Word of the Day List 3 - 10/24-11/12

10/24/26 puissant [adj.]

Something w/ strength or power. (“The creatures in her fantasy novel are wielders of puissant magic, able to strike down enemies by harnessing the power of weather phenomena like lightning and tornadoes.”) Comes from Latin word meaning “to be able” and Anglo-French word meaning “able” or “powerful”.

10/25/26 emissary [n.]

A person who is sent on a mission to represent another person or organization. (“Emissaries from the government are trying to negotiate a settlement.”) Comes from Latin word meaning “to send out”.

10/26/26 disparate [adj.]

Things distinct from each other; something that contains/is made up of different (often incongruous) elements. (“The orchestral project joins disparate musical elements to create a truly original sound.”) Comes from Latin words meaning “to divide, separate off, make different” and “to supply, provide, make ready or prepare.”

10/27/26 milieu [n.]

Physical or social setting in which ppl live or in which something happens/develop. (“Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and Jean Toomer were among the many writers who flourished in the intellectual milieu of the Harlem Renaissance.”) Comes from archaic word meaning “place”, Old French word meaning “midst” from “middle”, Latin word meaning “place”.

10/29/26 shindig [n.]

A big party. (“Our friends are in town this weekend, so we’re hosting a shindig at our place on Saturday night.”)

10/30/26 reticent [adj.]

Feeling or showing reluctance to do something; reserved (“The team was reticent to spend such a large amount of money, even for an all-star free agent.”) Comes from Latin word meaning “to keep silent”.

10/31/26 wraith [n.]

Spirit of a dead person, a ghost. (“The most frightening scene from the movie featured a vengeful wraith creeping slowly up behind the main characters.”)

11/1/26 Pyrrhic [adj.]

Achieved at an excessive cost; a Pyrrhic victory is one not worth winning due to the losses. (“The basketball team’s comeback in the final minutes turned out to be a Pyrrhic victory as the star center injured her ankle.”)

11/2/26 satiate [v.]

To fully satisfy. (“The new restaurant’s menu promises to satiate diners’ cravings for comfort food, offering fresh spins on classic, time-honored fare.”) Comes from Latin word meaning “enough”.

11/3/26 candidate [n.]

Someone who aspires to or is nominated/qualified for an office, membership, or award; someone likely or suited to undergo or be chosen for something; a student in the process of meeting final requirements for a degree. (“The hiring team will select the best candidate for the job.”) Comes from Latin word meaning “clothed in white”.

11/4/26 fulsome [adj.]

Generous in amt, extent, or spirit. (“They were fulsome in their praise of her efforts to raise money for the new wing of the children’s hospital.”)

11/5/26 effrontery [n.]

Bold shamelessness; an attitude or way of behaving that is confident & shocking/rude. (“Holly could not believe the sheer effrontery of the student who asked that her grade be changed even though she had completed little of the coursework.”) Comes from Latin words meaning “out”/”without” and “forehead”.

11/6/26 quondam [adj.]

“Former”; “sometime” (“Many people were surprised to learn that the quondam professor has since become a dancer.”) Comes from Latin word meaning “at one time” or “formerly”

11/7/26 abandon [n.]

Feeling of attitude of wild or complete freedom. (“The two friends spent the work week looking forward to hitting the clubs together on Friday night and dancing with total abandon.”) Comes from Old French word meaning “surrender”.

11/8/26 cockamamie [adj.]

Ridiculous, silly, or incredible. (“Instead of being honest, he came up with a cockamamie excuse about why he didn’t turn in his assignment.”) Comes from French words meaning “to trace” or “to transfer by tracing” and “-mania”.

11/9/26 wabi-sabi [n.]

Philosophy of Japanese origin that emphasizes aesthetic value in impf, impermanent, simple things; qualities of imperfection, impermanence, simplicity considered as beautiful. (“Over the years, the gardener learned to let go of his perfectionism and embrace wabi-sabi.”)

11/10/26 defer [v.]

To put off or delay (“We decided to defer the offer so that we could explore other options.”) Comes from Latin words meaning “to bring down, convey, transfer, submit” and “to be unlike or distinct”.

11/11/26 valorous [adj.]

Courageous or brave (person). (“For carrying three wounded members of his squadron out of harm's way, the lieutenant was presented with an award that recognized his valorous actions in the heat of battle.”) Comes from Latin word meaning “to be well, to have strength” & Anglo-French word meaning “worthy, strong, courageous”.

11/12/26 gauntlet [n.]

A double file of men facing each other w/ weapons with which to strike at someone made to run btwn them; a line, series, or assemblage of ppl/things that poses some sort of ordeal. (“Salmon returning to their spawning grounds must make it past a gauntlet of predators, from eagles to otters to bears.”) Comes from Swedish word meaning “run down the lane” & Middle French word meaning “glove”.

10/28/26 grotesque [adj.]

• Very strange or ugly in a way that is not normal or natural; extremely different from what is expected or usual

• (“Their claim is a grotesque distortion of the facts.”)

• Comes from Italian word meaning “caves”.