- Today's Word
Zenthrall
[zen-thrawl]
Definition
- (noun) This harmonious term combines “zen,” representing a state of calm and peacefulness, with “enthrall,” signifying the captivating and spellbinding. It’s used to describe a moment where serenity and fascination seamlessly come together.
Example
Picture a serene meditation session where the gentle sounds of nature and the calmness of your surroundings completely captivate your attention. It’s not just meditation; it’s a Zenthrall. You might say, “During the peaceful meditation in the forest, I experienced a true Zenthrall. The tranquility and the captivating sounds of nature created a spellbinding moment.”
Fun Fact
“Zen” refers to a state of calm and peacefulness, often associated with meditation, while “enthrall” signifies the captivating and spellbinding. “Zenthrall” creatively combines these concepts to celebrate the harmonious and captivating moments where serenity and fascination intertwine.
(adjective) Deserving praise or reward on the basis of genuine effort, skill, or achievement.
The meritorious work of the research team went unrecognized for years before a junior colleague finally submitted it for the award it had always deserved.
Meritorious derives from the Latin meritorius, meaning “that by which money is earned,” rooted in merere — “to earn” or “to deserve.” The same root gives us merit, meritocracy, and emeritus — all words built around the idea of something earned rather than given. It entered English in the 15th century, initially used in theological contexts to describe acts worthy of divine reward before expanding into its broader secular sense of anything genuinely deserving of recognition.