NOY-sum
(adjective) Having an extremely offensive smell; or generally unpleasant or harmful.
The noisome odor from the dumpster drifted across the parking lot.
Fun Fact
Despite sounding like “noisy,” the word actually has nothing to do with sound. It comes from Middle English noy (meaning harm or annoyance), which also gave rise to “annoy.” Today, it’s a favorite in horror novels and urban planning reports alike.
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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