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Vocabulary

Today's Word "travail"

Painful or arduous work on Sep 12, 2024

travail \truh-VAYL; TRAV-ayl\ (noun) - 1 : Painful or arduous work; severe toil or exertion. 2 : Agony; anguish. 3 : The labor of childbirth

(intransitive verb) - 1 : To work very hard; to toil. 2 : To suffer the pangs of childbirth; to be in labor.

"What happened to marriage and family that it should have become a travail and a sadness, marriage till death do us part yes but long dead before the parting, home and fireside and kiddies such a travail and a deadliness as to make a man run outn into the night with his hands over his head." -- Walker Perchy, 'The Second Coming'

Travail is from Old French traveillier, travaillier, from Vulgar Latin tripalium, "a three-staked instrument of torture," from Latin tripalis, "three-staked," from tri-, "three" + palus, "a stake."

More Vocabulary

Today's Word "pukka"

Vocabulary / January 15, 2025

pukka \PUHK-uh\ (adjective) - 1 : Authentic; genuine. 2 : Good of its kind; first-class.

"Thinks he can cauk the dam in a fortnight. Look at his marginal sketches -- aren't they clear and good? I knew he was pukka, but I ...Read More

Today's Word "purblind"

Vocabulary / January 14, 2025

purblind \PUR-blynd\ (adjective) - 1 : Having greatly reduced vision. 2 : Lacking in insight or discernment.

"Even the older children became groping and purblind, and the young saw but dimly, and the children that were ...Read More

Today's Word "nefarious"

Vocabulary / January 13, 2025

nefarious \nuh-FAIR-ee-uhs\ (adjective) - Wicked in the extreme; iniquitous.

"Stone served a summons on a nefarious character today, and another nefarious character took a swing at him. And connected." -- Stuart Woods, '...Read More

Today's Word "diffident"

Vocabulary / January 12, 2025

diffident \DIF-uh-dunt; -dent\ (adjective) - 1 : Lacking self-confidence; distrustful of one's own powers; timid; bashful. 2 : Characterized by modest reserve; unassertive.

"But I am diffident. What's the good of saying I...Read More

Today's Word "perspicacity"

Vocabulary / January 11, 2025

perspicacity \pur-spuh-KAS-uh-tee\ (noun) - Clearness of understanding or insight; penetration, discernment.

"I understand he was a great help to Chex Centaur. There is also no problem about feeding him. I commend you for...Read More

Today's Word "coxcomb"

Vocabulary / January 10, 2025

coxcomb \KOKS-kohm\ (noun) - 1 : obsolete. A cap worn by court jesters; adorned with a strip of red. (Now cockscomb). 2 : archaic. The top of the head, or the head itself. 3 : Obsolete. A fool. 4 : A vain, showy fellow; a ...Read More