- Today's Word
Witstruck
[wit-struhk]
Definition
- (adjective) This captivating term combines “wit,” referring to intelligence and humor, with “struck,” as in being profoundly affected or impressed. It’s used to describe someone or something that leaves you in awe of their quick wit and cleverness.
Example
Imagine you’re at a comedy show, and the comedian effortlessly responds to unexpected heckling with witty one-liners that have the entire audience in stitches. You might say, “The comedian last night was absolutely Witstruck! Their comebacks were genius.”
Fun Fact
The word “wit” has a rich history and originally meant “knowledge” or “intelligence.” Over time, it evolved to emphasize the ability to think quickly and humorously. “Witstruck” takes this concept to describe the feeling of being struck or impressed by someone’s wit.
(adjective) Having little or no money; chronically poor
Despite his impecunious circumstances, he maintained an air of dignity that made it impossible to pity him.
Impecunious derives from the Latin im- (“not”) + pecuniosus (“wealthy”), itself from pecunia (“money”), which traces back to pecus (“cattle”) — reflecting the ancient Roman practice of using livestock as a measure of wealth. It entered English in the late 16th century as a more refined, literary alternative to simply saying “broke.”