- Today's Word
Quippery
[ˈkwɪpəri]
Definition
- (adjective) The the art or tendency of making witty or clever remarks and observations, often in a light-hearted or humorous manner. It encapsulates the skill of delivering quips that are both amusing and insightful, showcasing verbal dexterity and a sharp mind.
Example
In the middle of a team meeting, when the discussion turned to the daunting task of reorganizing the entire office, Jake lightened the mood with a bit of quippery, saying, “Well, they say a change is as good as a rest, but I don’t remember resting this much last time we moved a desk!”
Fun Fact
The term “quip” comes from the Latin word “quippe,” which was often used sarcastically in Latin literature. It translates to “indeed” or “of course,” but its usage implied a level of irony or disbelief, setting the foundation for today’s playful and sarcastic quips.
(adjective) Deliberately untrustworthy and deceitful; guilty of betraying trust or breaking faith.
The perfidious advisor had been leaking confidential strategy to competitors for years, all while accepting promotions and praise from the company he was quietly destroying.
Perfidious derives from the Latin perfidiosus, meaning “treacherous,” rooted in perfidia — “faithlessness” — built from per- (“through” or “away”) and fides (“faith” or “trust”). The same root fides gives us fidelity, confide, and fiduciary — making perfidious the dark twin of an entire family of words built on trust and loyalty. It entered English in the 16th century and has carried its sense of calculated, deliberate betrayal ever since.