of the day
foible
Function: noun
Etymology: The French "foible" was an adjective meaning "weak."
Definition(s): 1: the part of a sword or foil blade between the middle and point 2: a minor flaw or shortcoming in character or behavior : weakness
Sentence:
The students admired their teacher despite his foibles and eccentricities.
Previous words:
gargantuan
Function: adjective
Etymology: by 1571, from Gargantua (large-mouthed giant in Rabelai's novels, supposedly from Spanish/Portuguese garganta "gullet, throat," which is from the imitative root as gargle.)
Definition(s): enormous, gigantic, huge
Sentence:
But keeping them there, with the night shifts and the erratic parental schedules, was a gargantuan effort. - Allison Sheey, Denver Post, 2006-12-18
sanction
Function: verb/noun
Etymology: From Latin "sancire," meaning "to make holy," is an ancestor.
Definitions: 1. (verb) To make valid or binding usually by a formal procedure
2. (verb) To give effective or authoritative approval or consent to
3. (noun) authoritative approval or a coersive measure
Sentence:
The parks committee was willing to sanction the consumption but not the sale of alcohol on park premises.
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