New Words from Webster!

pedagogical
Pronunciation: \ˌpe-də-ˈgä-ji-kəl, -ˈgō-\
Variant(s): also ped·a·gog·ic \-jik\
Function: adjective
Date: 1619
: of, relating to, or befitting a teacher or education

pellucid \puh-LOO-sid\ adjective

*1 : admitting maximum passage of light without diffusion or distortion
2 : reflecting light evenly from all surfaces
3 : easy to understand

Example sentence:
The coastal waters were clean and pellucid, allowing us to easily identify the marine life on the ocean floor.

Did you know?
"Pellucid" ultimately derives from the Latin "lucēre" ("to shine"), which in turn contains the root "luc-" ("light"). "Pellucid" is formed from "per" ("through") plus "lucidus" ("lucid, clear"). "Pellucid" has many shining relatives in English. Among the offspring of "lucēre" are "translucent" (essentially, "clear enough to allow light to pass through"), "elucidate" ("to make clear, explain"), "lucent" ("luminous" or "clear"), and of course "lucid" itself (which can mean "shining," "mentally sound," or "easily understood"). Another related word is "Lucifer" (literally, "light-bearer"). Other relatives — such as "lackluster" ("lacking brightness"), "illustrate" (originally, "to make bright"), and "lustrous" ("shining" or "radiant") — trace from the related verb "lustrare" ("to brighten"). Clearly, "pellucid" is just one of a family of brilliant terms.

Webster words of the day and Podcast

erudite \AIR-uh-dyte\ adjective

: possessing or displaying extensive knowledge acquired chiefly from books : learned

Example sentence:
The university hosted an informative lecture given by an erudite scholar of Cold War history.

esoteric \es-uh-TAIR-ik\ adjective

*1 : designed for or understood by a small number of people; broadly: difficult to understand
2 : private, confidential

Example sentence:
Computer programming was once an esoteric subject, but beginner courses and how-to books have made it easier to grasp.

Ma·chi·a·vel·lian
Pronunciation: \ˌma-kē-ə-ˈve-lē-ən, -ˈvel-yən\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Niccolo Machiavelli
Date: 1572
1: of or relating to Machiavelli or Machiavellianism
2: suggesting the principles of conduct laid down by Machiavelli ; specifically : marked by cunning, duplicity, or bad faith

androcentric
Pronunciation: \ˌan-drə-ˈsen-trik\
Function: adjective
Date: 1903
: dominated by or emphasizing masculine interests or a masculine point of view
— an·dro·cen·trism \-ˌtri-zəm\ noun

facetious
Pronunciation: \fə-ˈsē-shəs\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle French facetieux, from facetie jest, from Latin facetia
Date: 1599
1 : joking or jesting often inappropriately : waggish
2 : meant to be humorous or funny : not serious
synonyms see witty
— fa·ce·tious·ly adverb
— fa·ce·tious·ness noun

Good Words

emissary
Pronunciation: \ˈe-mə-ˌser-ē, -ˌse-rē\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural em·is·sar·ies
Etymology: Latin emissarius, from emissus, past participle of emittere
Date: 1607
1 : one designated as the agent of another : representative
2 : a secret agent

limpid
Pronunciation: \ˈlim-pəd\
Function: adjective
Etymology: French or Latin; French limpide, from Latin limpidus, perhaps from lympha water — more at lymph
Date: 1613
1 a: marked by transparency : pellucid b: clear and simple in style
2: absolutely serene and untroubled

A synonym of honesty and the popular Internet tool

pro·bi·ty
Pronunciation: \ˈprō-bə-tē\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English probite, from Latin probitat-, probitas, from probus honest — more at prove
Date: 15th century
: adherence to the highest principles and ideals : uprightness

twit·ter
Pronunciation: \ˈtwi-tər\
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English twiteren; akin to Old High German zwizzirōn to twitter
Date: 14th century
intransitive verb
1: to utter successive chirping noises
2 a: to talk in a chattering fashion b: giggle , titter
3: to tremble with agitation

Edgar Allan Poe's "Ligeia"

epithet
Pronunciation: \ˈe-pə-ˌthet also -thət\
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin epitheton, from Greek, from neuter of epithetos added, from epitithenai to put on, add, from epi- + tithenai to put — more at do
Date: 1579
1 a: a characterizing word or phrase accompanying or occurring in place of the name of a person or thing b: a disparaging or abusive word or phrase c: the part of a taxonomic name identifying a subordinate unit within a genus
2obsolete : expression

ethereal
Pronunciation: \i-ˈthir-ē-əl\
Function: adjective
Date: 1513
1 a: of or relating to the regions beyond the earth b: celestial , heavenly c: unworldly , spiritual
2 a: lacking material substance : immaterial , intangible b: marked by unusual delicacy or refinement c: suggesting the heavens or heaven
3: relating to, containing, or resembling a chemical

lambent
Pronunciation: \ˈlam-bənt\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin lambent-, lambens, present participle of lambere to lick — more at lap
Date: 1647
1 : playing lightly on or over a surface : flickering
2 : softly bright or radiant
3 : marked by lightness or brilliance especially of expression


motley
Pronunciation: \ˈmät-lē\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, perhaps from mot mote, speck
Date: 14th century
1 : variegated in color
2 : composed of diverse often incongruous elements

Poe is a bit flowery for me but his writing is full of great words and graphic descriptions.

Academy Awards Headlines and Buckner

posthumous
Pronunciation: \ˈpäs-chə-məs also -tə-, -tyə-, -thə-; päst-ˈhyü-məs, ˈpōst-, -ˈyü-\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin posthumus, alteration of postumus late-born, posthumous, from superl. of posterus coming after — more at posterior
Date: 1619
1 : born after the death of the father
2 : published after the death of the author
3 : following or occurring after death

egregious
Pronunciation: \i-ˈgrē-jəs\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin egregius, from e- + greg-, grex herd — more at gregarious
Date: circa 1534
1archaic : distinguished
2: conspicuous ; especially : conspicuously bad : flagrant

Example: Heath Ledger Wins Posthumous Award for 'Dark Knight'

Egregious is a word used commonly by President Buckner, the New York, NY Stake President.