LAK-ruh-mohs
(adjective) Tearful or inclined to weep; overly sentimental.
The lachrymose farewell scene left half the audience in tears.
Fun Fact
Lachrymose is a poetic, slightly dramatic way of calling something sad—or someone overly emotional. It comes from the Latin word for “tear.” You’ll find it in reviews of films, books, or performances that lean heavily on emotional appeal, often too much for critics’ taste.
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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