in-KOH-it
The inchoate plan lacked specifics but hinted at an innovative new direction.
Fun Fact
“Inchoate” comes from the Latin inchoare, meaning “to begin.” It’s often used in legal contexts (like an inchoate crime) or in creative and scientific fields when an idea is still forming. Think of a sketch before it becomes a painting or a startup’s rough pitch before full launch.
uh-KLOOD
(verb) To block, close off, or obstruct something so it cannot pass through.
During the storm, fallen branches occluded the narrow trail, making it impossible to pass.
Occlude comes from the Latin occludere, meaning “to shut up” or “to close off.” The root is formed from ob- (“toward”) and claudere (“to close”), giving the sense of something being sealed or blocked firmly and completely.
Fun Fact
In dentistry, the word occlusion describes the way your upper and lower teeth meet when you bite down. Proper alignment allows food to be chewed efficiently, but even a small shift in tooth position can occlude the natural bite pattern. This is why orthodontists study tiny millimeter-level changes—they can dramatically affect speech, chewing, and jaw comfort. The same idea appears in science and engineering: even a minor obstruction can completely alter how a system flows.
Today's Word Solipsistic so-lip-SIS-tik Definition (adjective) Relating to the philosophical...
Read More