A.Word.A.Day --Benedict Arnold

A.Word.A.Day

About | Media | Search | Contact

Home

Today's Word

Archives

Feb 15, 2017

This week’s theme
American eponyms

This week’s words
bork
John Hancock
Benedict Arnold
McCarthyism
gerrymander

One man’s traitor is another’s patriot
A plaque outside Benedict Arnold’s house in London

Photo: Maggie Jones

A.Word.A.Day

with Anu Garg

Benedict Arnold

PRONUNCIATION:

(BEN-i-dikt AR-nuhld)

MEANING:

noun: A traitor.

ETYMOLOGY:

After Benedict Arnold (1741-1801), American general in the Revolutionary War, who in 1780 planned to surrender West Point to the British for £20,000. Earliest documented use: 1806.

USAGE:

“What a traitorous concoction. Sounds like Eggs Benedict Arnold.”
Brad Wheeler; Calories and Charisma; The Globe and Mail (Toronto, Canada); Feb 16, 2013.

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

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

Hofstadter's Law: It always takes longer than you expect, even when you take into account Hofstadter's Law. -Douglas Hofstadter, professor of cognitive science (b. 15 Feb 1945)

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