Fun Words
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January 6, 2009
Word of the Day: Peter principle
Theory that people rise in their career in every hierarchy to the level of their own incompetence; based on the book The Peter Principle and Why Things Always Go Wrong by Laurence J. Peter. Work in organizations is accomplished by those employees who have not yet reached their level of incompetence.
(© Barron's Educational Series, Inc.)
(© Barron's Educational Series, Inc.)
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abstinent: self-restraining
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January 5, 2009
candor
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 06, 2009 is:
candor • \KAN-der\ • noun
1 : whiteness, brilliance 2 : freedom from prejudice or malice : fairness *3 : unreserved, honest, or sincere expression : forthrightness
Example sentence:
When the job applicant admitted to some indiscretions in his past, the interviewer thanked him for his candor.
Did you know?
The origins of "candor" shine through in its first definition. "Candor" traces back to the Latin verb "candēre" ("to shine or glow"), which in turn derives from the same ancient root that gave the Welsh language "can," meaning "white," and the Sanskrit language "candati," which translates to "it shines." Other descendants of "candēre" in English include "candid," "incandescent," "candle," and the somewhat less common "candent" and "candescent" (both of which are synonyms of "incandescent" in the sense of "glowing from or as if from great heat"). There is even "excandescence ," an uncommon word that refers to a feverish condition brought on by anger or passion.
*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.
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DEFINITION: (adjective) Given to or characterized by impishness or playfulness.
SYNONYMS: arch, impish, mischievous, pixilated, puckish, wicked.
USAGE: The principal met with my parents to discuss strategies for subduing my prankish nature and disruptive classroom behavior.
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In economics and consumer theory, a Giffen good is that which people consume more of as price rises, violating the law of demand. In normal situations, as the price of such a good rises, the substitution effect causes people to purchase less of it and more of substitute goods. In the Giffen good situation, cheaper close substitutes are not available. Because of the lack of substitutes, the income effect dominates, leading people to buy more of the good, even as its price rises...
(© Wikipedia)
(© Wikipedia)
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zealous: very enthusiastic
Filed under Fun Words by Dictionary.com Word of the Day