- Today's Word
Hallowed
HAL-ohd (or HAL-uhd)
Definition
- (adjective) Regarded as holy, sacred, or revered.
- Greatly respected or honored.
Example
The soldiers gathered at the hallowed ground of the battlefield to honor those who had given their lives for freedom.
Fun Fact
“Hallowed” originates from the Old English word hālig, meaning “holy” or “sacred.” It shares roots with the word “holy” and gained prominence through religious contexts, especially in phrases like “hallowed be thy name” from the Lord’s Prayer. Over time, the word expanded beyond strictly religious usage to describe anything deeply revered, from historic sites to cherished traditions. Its connection to “All Hallows’ Eve” (Halloween) ties it to ancient customs honoring the dead, underscoring its enduring sense of sanctity.
(noun) A natural craving or strong desire; an instinctive inclination toward something
She couldn’t explain her appetence for solo travel — it was simply part of who she was.
Appetence comes from the Latin appetentia, derived from appetere — meaning “to strive after” or “to desire” — itself a combination of ad (“toward”) and petere (“to seek” or “to aim at”). The word entered English in the 17th century, used by philosophers and naturalists to describe instinctive drives in both humans and animals.