Acrophobia

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. 

variform is an adjective that means ‘being different from another in form.  Our word of the day comes from the Latin word varius (VAR ee oos) which means ‘diverse.’ Since the mid-17th century, this word has given birth to a diverse range of descendants, including ‘various,’ ‘variation,’ and the less commonly used variform which could be thought of as a synonym for ‘disparate’ or ‘assorted.’ Here’s an example of its use: Todd’s variform diet served him well from the standpoint of health. Eating the same food all the time isn’t always going to yield the best outcomes. 

Borborygmus is a noun that refers to the rumbling or gurgling noise made in the stomach.  Our word of the day comes almost directly from a Greek noun that holds the same meaning. It’s been used mostly in medical circles since the early 18th century. Here’s an example: There’s nothing more embarrassing than having a grumbling stomach in a quiet setting. A few weeks ago, I was in a bookstore when my borborygmus announced my hunger to the world — or at least everybody in the history section. 

Vegetate is a verb that means to live or spend time in a dull, inactive way.  Our word of the day comes from the Latin word vegere (way GARE ay) which means ‘to be active.’ By the early 17th century, the word had morphed into the English word vegetable. More recently, vegetate has come to mean ‘to be inactive.’ Here's an example: I was so tired from running that marathon, I wanted to vegetate all weekend. The problem was I had too much to do around the house to be lazy. 

Comely is an adjective that means pleasant or attractive to look at.  Our word of the day comes from the Old English period and once meant ‘frail’ or ‘weak.’ Its meaning has been modified more recently and it can now be thought of as a synonym for handsome or beautiful.  When I entered the ballroom, I thought all those people were gawking at me because my tuxedo made me look particularly comely. It turned out that all those stares had less to do with my appearance than with the fact that I had forgotten to remove the tag from my jacket. 

Benthic is an adjective that means occurring at the bottom of a body of water.  The Greek word ‘benthos.’ (VEN thos) means ‘depth of the sea.’ Since the early 20th century, our word of the day has been used to describe the landscape and activity at those depths. Here’s an example: One of the joys of diving is being able to observe all those creatures on the ocean floor. You’d be shocked at all the strange-looking animals you’d find engaged in benthic activity. 

Grum is an adjective that means sullen or gloomy.  The origin of our word of the day is in the Old English period where it meant ‘fierce.’ In time, grum came to take on a meaning similar to words like ‘morose’ and ‘surly.’ Here’s an example: Tommy’s grum demeanor told me it would be a tough day for anybody who tried to talk to him. When he gets in a foul mood, it’s best to stay away. 

Kairos is a noun that refers to a propitious moment for a decision or action.  Our word of the day comes directly from the Greek word that means ‘opportunity.’ It’s been around since the 1930s. Here’s an example of kairos in use: When the mayor faced a kairos in his first term, the result was a catastrophic failure to act. If the same happens in his second term, he may not get a second opportunity to prove he can make a key decision. 

Beatitude is a noun that refers to supreme happiness.  Our word of the day has been around since the late Middle English period and comes from the Latin word beatus (bee AW toos) meaning ‘blessed.’ Here’s an example of it: The sense of beatitude I feel while rock climbing is unlike any other. The only thing that makes me happier is when we finally reach the summit of those majestic mountains.