- Today's Word
Lackadaisical
[lak-uh-DAY-zi-kuhl]
Definition
- (adjective) Someone who is lazy, listless, or lacking enthusiasm. It often refers to a person who shows little effort or care in their actions or attitude, appearing indifferent or uninterested.
Example
The teacher grew frustrated with the student’s lackadaisical approach to his studies, as he rarely completed assignments and showed little interest in improving his grades.
Fun Fact
The word “lackadaisical” is believed to have originated in the late 18th century as an alteration of the expression “alack the day,” which was used to express regret or dismay. Over time, it evolved to describe a person who seemed to always be saying “alack the day” in a languid or careless manner, eventually leading to its current meaning of laziness or lack of enthusiasm.
(verb) To criticize someone or something severely and publicly, often with harsh or scathing language.
The columnist excoriated the company’s leadership for ignoring repeated safety warnings.
Excoriate comes from the Latin excoriare, meaning “to strip off the skin,” from ex- (“off”) and corium (“hide” or “skin”). While the word originally described physical abrasion, its meaning shifted metaphorically over time to describe verbal attacks so harsh they feel skin-deep, leaving nothing protected.