The word “hangry” is a relatively recent addition to the English language. It started gaining popularity in the early 2000s and has since become a widely recognized term. In 2018, it was officially added to the Oxford English Dictionary, cementing its place in modern vocabulary. The concept behind “hangry” is simple: when we haven’t eaten
Xyloid / adjective / xy · loid Have you ever thought about the compositional makeup of the wood we find outdoors? We find wood as a fibrous component of trees and some plants in nature. Xyloid has a similar chemical makeup. It is a type of hard, fibrous substance that is found in plant cells.
Lollygag/verb/lol-ly-gag The word lollygag is a verb that refers to the action of dawdling or wasting time. Lollygagging can also refer to intentionally fooling around and avoiding necessary tasks to the detriment of oneself or others. In a Sentence The lazy students from upstate universities and colleges love to lollygag in Central Square. His team
In today’s digital age, it seems like we are more attached to our smartphones than ever before. This phenomenon has given rise to a relatively new word: nomophobia. Derived from the phrase “no-mobile-phone-phobia,” nomophobia describes the fear or anxiety one feels when they do not have their mobile phone with them. This term was coined
Today’s word of the day is “petrichor,” a term that describes the pleasant, earthy scent that accompanies the first rain after a dry spell. This unique word combines the Greek words “petra,” meaning stone, and “ichor,” which in Greek mythology refers to the ethereal fluid that flows in the veins of the gods. The origin
Whirlybird / noun / whirly·bird We use the noun “whirlybird” as another word for a helicopter. In 1951, we started using “whirlybird” instead of helicopter. A “whirlybird” is an aircraft powered by a lift. It takes off and lands vertically, using rotating blades to propel itself across the sky. “Whirlybirds” can move in any direction
Moiety / noun / moy-uh-tee A moiety is a part, piece, or portion of a whole. In one definition of the word, a moiety is an exact or almost exact half of a whole, however, the word is equally used as a word for a portion more or less than half. In the English language,
Usurp / verb / u·surp Usurp is a verb we use in English that represents the act of taking official powers or duties by force or overthrowing them without having the right to do so. People use the words supplant and usurp interchangeably since both have a similar meaning. Both allude to taking wrongful possession
Velleity / noun / vel·le·i·ty If you’ve ever had a strong desire to take action against injustice or an idea you believed to be unfair — without taking any further action, you’re probably familiar with the experience of velleity. Described as “the lowest degree of volition,” the word velleity is a noun we use in
Mufti / noun / muf·ti “Mufti” is a noun we use in English with a dual meaning. In the first sense, “mufti” represents a legal counselor or “professional juror” authorized to interpret Muslim law. A “mufti” is comparable to American attorneys we hire to represent legal clients in court and speak to interested parties like