- Today's Word
Solipsistic
so-lip-SIS-tik
Definition
- (adjective) Excessively self-centered or focused on oneself, often to the exclusion of external realities.
Example
His solipsistic worldview made it difficult for him to empathize with others’ struggles.
Fun Fact
“Solipsistic” originates from the Latin solus (“alone”) and ipse (“self”), forming the philosophy of solipsism, which argues that only one’s mind is certain to exist. While the term often has a negative connotation today, it reflects a deeper philosophical question about the nature of reality and perception.
(noun) The range of one’s knowledge, understanding, or awareness.
Quantum physics lies far beyond my ken, no matter how many articles I read.
Ken comes from Old English cennan, meaning “to know” or “to make known,” and is closely related to Middle English and Scots usage where it meant knowledge, perception, or recognition. Over time, the word narrowed to describe the limits of what someone knows or understands, which is why it’s often used today in phrases like “beyond my ken.”