This week's theme
Words coined after proper names

This week's words
peeping Tom
nice nelly
nosy parker
doubting Thomas
lazy Susan

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A.Word.A.Day

PRONUNCIATION:

(DOU-ting TOM-uhs)

MEANING:

noun: A person who is habitually doubtful or someone who refuses to believe something until given proof.

ETYMOLOGY:

After Saint Thomas, apostle, who doubted Jesus Christ's resurrection according to the Bible. Earliest documented use: 1877.

USAGE:

"At four, our daughter is a doubting Thomas so we pry open the mouths of snapdragons to show her the reason behind the name."
Megan Fulweiler; Tales to Inspire the Young Gardener; The New York Times; Dec 12, 1982.

NOTES:

Here's to doubting Thomases of the world! Too many of us shut off our critical thinking ability and begin to take things on faith. As Mark Twain once said, "Faith is believing what you know ain't so."

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: