- Today's Word
Pulchritude
PUHL-krih-tood (or PUHL-krih-tyood)
Definition
- (noun) Physical beauty or attractiveness, often of a striking or exceptional nature.
Example
The painting captured the pulchritude of the landscape, its rolling hills and vibrant colors mesmerizing all who viewed it.
Fun Fact
“Pulchritude” comes from the Latin word pulchritudo, derived from pulcher, meaning “beautiful.” Despite its meaning, the word itself is often considered phonetically unappealing, leading to its infrequent use in everyday conversation. Historically, it was used in literary contexts to emphasize refined or idealized beauty. The word serves as a reminder of the complex relationship between a term’s sound and the concept it represents.
(noun) A person who believes that the pursuit of pleasure and sensory enjoyment is the highest good and chief aim of life
A self-proclaimed hedonist, she planned her entire sabbatical around exceptional food, warm weather, and long afternoons with nothing to do.
Hedonist derives from the Greek hedone, meaning “pleasure” or “delight,” from hedys (“sweet”). The philosophical school of Hedonism was formally developed in ancient Greece — most notably by Epicurus, who argued that pleasure, properly understood, was the foundation of a good life. The word entered English in the 19th century as both a philosophical term and a descriptor for those who live purely for sensory gratification.