Wordsmith.org: the magic of words


A.Word.A.Day

About | Media | Search | Contact  


Home

Today's Word

Yesterday's Word

Archives

FAQ


Discuss
Email this
Feedback
RSS/XML
Permalink

A.Word.A.Day--perfervid

Pronunciation Sound Clip RealAudio

This week's theme: Adjectives

perfervid (puhr-FUHR-vid)

adjective: Extremely or excessively passionate.

[From Latin perfervidus, from Latin per- (thoroughly) + fervidus (boiling). Ultimately from the Indo-European root bhreu- (to boil or to bubble), that is also the source of brew, bread, broth, braise, brood, breed, and barmy.]

"It's a grand conclusion to a perfervid opera that can boil in the right hands and mouths."
Donald Rosenberg; Traditional Puccini, Boiling-hot Passion; The Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio); Oct 22 2007.

See more usage examples of perfervid in Vocabulary.com's dictionary.

X-Bonus

A belief in a supernatural source of evil is not necessary; men alone are quite capable of every wickedness. -Joseph Conrad, novelist (1857-1924)

We need your help

Help us continue to spread the magic of words to readers everywhere

Donate

Subscriber Services
Awards | Stats | Links | Privacy Policy
Contribute | Advertise

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith