for-STALL
(verb) To prevent or obstruct something by taking action ahead of time.
She took quick action to forestall any rumors about the company’s leadership change.
Fun Fact
In chess and military strategy, forestalling is everything—move first, and you control the board. The term originally referred to merchants blocking competitors by cornering a market before others could set up shop.
shuh-GRIN
(noun) A feeling of distress or embarrassment caused by failure or disappointment.
To her chagrin, the carefully planned surprise party was spoiled by an accidental group text.
From French chagrin, meaning “sorrow” or “vexation,” possibly derived from a word for “rough skin” — like something that irritates.
Fun Fact
The word chagrin carries an emotional texture that’s more complex than simple embarrassment — it’s a blend of frustration, disappointment, and self-directed annoyance. In 17th-century France, chagrin described both emotional irritation and literal roughness, as if one’s pride had been rubbed raw. Writers often use it to show quiet, internal defeat rather than public humiliation — the kind that makes you wince later, long after the moment has passed.
Today's Word Salubrious suh-LOO-bree-us Definition (adjective) Health-giving; promoting well-being. Example...
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