- Today's Word
Harried
HAIR-eed
Definition
(adjective) Feeling strained as a result of persistent demands or stress.
Example
The harried assistant juggled calls, emails, and last-minute meetings.
Fun Fact
Harried stems from the same root as harass—both come from old Norse and Middle English words related to raiding or attacking. Originally used in military contexts, harried now refers to a psychological onslaught: the kind of pressure that comes from emails piling up, kids yelling, and zero time for yourself. It’s the perfect word for a Monday at 4:59 p.m.
(noun) A person who loves beauty—especially in art, nature, or everyday life.
As a true philocalist, he collected small moments of beauty wherever he went, from sunlit windows to wildflowers growing through cracks in the sidewalk.
From Greek philo- (“loving”) + kallos (“beauty”).