puh-JOR-uh-tiv
Calling it a “scheme” instead of a “plan” gave it a pejorative spin.
Fun Fact
Pejoratives are everywhere—“geek,” “bureaucrat,” “snowflake.” Words can shift over time too: “nerd” once was pejorative, now it’s proudly reclaimed. Linguists study how these terms evolve and how language both reflects and shapes social power.
ef-er-VES-ent
(adjective) Bubbling with enthusiasm, energy, or liveliness; vivacious and high-spirited.
Her effervescent personality made every team meeting feel like something worth showing up for.
From Latin effervescere — ex- (“out”) + fervescere (“to begin boiling”), from fervere (“to boil or bubble”). The word entered English in the late 17th century, first used literally to describe liquids fizzing and bubbling, before taking on its figurative sense of vibrant personality in the 18th century.
Fun Fact
The word “effervescent” has long been associated with champagne culture — when carbonated drinks became fashionable among European elites in the 1700s, the word quickly leaped from chemistry into social vocabulary. Writers began describing charming, bubbly people the same way they described a freshly poured glass of sparkling wine. Today, personality psychologists sometimes use “effervescence” as an informal shorthand for a cluster of traits including high positive affect, social energy, and expressiveness.
Today's Word Effervescent ef-er-VES-ent Definition (adjective) Bubbling with enthusiasm, energy,...
Read MoreToday's Word Capricious kuh-PRISH-us Definition (adjective) Given to sudden and...
Read MoreToday's Word Licentious ly-SEN-shus Definition (adjective) Promiscuous and unprincipled in...
Read More