This week’s theme
Bloody words!

This week’s words
sanguineous
bloody-minded

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A.Word.A.Day

PRONUNCIATION:

(BLUHD-ee-MYN-did)

MEANING:

adjective:
1. Disposed to violence and bloodshed.
2. Stubborn; obstructive. (chiefly used in British English)

ETYMOLOGY:

From blood, from Old English blod + mind, from Old English gemynd (memory, thought). Earliest documented use: 1545.

NOTES:

The word bloody itself has an unexpectedly colorful history. Depending on where you are, it can be a mild intensifier (bloody fool) or borderline profane. Its taboo status may have arisen from a mistaken belief that it referred to Christ’s blood. Bloody in the second meaning of bloody-minded is used as an intensifier, implying someone is strong-willed. For more bloody fun, see how Pygmalion came to be a euphemism for bloody. And if you’re wondering how far it’s come, look no further than Tourism Australia’s 2006 ad campaign: “So where the bloody hell are you?”

USAGE:

“[Jon Meacham] says, ‘Pilate was a bullying, bloody-minded prefect.’”
Jim Keogh; Seeking Truth in Gibson’s ‘Passion’; Telegram & Gazette (Worcester, Massachusetts); Feb 19, 2004.

“[Virat] Kohli’s ambition is as fierce as ever, his bloody-minded focus on winning matches undimmed.”
Anand Vasu; Trophy Awaits Its Champions; The Economic Times (New Delhi, India); Mar 9, 2025.

See more usage examples of bloody-minded in Vocabulary.com’s dictionary.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: