Word of the Day
cupidity
noun
eager or excessive desire, especially to possess something; greed.
Why Dictionary.com chose cupidity
More about cupidity
- Cupidity originally comes from the Latin word cupiditās, meaning “eager, desirous.”
- Cupid, commonly represented as a winged being symbolic of love, comes from the same Latin root.
- Cupidity was first recorded in English between 1400-50.
EXAMPLES OF CUPIDITY
- Their cupidity for power blinded them to the needs of their constituents.
- The CEO’s cupidity led to unethical business practices.
ikigai
noun
one’s reason for being, which in principle is the convergence of one’s personal passions, beliefs, values, and vocation.
Why Dictionary.com chose ikigai
More about ikigai
- Ikigai was first recorded in English between 1970–75.
- It comes from Japanese and translates literally as “the value of being alive.”
- Ikigai is formed from iki, meaning “life, living, being alive,” and kai, meaning “worth, value, benefit.”
EXAMPLES OF IKIGAI
- Many people find their ikigai through pursuing hobbies or creative endeavors that align with their personal values and interests.
- Your ikigai should not be solely focused on financial success but rather on finding a balance between your passion, purpose, and profession.
Why Dictionary.com chose clout
More about clout
- Clout comes from the Old English word clūt, meaning “piece of cloth or metal.”
- The slang meaning of clout appears as early as the 1860s, apparently based on a centuries-old sense of clout meaning “punch” or “force,” which came from the verb form clūtian, “to patch” and “to strike with the hand.”
- Clout got new life again in the 2000s with the rise of social media and spread in the 2010s as a more general slang term meaning popularity and coolness.
EXAMPLES OF CLOUT
- Despite being a newcomer to the industry, she was helped by her father’s clout in securing a high-profile job.
- Many of the world leaders seek to gain diplomatic clout by forming alliances with other countries.
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