TEN-uh-buhl
(adjective) Able to be maintained or defended against attack or objection.
Her position on the issue was no longer tenable after the new evidence came out.
Fun Fact
“Tenable” stems from Latin tenere, “to hold.” It’s often used in philosophy, politics, or debate, where arguments must be strong enough to “hold up.” A tenable claim isn’t just logical—it’s resilient under scrutiny. When a position becomes untenable, retreat is inevitable.
WANG-gul
(verb) To obtain something by persuasion, scheming, or clever manipulation.
He managed to wangle an invitation to the exclusive event through a friend of a friend.
Late 19th century: originally printers’ slang, possibly an alteration of “waggle” meaning “to move unsteadily,” suggesting indirect or roundabout methods.
Fun Fact
Wangle occupies a charming gray area between honest persuasion and outright deception—it’s cunning without being criminal. You wangle concert tickets, restaurant reservations, or meeting invitations through charm, connections, or cleverness. The word carries a playful, almost admiring tone rather than moral judgment. British English embraced wangle enthusiastically during World War II when soldiers wangled extra rations, leave passes, or cushy assignments. Unlike fraud or cheating, wangling suggests skill and resourcefulness—the ability to navigate systems and work angles that others miss. It’s the linguistic equivalent of a wink and a smile.
Today's Word Hypnagogic hip-nuh-GAH-jik Definition (adjective) Relating to the state...
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