Word Every Day

agrarian • / uh-GRAIR-ee-un / • adjective Something described as agrarian has to do with farms and farming. • Joan hopes to leave city life behind and move to a more agrarian region where she plans to raise lambs and grow heirloom vegetables.

melee • / MAY-lay / • noun Melee refers to a confused fight or struggle, especially one involving hand-to-hand combat. • What started as a verbal disagreement at the football game soon turned into a general melee involving scores of spectators.

forfend • / for-FEND / • verb Forfend is used in contexts relating to some kind of real or pretended danger or other unpleasantness. In humorous and ironic use, forfend typically appears in the phrase “heaven forfend,” and, like “heaven forbid,” expresses a usually ironic desire that something not happen or be done. In general use, if you forfend something unwanted or undesirable, you ward it off or prevent it; and if you forfend yourself from or against something, you protect or preserve yourself from it. • Heaven forfend that people actually pick up dictionaries and read them! • By studying your dictionary, you may forfend any risk of not knowing the meaning of a word. • To forfend against the prospect of being at a loss for words, we recommend you read the Word of the Day daily.

forfend • / for-FEND / • verb Forfend is used in contexts relating to some kind of real or pretended danger or other unpleasantness. In humorous and ironic use, forfend typically appears in the phrase “heaven forfend,” and, like “heaven forbid,” expresses a usually ironic desire that something not happen or be done. In general use, if you forfend something unwanted or undesirable, you ward it off or prevent it; and if you forfend yourself from or against something, you protect or preserve yourself from it. • Heaven forfend that people actually pick up dictionaries and read them! • By studying your dictionary, you may forfend any risk of not knowing the meaning of a word. • To forfend against the prospect of being at a loss for words, we recommend you read the Word of the Day daily.

cohesive • / koh-HEE-siv / • adjective Something described as cohesive sticks together and forms something closely united. The word is usually used with abstract terms in phrases like "a cohesive social unit" or "a cohesive look/aesthetic." Cohesive can also be used to describe something, such as the design of a room or the plot of a movie, that is coherent—in other words, logically or consistently ordered. • The couple chose their wedding colors and designs carefully to make sure everything had a cohesive look. • The customer service department is a small but cohesive team.

demagogue • / DEM-uh-gahg / • noun A demagogue is a political leader who tries to get support by making use of popular prejudices, as well as by making false claims and promises and using arguments based on emotion rather than reason. • His opponent called him a bigoted demagogue for demonizing those who don't intend to vote for him.

inviolable • / in-VYE-uh-luh-bul / • adjective Inviolable is a formal term that is used to describe something too important to be ignored or treated with disrespect. • She considers herself a person with inviolable moral standards.

ken • / KEN / • noun Ken refers to someone’s range of perception, knowledge, or understanding, and is most often used in phrases like “beyond/outside/within one’s ken.” • The author advised the aspiring writers in the crowd to develop an authoritative voice by sticking to subjects within their ken.

assail • / uh-SAIL / • verb Assail has a number of meanings relating to violent or powerful confrontations. It can be a straightforward synonym of assault, as in "assailed by armed robbers," or it can mean "to oppose, challenge, or criticize harshly and forcefully," as in "citizens assailing the proposed changes." It can also mean "to trouble or afflict in a way that threatens to overwhelm," as in "assailed by fears." Assail can also apply to powerful perceptions: a smell that assails you, for example, is strongly noticeable and usually unpleasant. Occasionally, assail is used to mean "to encounter, undertake, or confront energetically," as in "with a deadline fast approaching, we assailed the project with renewed vigor." • Most worthwhile achievements require that one persevere even when assailed by doubts.

homage • / AH-mij / • noun An homage is something that is done to honor someone or something. It is often used with the word pay (as in “pay homage”) to mean “to respect or honor.” • Her latest book is an homage to her favorite city. • The paintings in the new art gallery pay homage to women artists of the past.