Word of the day
Today’s Word of the Day was selected by Girl Scouts
noun
belief in oneself and one’s powers or abilities; self-confidence; self-reliance; assurance.
- Origin
- Examples
learn about the english language
Why Girl Scouts chose confidence
In short, Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. Confidence is an important aspect to reach higher and go further!
Girl Scouts helps girls be their best, bravest, boldest selves each day. The benefits go beyond the badges and awards they earn as recognition of the new skills they learn. Whether she’s finishing a school project, making a new friend, hiking in the backcountry, or speaking up for what’s right—a Girl Scout faces the world with confidence and optimism.
What is the origin of confidence?
Confidence can come from a variety of sources, such as overcoming an obstacle or mastering a new skill. But etymologically, confidence comes from Latin, specifically the noun confīdentia from the verb confīdere “to confide.” The Latin prefix con-, a variant of com-, usually means “with; together; in combination,” but here it is an intensive prefix meaning “completely”; the verb fīdere means “to trust.” The related Latin noun fidēs “trust” is the ultimate source of the English word faith. Confidence entered English in the 14th century.
how is confidence used?
Its message is that girls should have confidence, step up and become leaders by raising our hands. As with every patch in Girl Scouts, you have to earn this one.
Alice Paul Tapper, «I’m 10. And I Want Girls to Raise Their Hands,» New York Times, October 31, 2017
Her confidence was contagious. King was a role model in my life.
Kathleen Kemper,
«‘Complete Awe’: What It Was Like to Be On the Court at the Battle of the Sexes,» Fortune, September 24, 2017
Word of the day
cavil
verb (used without object)
to raise irritating and trivial objections; find fault with unnecessarily (usually followed by at or about): He finds something to cavil at in everything I say.
- Origin
- Examples
- Podcast
learn about the english language
What is the origin of cavil?
The verb cavil “to raise irritating and trivial objections” ultimately comes from the Latin verb cavillārī “to jeer, scoff, quibble,” a derivative of the noun cavilla “jesting, banter.” Cavillārī and calvī “to deceive, trick” come from the Latin root cal-, and cavilla comes from an earlier unrecorded calvilla. Cavil entered English in the 16th century.
how is cavil used?
Now, I’m not the type to cavil at the outrageous fortune of others, as long as they come by it legally.
Schwartz, «Maybe Anyone Can Hop on the I.P.O. Bandwagon,» New York Times, July 8, 2007
Has it become a custom for the brothers and sisters to carp and cavil at one another—and even for Mamma to cavil at her children—as I have heard you all do to-night?
Louis Couperus (1863–1923), Small Souls, translated by Alexander Teixeira de Mattos, 1914
Listen to the podcast
cavil
Word of the day
tantamount
adjective
equivalent, as in value, force, effect, or signification: His angry speech was tantamount to a declaration of war.
- Origin
- Examples
- Podcast
learn about the english language
What is the origin of tantamount?
In contemporary English tantamount is an adjective meaning “equivalent,” an adjective use of the obsolete noun tantamount “something equivalent, an equivalent,” which, in its turn, is a development of the somewhat earlier verb tantamount “to amount to as much” (all three parts of speech are recorded between 1628 and 1641). Tantamount comes from Anglo-French tant am(o)unter or Italian tanto montare “to amount to as much.” Tant and tanto come from the neuter Latin adjective tantum “so much”; am(o)unter “to add up to, ascend” comes from the Old French adverb amont “up, upward,” from Latin ad montem “(up) to the hill.”
how is tantamount used?
It was a daring move in those days; most men of the countryside feared the city, clung to what was safe and familiar, teaching their sons that leaving the land was tantamount to dying.
Bina Shah, A Season for Martyrs, 2014
Recovering a diamond at Karowe is tantamount to finding a needle in a haystack, in a barn full of other haystacks without needles.
Ed Caesar, «The Woman Shaking Up the Diamond Industry,» The New Yorker, January 27, 2020
Listen to the podcast
tantamount
Annyeong! It’s 월요일!! To start off the week, we’re going to focus on a word that I’m sure you hear all the time in your favorite k-dramas. I was watching MAMA last night and I heard just about every single character say, “괜찮아” at least once! Soooo, what does it mean and how do you use it?
