- Today's Word
Privation
PRY-vay-shun
Definition
(noun) A state in which essential needs are lacking.
Example
The documentary highlighted the long-term effects of housing privation.
Fun Fact
Privation is not just about discomfort—it’s about necessity being stripped away. From privation of sleep to privation of food, shelter, or security, the word describes a foundational level of deprivation. It’s often used in humanitarian, economic, and historical contexts where the absence of basic needs leads to larger consequences.
(adjective) Speaking easily, rapidly, and at great length, especially with enthusiasm.
At the dinner party, he became increasingly voluble as the conversation turned to politics.
Voluble comes from the Latin volubilis, meaning “rolling” or “turning easily,” from volvere (“to roll”). The word originally described physical motion, but over time it shifted metaphorically to describe speech that flows freely and continuously, as if words are rolling out without resistance.