- Today's Word
Egghead
[EG-hed]
Definition
- (noun) A slang term for an intellectual or a highly educated person, especially one who is perceived as overly academic, impractical, or out of touch with ordinary people. It can be used affectionately or pejoratively, depending on the context.
Example
Despite his reputation as an egghead, the professor was surprisingly adept at explaining complex theories in a way that everyone could understand.
Fun Fact
The term “egghead” emerged in the United States in the 1920s, possibly because the shape of a bald head resembles an egg. It gained widespread use during the 1952 presidential campaign when it was used to describe Democratic candidate Adlai Stevenson, known for his intellectual demeanor. Interestingly, Stevenson embraced the term, joking that “eggheads of the world, unite; you have nothing to lose but your yolks.” This incident helped popularize the term and cemented its association with intellectuals in American political and cultural discourse.
(noun) A profound transformation of mind and character; a fundamental change in one’s values, outlook, or way of life.
The diagnosis wasn’t a death sentence — for her it was a metanoia, a complete reorientation of everything she had previously decided mattered.
Metanoia derives from the Greek metanoia, meaning “change of mind,” built from meta- (“beyond” or “after”) and nous (“mind”). In classical Greek philosophy it described a shift in perspective so fundamental it altered the entire orientation of a person’s thinking. In early Christian theology it acquired the specific meaning of repentance — not merely feeling sorry but undergoing a complete transformation of character. Both meanings persist in modern usage, the secular and the spiritual versions of the word describing the same essential experience from different angles.