Wordsmith.org: the magic of words


A.Word.A.Day

About | Media | Search | Contact  


Home

Today's Word

Subscribe

Archives



Aug 2, 2022
This week’s theme
Verbs

This week’s words
obtrude
mundify
discerp
elute
micrify

Roll the dice
Get a random word from
A.Word.A.Day archives
Bookmark and Share Facebook Twitter Digg MySpace Bookmark and Share
A.Word.A.Day
with Anu Garg

mundify

PRONUNCIATION:
(MUHN-duh-fy)

MEANING:
verb tr.: To wash, cleanse, or purify.

ETYMOLOGY:
From Middle French mondefier , from Latin mundificare (to cleanse), from mundus (clean). Earliest documented use: 1425.

USAGE:
“He may have been in the washroom... er... mundifying.”
Harry Stephen Keeler; The Matilda Hunter Murder; Dutton; 1931.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
I imagine one of the reasons people cling to their hates so stubbornly is because they sense, once hate is gone, they will be forced to deal with pain. -James Baldwin, writer (2 Aug 1924-1987)

What they say

“Only Anu Garg, the founder of Wordsmith.org, can make word facts this much fun.”
Read more

St. Petersburg Times


More articles

Anu Garg on words

“Browsing the OED is the idea of a perfect day for me.”

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

© 1994-2025 Wordsmith