- Today's Word
Gumption
[GUMP-shun]
Definition
- (noun) A spirited initiative, resourcefulness, courage, and common sense. It describes a person’s ability to get things done with energy and determination, often in the face of difficulties or challenges.
Example
Despite facing numerous setbacks, the young entrepreneur showed real gumption by persevering and eventually turning her small start-up into a successful business.
Fun Fact
The word “gumption” is believed to have originated in Scotland in the early 1700s. Its exact etymology is uncertain, but some linguists suggest it might be related to the Middle English word “gome,” meaning “attention” or “heed.” The term gained popularity in American English during the 19th century, where it came to embody the spirit of self-reliance and initiative often associated with frontier life.
(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.