- Today's Word
Vestige
VES-tij
Definition
- (noun) A trace or remnant of something that once existed but is now lost or diminished.
Example
The ancient ruins were the last vestige of a once-thriving civilization.
Fun Fact
“Vestige” comes from the Latin vestigium, meaning “footprint” or “track.” It suggests something left behind, whether a physical remnant (like fossils) or a metaphorical one (like outdated traditions). Scientists often study vestigial structures in animals, such as the human appendix, as clues to evolutionary history.
(verb) To use vague or ambiguous language in order to avoid committing to a clear position or answer.
When asked directly whether he had approved the deal, the CEO equivocated for ten minutes without ever giving a straight answer.
Equivocate derives from the Medieval Latin aequivocare, meaning “to call by the same name,” built from aequus (“equal”) and vox (“voice” or “word”). The idea behind the root is of a word that sounds the same but carries two equally valid meanings — giving the speaker plausible deniability by exploiting ambiguity. It entered English in the 16th century, almost immediately acquiring its negative connotation of deliberate evasiveness.