Word of the Day
counterpoise
verb
to balance by an opposing weight; counteract by an opposing force
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Why Dictionary.com chose counterpoise
More about counterpoise
- First recorded between 1375–1425 as a noun meaning “a counterbalancing weight.”
- Combines counter-⁵ + poise¹, related to the Latin pendere, meaning “to weigh.”
EXAMPLES OF COUNTERPOISE
- The cool breeze from the lake will often counterpoise the heat of a summer afternoon.
- The seesaw remained steady, perfectly counterpoised by the weight of the two children.
entelechy
noun
a realization or actuality as opposed to a potentiality
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Why Dictionary.com chose entelechy
More about entelechy
- First recorded in 1595–1605.
- From the Greek entelécheia, a word coined by Aristotle.
- Combines en-³, meaning “in,” + Greek télos, meaning “goal,” + Greek écheia, meaning “to have.”
EXAMPLES OF ENTELECHY
- The community center was the entelechy of decades of fundraising and planning.
- The entelechy of art is about bringing imagination to life through creation.
onerous
adjective
burdensome, oppressive, or troublesome; causing hardship
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Why Dictionary.com chose onerous
More about onerous
- First recorded between 1350–1400.
- From the Latin root onus, meaning “burden,” from which we also get the English onus.
EXAMPLES OF ONEROUS
- The tennis player found the contract too onerous, so she refused to sign it.
- The hike became more onerous as the trail became muddier in the rain.
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