A.Word.A.Day -- anile

A.Word.A.Day

About | Media | Search | Contact

Home

Today's Word

Yesterday's Word

anile

anile (AN-yl, AY-nyl) adjective

Of or like an old woman.

[From Latin anilis, from anus old woman.]

"The desire of AngloSaxon Australians to avoid `giving offence' through the spoken word is amply seen in compulsory speech codes in the ABC and the universities. They are, in (Robert) Hughes' words, `the anile priggishness of the Puritan marm, lips pursed, seeking nits to pick.'"
Andrew McIntyre; PC? Non Merci!; IPA Review (Melbourne, Australia); 1996.

"Before she is able to act, a bell tolls. The anile amah brings her a card."
Ruth Eshow Upton; 42 Across Meets 18 Down; The San Francisco Chronicle; Feb 5, 1989.

Senile is the male equivalent of today's word.

X-Bonus

He acts before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his actions. -Confucius, philosopher and teacher (c. 551-478 BCE)

What they say

“A.Word.A.Day, a rare exception to the usual blight on my mailbox”
Read more

More articles

Anu Garg on words

“A large vocabulary is like an artist having a big palette of colors. We don’t have to use all the colors in a single painting, but it helps to be able to find just the right shade when we need it.”

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