- Today's Word
Euphorbia
[yoo-FOR-bee-uh]
Definition
- (noun) A state of intense happiness and joy that seems to bubble up from within, often leaving you feeling energized and ready to take on the world. It’s a combination of euphoria and an enthusiastic zest for life.
Example
After acing his final exams and getting accepted into his dream college, Jack was filled with euphorbia, unable to stop smiling and excited for the future ahead.
Fun Fact
Euphorbia is also the name of a diverse genus of plants, containing over 2,000 species. Many of these plants are known for their unique appearance and adaptations, such as the cacti-like euphorbias that have evolved to survive in hot, dry climates. Some species of Euphorbia are also known for their medicinal properties and have been used in traditional medicine for centuries to treat various ailments, including skin conditions and digestive issues.
(verb) To criticize someone or something severely and publicly, often with harsh or scathing language.
The columnist excoriated the company’s leadership for ignoring repeated safety warnings.
Excoriate comes from the Latin excoriare, meaning “to strip off the skin,” from ex- (“off”) and corium (“hide” or “skin”). While the word originally described physical abrasion, its meaning shifted metaphorically over time to describe verbal attacks so harsh they feel skin-deep, leaving nothing protected.