- Today's Word
Supine
soo-PINE
Definition
- (adjective) Lying on one’s back, face upward.
- Failing to act or show resistance due to weakness or indifference.
Example
He lay supine on the grass, gazing at the stars and pondering the mysteries of the universe.
Fun Fact
“Supine” comes from the Latin word supinus, meaning “bent backward” or “reclining.” Its dual meaning reflects both physical posture and metaphorical inaction. In ancient Rome, the word often symbolized passivity, which later inspired its use in critiques of apathy or submissiveness. The distinction between “prone” (face down) and “supine” (face up) remains a common linguistic challenge today.
(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.