- Today's Word
Rancor
RANG-kur
Definition
(noun) Bitter resentment or deep-seated ill will, especially long-lasting.
Example
Years later, his rancor toward his former business partner hadn’t faded.
Fun Fact
Derived from Latin rancere, meaning “to stink,” the word “rancor” evokes something festering over time—resentment that rots rather than heals. Rancor is often irrational but enduring, and it drives some of the most powerful conflicts in history, politics, and literature—where characters are defined by grudges they refuse to let go.
(noun) A burden, duty, or responsibility—especially one that is difficult or unwelcome.
The onus of proving the theory fell on the scientists who proposed it.
From Latin onus, meaning “load” or “burden.”