Well, 괜찮아 (gwenchana) means, “I’m alright”, “It’s fine”, “It’s fine with me”, “I’m ok”, and “It’s alright”. You can use this in a number of ways! For example, if someone accidentally does something to you and apologizes you can say, ” 알았어, 괜찮아.” (Arasso, gwenchana.) Or if someone asks if you’re ok, you can simply just say, “괜찮아.” There’s a number of ways you can use this and it be fine. Another thing, 괜찮아요 (gwenchanayo) can also be used as a question. If you add a question mark to the end of 괜찮아요?(gwenchanayo?), it becomes “are you alright?, “are you ok?”
There are rules to this word as well. 괜찮아요 (gwenchanayo) is formal. You follow the same rules with formal words in this usage. 괜찮아 (gwenchana) is informal. Also, I did mention, “알았어” (arasso) which actually means more than just, “Alright”. It also means, “I understand” or “I get it”. Some of you may have even heard “알았다고” (aradago). It means the same thing as “알았어”.
So that’s it for today! Today, 월요일, 2014년11월10 at 오전11시27분! We’ll be back on with telling time and date tomorrow.
-Until 화요일! … 행운을 담아!
…Have you been practicing telling time and the date?
Culture. Music. Entertainment. Life beyond K-Drama…
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We aim to feature words from a broad range of vocabulary levels so that we have something to offer each of the members of our wide audience. Some words are…
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Similar ideas popular now
The #WordOfTheDay is ‘lackadaisical.’ We couldn’t be bothered to think of a fun joke today.
The #WordOfTheDay is ‘MacGyver.’ We posted this using only a paperclip, some tin foil, and a Motorola RAZR from 2006.
The #WordOfTheDay is ‘vicinity.’
The #WordOfTheDay is ‘oracular.’ But some of you already knew that, didn’t you?
The #WordOfTheDay is ‘foible.’
The #WordOfTheDay is ‘auspicious.’
The #WordOfTheDay is ‘circumscribe.’
The #WordOfTheDay is ‘equivocal.’ Hopefully, this word of the day isn’t.
The #WordOfTheDay is ‘seder.’ Chag Sameach!
The #WordOfTheDay is ‘gerrymander.’
The #WordOfTheDay is ‘belated.’ Apologies for the delay.
The #WordOfTheDay is ‘infantilize.’
The #WordOfTheDay is ‘démarche.’
The #WordOfTheDay is ‘shenanigans.’ Be careful out there today.
The #WordOfTheDay is ‘recuse.’
The #WordOfTheDay is ‘golem.’ Tag your friends.
The #WordOfTheDay is ‘immaculate.’ We hope the vibes are this.
The #WordOfTheDay is ‘bildungsroman.’
The #WordOfTheDay is ‘disparate.’
The #WordOfTheDay is ‘cavalcade.’
The #WordOfTheDay is ‘eighty-six.’
The #WordOfTheDay is ‘zany.’
The #WordOfTheDay is ‘symbiosis.’
The #WordOfTheDay is ‘obdurate.’
The #WordOfTheDay is ‘fawn.’ We hope you like and share this post, but we’re not going to beg for it.
April 14, 2023
lacking life, spirit, or zest
April 13, 2023
to make or repair something with materials conveniently on hand
April 12, 2023
the area around or near a place
April 11, 2023
like an oracle in solemnity, or in having wise or divine insight
April 10, 2023
a minor flaw or shortcoming
April 09, 2023
showing or suggesting that future success is likely
April 08, 2023
to limit the size or amount of something
April 07, 2023
ambiguous or difficult to understand
April 06, 2023
a ceremonial dinner held on Passover
April 05, 2023
to divide into political units giving one group unfair advantage
Learn a new word every day. Delivered to your inbox!
