Today's Word

Idolatrous

eye-DOL-uh-truhs

Definition

(adjective) Excessively devoted to or reverent toward someone or something, often to the point of worship.

Example

The fans’ idolatrous admiration for the pop star bordered on obsession.

Fun Fact

While “idolatrous” has religious origins, it is often used today to describe extreme fandom or devotion in non-religious contexts, from celebrity culture to technology. It’s a fascinating way to highlight humanity’s capacity for passionate allegiance.

Previous Words

Impinge

Today's Word

Impinge

im-PINJ

Definition

(verb) To have a strong effect on something; to encroach or trespass on something, especially rights or freedom.

Example

The new surveillance policy was challenged in court on the grounds that it impinged on the privacy rights of ordinary citizens.

Word Origin

From Latin impingere, meaning “to drive into or strike against” — formed from in- (into) + pangere (to fix, fasten, or drive in). The root pangere also gives us impact and impacted — all carrying the sense of something being forcefully driven into something else. The word entered English in the 16th century with the physical sense of collision before evolving into its broader modern meaning of encroachment or infringement.

Fun Fact

The legal concept of impingement has become one of the most contested areas of modern intellectual property law. When one party claims another’s trademark, patent, or copyright “impinges” on their own, the resulting cases can drag on for decades and cost millions. Some of the most famous impingement disputes in history include battles over band names, font designs, and even the specific shade of a color — Louboutin’s landmark case over its trademarked red sole being one of the most widely cited examples of just how far the concept of encroachment can be pushed in a courtroom.

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Idolatrous

Definition

Example

Previous Words

Impinge

Impinge

Definition

Example

Word Origin

Impinge

Permeate

Gamut

Saccharine

Intractable