A.Word.A.Day

About | Media | Search | Contact

Home Today's Word Yesterday's Word Archives FAQ

Jan 11, 2026 This week’s theme Words that look like misspellings This week’s words abjective librate psilanthropy odorable impassible How popular are they? Relative usage over time AWADmail archives Index Next week’s theme New words Send a gift that keeps on giving, all year long: A gift subscription of A.Word.A.Day or the gift of books AWADmail Issue 1228 A Compendium of Feedback on the Words in A.Word.A.Day and Other Tidbits about Words and Language Sponsor’s Message: ONEUPMANSHIP 3.0 is “a rollicking excuse for mad, mutually-abusive annihilation.” One Up! -- guaranteed to turn your whole family into “greedy, self-serving punks.” Wise Up! will “ruin Christmas and friendships” or your money back. All our fun and games are BOGO today only. Shop now. From: Anu Garg (words at wordsmith.org) Subject: Interesting stories from the Net Is the Dictionary Done For? The New Yorker Permalink The Last Days of the Southern Drawl The Atlantic Permalink Dogs Build Their Vocabularies Like Toddlers The New York Times Permalink Email of the Week -- Brought to you buy ONEUPMANSHIP -- Are you a G? From: Henry M. Willis (hmw ssdslaw.com) Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--abjective Chico Marx got there first. In Duck Soup when Chicolini (played by Chico) is on trial for treason, Rufus T. Firefly (Groucho) changes roles from judge to lawyer to defend Chicolini. He doesn’t get very far: Firefly: My friends, this man’s case moves me deeply. Look at Chicolini, he sits there alone, an abject figure. Chicolini: I abject. Things go downhill from there. (video, 2 min.) Henry Willis, Los Angeles, California From: Gary Fouty (garyfouty gmail.com) Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--abjective I think a better version: A priest, an imam, and a rabbit walk into a bar. The rabbit says to the bartender “I’m only here because of autocomplete.” Gary Fouty, Hugo, Minnesota From: Steve Benko (stevebenko1 gmail.com) Subject: Abjective I am trying to work out the proper nature of this orthographic near miss, but find it difficult to remain objective about an adjective. Steve Benko, New York, New York From: Bob Richmond (rsrichmond gmail.com) Subject: librate Astronomers use the word libration to refer to the Moon’s slight shift (about 7-8 degrees) from side to side in the face it presents to us, which together with nutation (which we covered last week) enables us to see about 59% of the Moon’s surface from here on Earth. Bob Richmond, Maryville, Tennessee From: Brenda J. Gannam (gannamconsulting earthlink.net) Subject: librate Ok, so now we know that planets and their satellites can circulate, rotate, nutate, and librate. Do they also vibrate? Brenda J. Gannam, Brooklyn, New York From: Dave Wilkinson (dswilkinson1954 gmail.com Subject: psilanthropy The depiction of the Holy Family in Saint Joseph’s carpentry workshop is entirely anachronistic. In reality, Joseph would have used traditional workholding methods appropriate to his time, rather than the carpenter’s vice typically found in modern workshops. Face vices, made entirely of wood and operated with a wooden screw, were a later innovation that became popular in the 17th century. Dave Wilkinson, Selkirk, Canada Anagrams This week’s theme: Words that look like misspellings Abjective Librate Psilanthropy Odorable Impassible = Impair or spoil See-saw kit ’haps believes J Christ was like the hostler Bog smelt bad Kept emotionally blind -Shyamal Mukherji, Mumbai, India (mukherjis hotmail.com) = Will jab to embarrass Waver Skeptic: He isn’t Lord (I skip this debate, ok?) Highly smellable (potpie!) Emotionless = Apt to over-deject Wobble or shakier ripple It’s thinking the Messiah was simply a bloke Is smellable Stolid -Dharam Khalsa, Burlington, North Carolina (dharamkk2 gmail.com) -Robert Jordan, Lampang, Thailand (alfiesdad ymail.com) Words Abjective Librate Psilanthropy Odorable Impassible = Base Wobble Posit JC not deity Vapor/lipid has a smell Barrier -Julian Lofts, Auckland, New Zealand (jalofts xtra.co.nz) Make your own anagrams and animations. Limericks abjective Ever since we elected this cad, An abjective effect he has had. What did we expect? The White House he’s wrecked, And the damage he’s done makes me sad. -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) The leader we picked is defective. I wish we had been more selective. We made a mistake And now need a break From comments and actions abjective. -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) When Oliver asked for some more, Old Bumble’s jaw dropped to the floor. His awful invective, And tone so abjective, Had frightened the lad to his core. -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) Said Donald, “I took an elective In political discourse abjective. And it’s gotten me far! A reality star Can be POTUS! Trash talk is effective!” -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) librate The moon seems to wobble or sway. “It librates,” astronomers say. Now I had no notion It made such a motion -- Who knew it could wiggle that way? -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) She walked with a book on her head. “It helps with my posture,” she said. “And so I will librate, When going on my date, So he will think I am well-bred.” -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) The tension is palpable, yes? One cannot start even to guess What Trump’s gonna do So I librate -- don’t you? Though we all know it will lack finesse! -Bindy Bitterman, Chicago, Illinois (bindy eurekaevanston.com) “This guy’s funny -- he’s been such a wry date,” Thought the girl, “but to shag him I librate. After all, we just met, And this soon, I don’t pet. But it’s 3 am -- things go awry late.” -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) psilanthropy For folks who see Jesus as God, Psilanthropy’s certainly odd. But some people choose To hold other views -- For instance, my friend from Riyadh. -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) Said Jesus, “Your creed is psilanthropy? Suit yourself, I will never a ranter be. But of God are you conscious?” In answer roared Pontius, “I’m asking the questions here. Answer me!” -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) odorable She served me an odorable cheese. I started to cough and to wheeze. It had such a smell That I felt quite unwell -- “Oh, take it away, won’t you please?!” -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) Said Jack Smith, “Donald’s crimes were quite odorable, But his followers never get over the bull. I need many a drink; Try and stop me! I think That you can’t, for I’m no longer sober-able.” -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) impassible She has found an impassible beau; No emotions does he ever show. Though he’s handsome and tall, I don’t like him at all, For he’s just like a robot, you know. -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) What a face! Does the guy ever smile? Or frown? I’ve known him for a while And his look doesn’t change He will only arrange Mouth and eyes in impassible style! -Bindy Bitterman, Chicago, Illinois (bindy eurekaevanston.com) A Vulcan who’s named Mr. Spock, Confided to Bones, the ship’s doc. “My impassible guise, Calm, collected is wise.” These traits Captain Kirk would soon knock. -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) At times they may seem quite impassible, But the truth is they’re quickly irascible. If you wave a red cape In their face as a jape, You’ll be sorry for trying to sass a bull. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) Puns To get a flat stomach was her New Year’s abjective. -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) “Our app Librate tells you the best places to borrow books!” said the pop-up ad. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) It can be said that Donald Trump cel-librate-s untruthfulness. -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) “We thank all our guests tonight for their generous psilanthropy!” said the head of the Foundation for Historic Window Ledge Preservation. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) “How was someone with such a distinct criminal odorable to be elected your leader?” asked the puzzled Martians. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) “Donald thought he was great in bed, but I didn’t even find h-impassible,” wrote Stormy in her memoirs. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind. -William James, psychologist and philosopher (11 Jan 1842-1910)

We need your help Help us continue to spread the magic of words to readers everywhere Donate