- 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.
(adjective) Stubbornly and openly resistant to authority; defiant in the face of rules or commands.
The contumacious witness refused to answer the judge’s questions despite three separate warnings, ultimately forcing the court to hold her in contempt.
Contumacious derives from the Latin contumax, meaning “insolent” or “stubborn,” rooted in contemnere — “to despise” or “to scorn.” It entered English in the 16th century primarily as a legal term, used specifically to describe a person who willfully defied a court’s authority or refused to comply with its orders — a meaning it still carries in formal legal contexts today alongside its broader use.