- Today's Word
Ornery
[OR-nuh-ree]
Definition
- (noun) Someone who is bad-tempered, irritable, or difficult to deal with. An ornery person is often grumpy, stubborn, or combative, making them a challenge to be around.
Example
The old man’s ornery disposition made him a terror to his neighbors, as he would constantly complain about the slightest disturbances and pick fights over trivial matters.
Fun Fact
The word “ornery” is derived from the dialectal alteration of the word “ordinary,” which originally meant “commonplace” or “of poor quality.” Over time, the meaning shifted to describe someone who was ill-tempered or difficult, likely because people of lower social classes were stereotyped as being crude and bad-tempered.
(adjective) Apt in the circumstances or in relation to something; strikingly appropriate and relevant
Her apposite analogy cut through the confusion instantly, giving the entire team a framework they could actually use.
Apposite derives from the Latin appositus, the past participle of apponere — from ad (“to”) + ponere (“to put”). The literal sense is “put to” or “placed next to,” suggesting something fitted precisely alongside something else. It entered English in the 17th century as a term for language or argument that fits its context with particular exactness.