April 2023
-
Apr 01
shenanigans
-
Apr 02
démarche
-
Apr 03
infantilize
-
Apr 04
belated
-
Apr 05
gerrymander
-
Apr 06
seder
-
Apr 07
equivocal
-
Apr 08
circumscribe
-
Apr 09
auspicious
-
Apr 10
foible
-
Apr 11
oracular
-
Apr 12
vicinity
-
Apr 13
MacGyver
-
Apr 14
lackadaisical
March 2023
-
Mar 01
fresco
-
Mar 02
contretemps
-
Mar 03
accentuate
-
Mar 04
proximate
-
Mar 05
repartee
-
Mar 06
vindicate
-
Mar 07
laudable
-
Mar 08
cahoots
-
Mar 09
ingratiate
-
Mar 10
factotum
-
Mar 11
scrupulous
-
Mar 12
divulge
-
Mar 13
apotheosis
-
Mar 14
gallivant
-
Mar 15
nadir
-
Mar 16
heterodox
-
Mar 17
Erin go bragh
-
Mar 18
lacuna
-
Mar 19
tactile
-
Mar 20
kith
-
Mar 21
fawn
-
Mar 22
obdurate
-
Mar 23
symbiosis
-
Mar 24
zany
-
Mar 25
eighty-six
-
Mar 26
cavalcade
-
Mar 27
disparate
-
Mar 28
bildungsroman
-
Mar 29
immaculate
-
Mar 30
golem
-
Mar 31
recuse
February 2023
-
Feb 01
eleemosynary
-
Feb 02
portend
-
Feb 03
challah
-
Feb 04
scrutinize
-
Feb 05
weal
-
Feb 06
fraught
-
Feb 07
acquiesce
-
Feb 08
despot
-
Feb 09
vapid
-
Feb 10
ignis fatuus
-
Feb 11
besotted
-
Feb 12
gambit
-
Feb 13
magniloquent
-
Feb 14
coquetry
-
Feb 15
divest
-
Feb 16
lyrical
-
Feb 17
anachronism
-
Feb 18
impromptu
-
Feb 19
cleave
-
Feb 20
prerogative
-
Feb 21
onerous
-
Feb 22
rectify
-
Feb 23
tantamount
-
Feb 24
hiatus
-
Feb 25
nurture
-
Feb 26
foray
-
Feb 27
ersatz
-
Feb 28
stultify
January 2023
-
Jan 01
annus mirabilis
-
Jan 02
precocious
-
Jan 03
delegate
-
Jan 04
genius
-
Jan 05
fortuitous
-
Jan 06
garner
-
Jan 07
conundrum
-
Jan 08
ascetic
-
Jan 09
charlatan
-
Jan 10
teleological
-
Jan 11
bombast
-
Jan 12
luscious
-
Jan 13
countenance
-
Jan 14
recondite
-
Jan 15
névé
-
Jan 16
paladin
-
Jan 17
hoodwink
-
Jan 18
implacable
-
Jan 19
misanthrope
-
Jan 20
vulpine
-
Jan 21
exacerbate
-
Jan 22
short shrift
-
Jan 23
endemic
-
Jan 24
balkanize
-
Jan 25
marginalia
-
Jan 26
knackered
-
Jan 27
wangle
-
Jan 28
doctrinaire
-
Jan 29
rubric
-
Jan 30
adapt
-
Jan 31
savant
December 2022
-
Dec 01
sandbag
-
Dec 02
gloaming
-
Dec 03
perceptible
-
Dec 04
celerity
-
Dec 05
abdicate
-
Dec 06
solace
-
Dec 07
lachrymose
-
Dec 08
vandalize
-
Dec 09
expeditious
-
Dec 10
bravado
-
Dec 11
imbue
-
Dec 12
compadre
-
Dec 13
fiduciary
-
Dec 14
undulate
-
Dec 15
morass
-
Dec 16
putative
-
Dec 17
oblivion
-
Dec 18
ineluctable
-
Dec 19
dreidel
-
Dec 20
gainsay
-
Dec 21
accoutrement
-
Dec 22
deleterious
-
Dec 23
speculate
-
Dec 24
tortuous
-
Dec 25
nativity
-
Dec 26
halcyon
-
Dec 27
cajole
-
Dec 28
lodestar
-
Dec 29
espouse
-
Dec 30
boondoggle
-
Dec 31
retrospective
November 2022
-
Nov 01
sallow
-
Nov 02
fustigate
-
Nov 03
rapscallion
-
Nov 04
catercorner
-
Nov 05
