A.Word.A.Day --defrock

A.Word.A.Day

Home

Mar 28, 2022

This week’s theme
Clothes (or lack of them)

This week’s words
defrock
divest
travesty
revet
investiture

Previous week’s theme
Verbs

A.Word.A.Day

with Anu Garg

What goes up must come down. What’s donned must be doffed. This week we’re going to get loose, kick back, and relax. A lot of clothes are going to be shed, but it’s still G-rated -- suitable for readers of all ages. Whatever unclothing takes place, it’s mostly metaphorical, hidden behind the scenes in the etymology. And, in the end, when all’s said and done, we’ll cover things up.

defrock

PRONUNCIATION:

(dee-FROK)

MEANING:

verb tr.: To remove from a position of authority, privilege, etc.

ETYMOLOGY:

From French défroquer (to defrock), from de- (away) + froc (frock, gown, coat), alluding to frock (habit) worn by members of the clergy. Earliest documented use: 1600.

USAGE:

“In a 2017 special election, Doug Jones upset Roy Moore, a twice-defrocked state Supreme Court justice.”
Tim Dickinson; The Battle for the Senate; Rolling Stone (New York); Dec 2019.

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

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

A scholar is just a library's way of making another library. -Daniel Dennett, philosopher, writer, and professor (b. 28 Mar 1942)

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