This week’s theme
Misc words

This week’s words
vicissitude
trenchant

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A.Word.A.Day

PRONUNCIATION:

(TREN-chuhnt)

MEANING:

adjective: Incisive and forceful.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Old French trenchant (cutting), from present participle of trenchier (to cut), from Latin truncare (to cut), from truncus (trunk, as in a severed tree). Ultimately from the Indo-European root terə- (to cross over or overcome), which also gave us tranche, trench, truncate, trunk, truculent, and trencherman (a hearty eater). Earliest documented use: 1325.

USAGE:

“The international image of Mr. Sharon -- at first perceived as a stalwart warrior but later as a trenchant enemy of peace -- has closely mirrored these vicissitudes.”
Michael B. Oren; The End of the Beginning; The Wall Street Journal (New York); Jan 6, 2006.

See more usage examples of trenchant in Vocabulary.com’s dictionary.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: