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Vocabulary

Today's Word "fetish"

Extremely strong fixation on Feb 13, 2026

fetish \FE-dish (US) or FE-tish (Britain) (noun) - 1 : An amulet or other artifact believed to have magical power to protect its owner; any object treated with superstitition or obsession; 2 : an extremely strong fixation.

"Wolfgang had a real fetish for fetishes, always keeping no more than five on his person, several in his vehicle, and boxes and cabinets full in his domicile."

From Portuguese feitico "witchcraft, sorcery". Portuguese later re-borrowed the English word "fetish" as fetiche, with the same meanings as in English: (a) a superstitious amulet and (b) a sexual fetish. "Feitico" devolved from Latin factitius "artificial, factitious" from the past participle of Latin facere "make, do," factum "made, done," also the source of English "fact," Portuguese "facto" (Brazilian "fato"), Spanish "hecho" and French "fait" (as in "fait accompli")

More Vocabulary

Today's Word "heteroclite"

Vocabulary / February 12, 2026

heteroclite \HET-uhr-uh-klyt\ (adjective) - 1 : Deviating from the ordinary rule; eccentric. 2 : (In grammar) Irregularly inflected. 3 : (noun) A person who is unconventional; a maverick. 4 : A word that is irregularly ...Read More

Today's Word "fuddy-duddy"

Vocabulary / February 11, 2026

fuddy-duddy \FEH-dee-deh-dee\ (noun) - An old-fashioned, bland, rather prudish person, a softy who is easy to get along with, poses no threat but avoids anything exciting. Fuddy-duddies tend to be middle-aged or older; ...Read More

Today's Word "neoteric"

Vocabulary / February 10, 2026

neoteric \nee-eh-TER-ik\ (adjective) - Of recent origin; modern.

"While many are convinced that the Shroud of Turin is an ancient artifact dating from the time of Christ, others feel its origins are decidedly more ...Read More

Today's Word "zarf"

Vocabulary / February 09, 2026

zarf \zahrf\ (noun) - In the Middle East, coffee is often drunk from cups without handles and tea, from glasses. A zarf is a decorative holder, usually from metal, with a handle that prevents the hot cup or glass from ...Read More

Today's Word "voracity"

Vocabulary / February 08, 2026

voracity \vo-RAEH-seh-ti\ (noun) - An enormous appetite, uncontrollable hunger, ravenousness.

"Madeleine has an insatiable voracity for German classical music."

From Latin vorax "ravenous" from vorare "to swallow, devour...Read More

Today's Word "Nephelococcygia"

Vocabulary / February 07, 2026

Nephelococcygia \ne-feh-leh-kak-SI-je-yeh\ (noun) - 1 : (Literally, "Cloudcuckoosville") Interpreting the shapes of clouds. 2 : La-la land, a dream land cut off from reality.

"Harold's boss told him that he was engaging ...Read More