- Today's Word
Mirthquake
[MURTH-kwayk]
Definition
- (noun) An an overwhelming outbreak of laughter or amusement that is so intense, it shakes the body or group like a small earthquake. This noun captures the sudden and uncontrollable nature of laughter that erupts from a deeply humorous situation or comment, spreading joy and hilarity among those experiencing it.
Example
During the family dinner, when Uncle Joe accidentally spilled his soup in his lap and then joked about it, a mirthquake erupted at the table, with everyone laughing uncontrollably, tears streaming down their faces.
Fun Fact
Laughter is not only a social bonding mechanism but also has significant health benefits. It can increase pain tolerance, boost the immune system, and reduce stress by lowering levels of cortisol in the body. Interestingly, the body cannot differentiate between genuine and forced laughter, meaning even if you start laughing as an exercise, you can still reap the health benefits!
(verb) To use vague or ambiguous language in order to avoid committing to a clear position or answer.
When asked directly whether he had approved the deal, the CEO equivocated for ten minutes without ever giving a straight answer.
Equivocate derives from the Medieval Latin aequivocare, meaning “to call by the same name,” built from aequus (“equal”) and vox (“voice” or “word”). The idea behind the root is of a word that sounds the same but carries two equally valid meanings — giving the speaker plausible deniability by exploiting ambiguity. It entered English in the 16th century, almost immediately acquiring its negative connotation of deliberate evasiveness.