abandon
-
Nov 06
gauche
-
Nov 07
serendipity
-
Nov 08
encapsulate
-
Nov 09
bilious
-
Nov 10
lapidary
-
Nov 11
doughty
-
Nov 12
intoxicate
-
Nov 13
crucible
-
Nov 14
magnanimous
-
Nov 15
augur
-
Nov 16
hummock
-
Nov 17
nugatory
-
Nov 18
farce
-
Nov 19
pell-mell
-
Nov 20
extirpate
-
Nov 21
temerity
-
Nov 22
leonine
-
Nov 23
vamoose
-
Nov 24
cornucopia
-
Nov 25
jejune
-
Nov 26
sustain
-
Nov 27
onomatopoeia
-
Nov 28
wheedle
-
Nov 29
motley
-
Nov 30
quiddity
October 2022
-
Oct 01
critique
-
Oct 02
emblazon
-
Oct 03
languid
-
Oct 04
onus
-
Oct 05
atone
-
Oct 06
gargantuan
-
Oct 07
proffer
-
Oct 08
spiel
-
Oct 09
avuncular
-
Oct 10
bombinate
-
Oct 11
mnemonic
-
Oct 12
rabble
-
Oct 13
decorous
-
Oct 14
transmogrify
-
Oct 15
cadence
-
Oct 16
frenetic
-
Oct 17
hyperbole
-
Oct 18
bespoke
-
Oct 19
writhe
-
Oct 20
interlocutor
-
Oct 21
cloying
-
Oct 22
abide
-
Oct 23
volition
-
Oct 24
genteel
-
Oct 25
sepulchre
-
Oct 26
peculiar
-
Oct 27
defile
-
Oct 28
utopia
-
Oct 29
notorious
-
Oct 30
scour
-
Oct 31
lycanthropy
September 2022
-
Sep 01
umbrage
-
Sep 02
grandiose
-
Sep 03
adjure
-
Sep 04
demeanor
-
Sep 05
assiduous
-
Sep 06
panache
-
Sep 07
conciliate
-
Sep 08
mawkish
-
Sep 09
facsimile
-
Sep 10
obliterate
-
Sep 11
substantive
-
Sep 12
invective
-
Sep 13
titivate
-
Sep 14
broadside
-
Sep 15
rancid
-
Sep 16
coalesce
-
Sep 17
laconic
-
Sep 18
exponent
-
Sep 19
haywire
-
Sep 20
verdigris
-
Sep 21
perspicacious
-
Sep 22
defer
-
Sep 23
misnomer
-
Sep 24
anthropomorphic
-
Sep 25
caucus
-
Sep 26
sporadic
-
Sep 27
fructify
-
Sep 28
kerfuffle
-
Sep 29
ritzy
-
Sep 30
proselytize
August 2022
-
Aug 01
frolic
-
Aug 02
nebulous
-
Aug 03
patina
-
Aug 04
brackish
-
Aug 05
heartstring
-
Aug 06
adjudicate
-
Aug 07
eminently
-
Aug 08
crepuscular
-
Aug 09
riposte
-
Aug 10
trivial
-
Aug 11
alleviate
-
Aug 12
melancholia
-
Aug 13
carceral
-
Aug 14
shard
-
Aug 15
dilatory
-
Aug 16
litany
-
Aug 17
wreak
-
Aug 18
immutable
-
Aug 19
charisma
-
Aug 20
unabashed
-
Aug 21
epitome
-
Aug 22
rash
-
Aug 23
abrogate
-
Aug 24
glitch
-
Aug 25
overwhelm
-
Aug 26
vociferous
-
Aug 27
sensibility
-
Aug 28
devolve
-
Aug 29
jaunty
-
Aug 30
effulgence
-
Aug 31
brandish
July 2022
-
Jul 01
debunk
-
Jul 02
apposite
-
Jul 03
teem
-
Jul 04
Yankee
-
Jul 05
cantankerous
-
Jul 06
recidivism
-
Jul 07
inscrutable
-
Jul 08
postulate
-
Jul 09
behemoth
-
Jul 10
gibbous
-
Jul 11
carp
-
Jul 12
eccentric
-
Jul 13
saga
-
Jul 14
validate
-
Jul 15
akimbo
-
Jul 16
nuance
-
Jul 17
finicky
-
Jul 18
sanction
-
Jul 19
emolument
-
Jul 20
waggish
-
Jul 21
iconoclast
-
Jul 22
muse
-
Jul 23
conscientious
-
Jul 24
pathos
-
Jul 25
extradite
-
Jul 26
Luddite
-
Jul 27
apropos
-
Jul 28
