- Today's Word
Equanimity
[ek-wuh-NIM-i-tee]
Definition
- (noun) Mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, especially in difficult situations. As a noun, it refers to the quality of remaining stable and undisturbed under stress or strain, maintaining a balanced and peaceful state of mind.
Example
Despite receiving unexpected bad news, the Buddhist monk maintained his equanimity, responding with characteristic calmness and grace.
Fun Fact
The word “equanimity” comes from the Latin “aequanimitas,” combining “aequus” (equal) and “animus” (mind/spirit). This concept was highly valued in ancient Stoic philosophy, where it was considered one of the highest virtues. It’s also a central principle in Buddhist meditation practice, known as “upekkha” in Pali, where it represents the third of the Four Sublime States of mind. In both Western and Eastern traditions, equanimity has been viewed as a mark of wisdom and spiritual maturity.
(adjective) Giving or indicating a good chance of success; marked by favorable circumstances.
She launched the business at a propitious moment — consumer confidence was high, her competitors were distracted, and the market had just opened a gap that seemed almost designed for her to fill.
Propitious derives from the Latin propitius, meaning “favorable” or “gracious,” rooted in prope — “near” — suggesting something that has drawn close in a favorable way, as though fortune itself has moved within reach. It entered English in the 15th century, used predominantly in religious contexts to describe a deity who had been appeased and was now favorably disposed toward a petitioner, before expanding into its modern secular sense of circumstances that simply line up well.