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Today’s Phrasal Verb: Cheer Up!
Why do we say “cheer up” when someone is sad, and not simply be happy? The phrasal verb cheer up combines the noun cheer, which originally meant “face” or “expression” in Middle English (from Old French chere), with the adverb up, which intensifies the action and suggests improvement. Over time, it came to mean “to…
Today’s Word: Embracing
What does it truly mean to hold something (or someone) not just with your arms, but with your whole heart? The word “embracing” comes from the Old French embracier, meaning “to clasp in the arms,” which itself is formed from en- (“in”) and bras (“arms”). Over time, its meaning expanded beyond the literal act of…
Phrasal Verb of the Day: Live Down
Can you ever truly escape the shadow of a past mistake? The phrasal verb “live down” captures this very struggle — the effort to overcome a shameful or embarrassing event that others continue to remember. Unlike the verb “forget,” which is internal and personal, “live down” speaks to the social memory of a mistake —…
The Word of the Day: Uplifting
Good morning! Do you know what makes a moment, a story, or even a smile truly “uplifting”? The word “uplifting” is a modern compound formed from the verb “uplift” and the suffix “-ing”, which turns verbs into adjectives or gerunds. The verb uplift dates back to Middle English (around the 14th century), derived from up…
Today’s Word: Basketball
“The invention of basketball was not an accident. It was developed to meet a need.” — James Naismith Have you ever wondered how a sport as globally beloved as “basketball” came to be, and why its very name sounds so literal? The word basketball is a coined term, created in 1891 by Dr. James Naismith,…
A Word to Remember: Affirming
What does it really mean to be affirming, and where does this powerful word come from?The word affirming comes from the verb affirm, which traces back to the Latin affirmare, meaning “to make steady, to confirm.” It is formed from ad- (“to”) and firmare (“make firm, strengthen”), which is also related to the word firm.…
The Daily Word Pick: Cultivated
Have you ever used the word “cultivated” in your speech or writing? What does it mean to be “cultivated”? The word cultivated originates from the Latin verb cultivare, meaning “to till, to care for,” which itself comes from cultus, meaning “care, cultivation, worship.” In English, cultivated has evolved to describe both literal agricultural refinement (as…
Today’s Word Focus: Soothing
Do you know what the word “soothing” mean? What makes something “soothing” to the heart, the ear, or the soul? The word soothing comes from the verb soothe, which emerged in the 17th century, possibly from an earlier sense of “to flatter or calm,” rooted in Old English sōthian, meaning “to verify or prove to…
Today’s Vocabulary Spotlight: Meditative
What does it mean to be in a meditative state? The word meditative stems from the verb meditate, which originates from the Latin meditari, meaning “to think, reflect, or contemplate.” This root itself is linked to mederi, meaning “to heal,” showing how meditation has long been associated not only with thought but also with restoration.…
An Amazing Word for You: Thriving
What does it truly mean to be “thriving”? The word thriving comes from the verb thrive, which has roots in the Old Norse word þrífa, meaning “to grasp, seize.” Over time, its meaning evolved from physical grasping to flourishing, growing vigorously, or succeeding energetically. In modern English, thriving is used to describe people, communities, businesses,…