- Today's Word
Harangue
huh-RANG
Definition
- (noun) A long, passionate, and often angry speech or lecture.
- (verb) To deliver a forceful or critical speech.
Example
The coach harangued the team after their lackluster performance in the first half.
Fun Fact
“Harangue” traces back to medieval Latin and Old Italian, originally referring to a public speech before a crowd. While once neutral, the word evolved to imply a heated, critical lecture. Historically, great orators like Cicero and Martin Luther were known for their powerful harangues, influencing politics and social movements.
(noun) The range of one’s knowledge, understanding, or awareness.
Quantum physics lies far beyond my ken, no matter how many articles I read.
Ken comes from Old English cennan, meaning “to know” or “to make known,” and is closely related to Middle English and Scots usage where it meant knowledge, perception, or recognition. Over time, the word narrowed to describe the limits of what someone knows or understands, which is why it’s often used today in phrases like “beyond my ken.”