by three failed attempts, she submitted the grant application a fourth time — and won.

Word Origin

From un- (“not”) + daunted, past participle of daunt — from Old French danter, derived from Latin domitare (“to tame, to subdue”), from domare (“to tame”). To be daunted is to be tamed or subdued by fear. To be undaunted is to be untameable — to refuse to be broken down. The same Latin root gives us “dominant” and “dominate.”

Fun Fact

Ernest Shackleton’s failed 1914 Antarctic expedition — the Endurance voyage — is often cited as history’s greatest example of undaunted leadership. When his ship was crushed by ice and sank, Shackleton led his entire 27-man crew on an 800-mile open-boat journey across the most treacherous ocean in the world, then crossed unmapped mountains on foot, and ultimately rescued every single person without losing a life. He reportedly advertised for crew with the line: “Men wanted for hazardous journey. Small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful.” The word “undaunted” barely covers it.

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Cupidity

Definition

Example

Previous Words

Undaunted

Undaunted

Definition

Example

Word Origin

Undaunted

Wont

Recidivism

Fallacy

Chimerical