Today's Word

Eudaemonia

yoo-dee-MOH-nee-uh

Definition

(noun) A state of human flourishing or well-being; happiness achieved through living virtuously.

Example

According to Aristotle, true eudaemonia comes from fulfilling one’s potential with purpose.

Word Origin

Early 19th century: from Greek eudaimonia, from eu ‘well’ + daimōn ‘spirit’.

Fun Fact

Eudaemonia is central to Aristotelian ethics and ancient Greek philosophy. Unlike modern ideas of happiness as fleeting pleasure, this word refers to a lasting sense of purpose, growth, and fulfillment. It’s about living a good life—not just a fun one. In modern psychology, eudaemonic well-being is contrasted with hedonic well-being, and it’s often linked to meaning, connection, and personal development.

Previous Words

Tawdry

Today's Word

Tawdry

TAW-dree

Definition

(adjective) Showy but cheap and of poor quality; lacking good taste.

Example

The room was filled with tawdry decorations that looked like they came from a discount bin.

Word Origin

Mid 17th century: contraction of St. Audrey’s lace, which referred to cheap lace sold at fairs in honor of St. Audrey. Over time, the lace was seen as gaudy and tasteless, and St. Audrey became tawdry.

Fun Fact

The transformation from St. Audrey to tawdry is a classic case of how language evolves through cultural snobbery. Once a respected religious figure, St. Audrey lent her name to lace accessories sold at fairs. But as styles changed, those accessories were considered garish or outdated, and the word became an insult. Today, tawdry is used to describe anything that’s cheaply flashy, overly glitzy, or just in bad taste—from outfits to gossip.

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Eudaemonia

Definition

Example

Word Origin

Previous Words

Tawdry

Tawdry

Definition

Example

Word Origin

Tawdry

Adulation

Wend

Dogmatic

Relegate