Don’t let Russell Brand have all the fun! Sprinkle these 31 words into your conversations to help you sound smarter and more sophisticated than ever.
A word
a day for the glottologist
Do you want to sound smarter? We’re bringing you one word a day for the month of March. The challenge? Use the word of the day in a sentence at least once each day.
Mar. 1
Glottologist
noun
[glo-TOL-uh-jist]
A person who studies language
A true glottologist, Amy was the queen of Scrabble.
Origin: Derived from the Greek glôtta (tongue)
Mar. 2
Cachinnate
verb
[KAK-uh-neyt]
To laugh really loudly; ROTFLMAO
I’m a great cook, but my boyfriend would cachinnate at the thought of my doing the dishes.
Origin: From the Latin cachinnatus (to laugh aloud)
Mar. 3
Glib
adjective
[glib]
Easy in actions or manners, typically in a thoughtless or superficial way
When asked about his history of drug use, Bill Clinton glibly noted that he’d never inhaled.
Origin: Probably a modification of the Low German glibberig (slippery)
Mar. 4
Abomination
noun
[uh-bom-uh-NEY-shuhn]
Something loathed, disliked or abhorred
Joan Rivers put the actress on her worst-dressed list — which isn’t surprising. That dress was an abomination!
Origin: From the Latin abominatus (loathed)
Mar. 5
Fidus achates
noun
[FEED-us uh-KAH-tays]
A true friend; BFF
Tracy decided to unfollow everyone on Twitter who wasn’t a fidus achates.
Origin: Latin description of the character from Virgil’s Aeneid who was the faithful companion of Aeneas
Mar. 6
Sycophant
noun
[SIK-uh-fuhnt, SAHYK-uh-fuhnt]
An individual who flatters another (usually a superior) with the intention of elevating his or her place in the hierarchy or attaining a personal goal; a self-serving parasite
In the Disney version of Robin Hood, the sycophant snake Sir Hiss helps Prince John try to catch Robin Hood.
Origin: From the Greek sykophantes (slanderer)
Mar. 7
Ostentatious
adjective
[os-ten-TEY-shuhs]
Showy or pretentious
RuPaul is well known for her ostentatious outfits.
Origin: From the late Middle English ostentation (to display or exhibit)
Mar. 8
Panacea
noun
[pan-uh-SEE-uh]
A cure-all or universal remedy; a magic potion
Elizabeth’s mother seems to believe chicken soup is a panacea.
Origin: From the Greek panakeia (all-healing)
Mar. 9
Ergo
conjunction, adverb
[UR-goh, ER-goh]
Therefore
Kelly dislikes onions; ergo, she will not eat pico de gallo.
Origin: Latin
Mar. 10
Uxorious
adjective
[uhk-SAWR-ee-uhs]
Overly doting or submissive toward one’s wife
Margot loves that her husband is so attentive, but others simply find him uxorious.
Origin: From the Latin uxor (wife)
Mar. 11
Adroit
adjective
[ah-DROYT]
Skilled or clever (in a specific skill)
Georgia is an adroit typist, clocking in at an average of 96 words per minute.
Origin: From the Old French a- + droit (straight, just, correct)
Mar. 12
Reciprocity
noun
[res-uh-PROS-i-tee]
Mutual exchange; tit for tat
In the spirit of reciprocity, Kayla bought Steven lunch for his help on her project.
Origin: From the Latin reciproc
Mar. 13
Chatoyant
adjective
[shuh-TOI-uhnt]
An object or material that changes in color or luster
Nancy’s eyes were positively chatoyant, appearing either green or blue, depending on the color of her clothes.
Origin: From the French chatoyer (to change in color, as a cat’s eye)
Mar. 14
Dalliance
noun
[DAL-ee-uhns, DAL-yuhns]
A brief love affair or flirtation; time spent frivolously
Before proposing to Behati Prinsloo, Adam Levine had a dalliance with model Nina Agdal.
Origin: From the Middle English daliaunce
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