Word of the Day Word of the Day

Heterogenous is an adjective that means ‘diverse in character and content.’ 

Our word of the day is from the Latin word ‘heteros,’ (HET er ose) which means ‘different’ or ‘other.’ It’s been around since the early 17th century. Here’s an example:

The heterogenous nature of the animals in that area makes it difficult for them to get along. By putting together those creatures from such diverse backgrounds, they threaten to harm the chemistry. 

Handsel is a noun that refers to a gift for good luck. 

Our word of the day dates back to the Middle English period and is occasionally used as a verb just like its synonym ‘gift.’ Here’s an example:

When my parents gave me a car as a handsel on my 18th birthday, they didn’t know they were changing my life. That new Toyota may not have given me good luck, but it certainly brought good times. 

Simpatico is an adjective that means having shared characteristics or attributes. 

Our word of the day is a loan word that has been borrowed from Italian since the early 20th century. Here’s an example of it. 

I had a feeling I’d be simpatico with my new neighbors the minute I saw their lawn sign that declared ‘no Yankees fans’ in front of their door. Nothing brings together strangers like a hatred of a sports team. 

Umbra is a noun that refers to a shadow or darkness. 

Our word of the day began life as a Latin word for ‘shade.’ Since the late 16th century, it’s been an English word for ‘shade’ or ‘shadow.’ Here’s an example:

The long umbra cast along the lake is a sight to behold. The fact that it’s a shadow of a port-o-potty makes the image a little less romantic. 

Vocable is a noun that refers to a single syllable that carries a meaning despite not being a ‘real’ word. 

The Latin word vocabulum ( vo COB oo loom) has given us such English words as ‘vocal’ and ‘vocabulary.’ Our word of the day has been around since the Middle English period. Here’s an example:

When my kids are enjoying a meal, they tend to express it in the most vocable terms. They don't use actual words to convey their joy, just a simple, ‘mmmmm.’

Lawfare is a noun that refers to the use of lawsuits as a means of intimidation and combat. 

Our word of the day is a very recent addition to the English language that combines the common English words ‘law’ and ‘warfare.’ here’s an example:

After getting laid off, I tried to bully my former boss Stan with a series of excessive lawsuits, but in retrospect, I may have made a bad decision. It wasn’t such a smart move to use lawfare against a practicing attorney.