PAR-suh-moh-nee
His parsimony was so extreme that he reused paper towels to save a few cents.
Fun Fact
While often used negatively, parsimony has a place in science too—Occam’s Razor is a principle of parsimony, suggesting the simplest explanation is usually best. In everyday life, though, it’s usually a warning against being so frugal it becomes unreasonable or absurd.
AB-ruh-gayt
(verb) To abolish, repeal, or put an end to something (especially a law, policy, or agreement).
The committee voted to abrogate the outdated regulation, clearing the way for more modern standards.
From Latin abrogare, meaning “to repeal” or “to take away by law.”
Fun Fact
The word abrogate often appears in legal, political, and diplomatic contexts because it refers to formal or authoritative cancellation—not just casual discontinuing. Interestingly, some treaties have been “abrogated by conduct,” meaning nations effectively ended them simply by acting differently rather than announcing a repeal. The term highlights how powerful the act of unmaking a rule can be—sometimes as impactful as creating one.
Today's Word Altruistic al-troo-IS-tik Definition (adjective) Showing unselfish concern for...
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