Word of the Day

To exhort is to urge someone toward a specific course of action, often by appealing to their better nature. The word shows up in speeches, sermons, and heartfelt appeals where simply suggesting something isn't enough. If you want to really inspire action, you can take it to the next level by exhorting.

A sodality is a group formed around a shared purpose or common bond. The word is suggestive of a higher calling that creates a stronger sense of unity than a "club" or "association." There's power in a sodality where members come together for the same cause.

A pother is a burst of noisy commotion, often over something small. The word dates back to Shakespearean times. And while pother doesn't appear in Much Ado About Nothing, it's a title that, fittingly, could almost describe a pother itself. Do you think we should work ourselves into a pother over that missed opportunity?

If something is described as whilom, it belongs to an earlier time or a former role that has since changed. You might come across it in older or literary writing, where it can add a wistful tone. Once common in Middle English, whilom has largely faded from everyday use, but it's still standing by to add a poetic flourish to your musings.

A blatherskite talks quickly and confidently, yet leaves you wondering what was actually said. You know the type who fills every pause with chatter but never quite lands a point. The word has Scottish roots and has been poking fun at empty talkers since the 1600s. A conversation with a blatherskite can leave you more exhausted than informed.