MOD-ih-kuhm
Even a modicum of kindness can brighten someone’s day.
Fun Fact
“Modicum” originates from Latin, meaning “a small measure.” The word is often used sarcastically—if someone says, “He showed a modicum of patience,” they probably mean barely any. Even in law, a modicum of evidence can sometimes be enough to change the course of a trial.
im-PINJ
(verb) To have a strong effect on something; to encroach or trespass on something, especially rights or freedom.
The new surveillance policy was challenged in court on the grounds that it impinged on the privacy rights of ordinary citizens.
From Latin impingere, meaning “to drive into or strike against” — formed from in- (into) + pangere (to fix, fasten, or drive in). The root pangere also gives us impact and impacted — all carrying the sense of something being forcefully driven into something else. The word entered English in the 16th century with the physical sense of collision before evolving into its broader modern meaning of encroachment or infringement.
Fun Fact
The legal concept of impingement has become one of the most contested areas of modern intellectual property law. When one party claims another’s trademark, patent, or copyright “impinges” on their own, the resulting cases can drag on for decades and cost millions. Some of the most famous impingement disputes in history include battles over band names, font designs, and even the specific shade of a color — Louboutin’s landmark case over its trademarked red sole being one of the most widely cited examples of just how far the concept of encroachment can be pushed in a courtroom.
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