- Today's Word
Rampart
[ ram-pahrt ]
Definition
A rampart is a defensive wall or fortification constructed around a city, castle, or fort to provide protection against enemy attacks. Ramparts often include walls, parapets, and other defensive structures designed to withstand assaults.
Example
Medieval Castle: The medieval castle’s ramparts were built with thick stone walls and battlements to safeguard the inhabitants from invaders.
Fun Fact
The word “rampart” has its origins in military architecture and refers to a defensive wall or fortification built to protect a city or fortress from enemy attacks.
(noun) Excessive confidence or boldness; rashness in the face of danger or opposition without regard for consequences.
The junior analyst had the temerity to challenge the CEO’s projections in front of the entire board — and was proven right six months later.
Temerity derives from the Latin temeritas, meaning “rashness” or “blind chance,” rooted in temere — “rashly” or “by chance” — suggesting action taken without looking, in the dark, without regard for what might be coming. It entered English in the 15th century carrying its full Latin sense of dangerous, heedless boldness — the kind that mistakes the absence of fear for the presence of wisdom.