ostentatious
-
Jul 29
brouhaha
-
Jul 30
ineffable
-
Jul 31
menagerie
June 2022
-
Jun 01
behest
-
Jun 02
meld
-
Jun 03
perfunctory
-
Jun 04
decry
-
Jun 05
fidelity
-
Jun 06
sumptuous
-
Jun 07
vocation
-
Jun 08
arrogate
-
Jun 09
evanescent
-
Jun 10
lout
-
Jun 11
headlong
-
Jun 12
burgle
-
Jun 13
panacea
-
Jun 14
festoon
-
Jun 15
credulous
-
Jun 16
adulation
-
Jun 17
oblige
-
Jun 18
redolent
-
Jun 19
emancipation
-
Jun 20
garrulous
-
Jun 21
prescience
-
Jun 22
quibble
-
Jun 23
ingenuous
-
Jun 24
confidant
-
Jun 25
noisome
-
Jun 26
culminate
-
Jun 27
jingoism
-
Jun 28
fulsome
-
Jun 29
duress
-
Jun 30
scintillate
May 2022
-
May 01
leviathan
-
May 02
piggyback
-
May 03
schmooze
-
May 04
abeyance
-
May 05
fractious
-
May 06
mollify
-
May 07
sagacious
-
May 08
darling
-
May 09
orientate
-
May 10
conclave
-
May 11
ramshackle
-
May 12
bloviate
-
May 13
turpitude
-
May 14
verdant
-
May 15
hark back
-
May 16
epithet
-
May 17
nonpareil
-
May 18
indoctrinate
-
May 19
kibosh
-
May 20
ad hoc
-
May 21
paradox
-
May 22
galumph
-
May 23
mercurial
-
May 24
dander
-
May 25
benevolent
-
May 26
fetter
-
May 27
uncanny
-
May 28
propagate
-
May 29
junket
-
May 30
commemorate
-
May 31
ephemeral
April 2022
-
Apr 01
predilection
-
Apr 02
convoluted
-
Apr 03
exculpate
-
Apr 04
salient
-
Apr 05
adversity
-
Apr 06
grift
-
Apr 07
druthers
-
Apr 08
mettlesome
-
Apr 09
construe
-
Apr 10
liaison
-
Apr 11
zoomorphic
-
Apr 12
funambulism
-
Apr 13
bemuse
-
Apr 14
opportune
-
Apr 15
vanguard
-
Apr 16
timeless
-
Apr 17
resurrection
-
Apr 18
elicit
-
Apr 19
polyglot
-
Apr 20
imprimatur
-
Apr 21
juxtapose
-
Apr 22
simulacrum
-
Apr 23
askance
-
Apr 24
deem
-
Apr 25
hoary
-
Apr 26
minion
-
Apr 27
cerebral
-
Apr 28
salt junk
-
Apr 29
flummox
-
Apr 30
nefarious
Challenging Standardized Test Words, Vol. 2
-
- The business’s new computer system proved not to be a panacea.
You know what it looks like… but what is it called?
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Not to be confused with «climb», a clime is a region known for its weather. In the dead of winter, we dream about heading to sunny climes, where we can hang out in shorts.
The key to remembering clime is that it’s so similar to «climate,» with which it shares the Greek root klima, «zone.» So a clime is a zone that has a characteristic climate. Folks in colder climes think nothing of the kind of snowfall that we down here in the south get all panicked about. But then again, when they come here to our warmer clime, they forget to put on sunscreen; people from one clime can learn a lot from a visit to a different clime.
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