A.Word.A.Day --opprobrious

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Today's Word

opprobrious

PRONUNCIATION:

(uh-PRO-bree-uhs)

MEANING:

adjective: 1. Expressing strong criticism. 2. Deserving disgrace.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Latin opprobrium (reproach), from ob- (against) + probrum (infamy, reproach). Ultimately from the Indo-European root bher- (to carry), which also gave us bear, birth, barrow, burden, fertile, transfer, offer, suffer, euphoria, and metaphor. Earliest documented use: 1410.

USAGE:

“In fact, he also insulted me and used opprobrious language in front of my wife.”
Ferrol Sams; Down Town; Penguin; 2007.

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

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that, in glory and triumph, they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot. Think of the endless cruelties visited by the inhabitants of one corner of this pixel on the scarcely distinguishable inhabitants of some other corner, how frequent their misunderstandings, how eager they are to kill one another, how fervent their hatreds. -Carl Sagan, astronomer and writer (9 Nov 1934-1996)

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