im-PYOOT
(verb) To attribute an action, thought, or quality to someone, often falsely.
The scandal was unfairly imputed to the assistant, who had no involvement.
Fun Fact
“Impute” is a favorite in legal and financial contexts, where responsibility or credit can be assigned—even without direct involvement. It’s often paired with “intent” in discussions of motive and accountability.
sih-KWES-ter
(verb) To isolate or remove something—or someone—from others; to set apart.
During the trial, the judge decided to sequester the jury to prevent outside influence.
Sequester comes from the Latin sequestrare, meaning “to surrender something to a trustee” or “to set aside.” Over centuries, the meaning shifted toward isolation and removal—particularly in legal, environmental, and scientific contexts where something is intentionally kept separate.
Fun Fact
In environmental science, carbon sequestration refers to the process of capturing and storing carbon dioxide to reduce greenhouse gases. Forests, wetlands, and even certain types of soil act as natural carbon banks, quietly pulling CO₂ out of the atmosphere and locking it away. This idea of “pulling something out of circulation” connects directly back to the core meaning of the word.
Today's Word Histrionic hiss-tree-ON-ik Definition (adjective) Overly dramatic or emotional...
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