A.Word.A.Day --perp

A.Word.A.Day

About | Media | Search | Contact

Home

Today's Word

Archives

Jun 3, 2024

This week’s theme
Words to describe people

This week’s words
perp
pejorist
gaberlunzie
dandiprat
logodaedalus

Illustration: Anu Garg + AI

Previous week’s theme
Terms formed from names

A.Word.A.Day

with Anu Garg

People, places, and things. We talk about each from time to time. Words for people, words for places, and words for things.

This week, we’re turning to the first category: words for people. We’ve selected five vibrant and descriptive words to characterize individuals. Imagine these words as colorful brushstrokes on the canvas of language, painting vivid portraits of the people around us.

Can you think of someone -- a public figure or someone you know personally -- who fits any of the words featured this week? Share your thoughts below or email us at words@wordsmith.org. As always, include your location (city, state).

perp

PRONUNCIATION:

(puhrp)

MEANING:

noun: One who commits a crime or is accused of committing one.

ETYMOLOGY:

Short for perpetrator, from Latin perpetrare (to carry out), from per- (through) + patrare (to bring about), from pater (father). Earliest documented use: 1968.

USAGE:

“But religious fraud is particularly common, because people find it hard to imagine that the pastor is a perp.”
Fleecing the Flock; The Economist (London, UK); Jan 28, 2012.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

Follow your inner moonlight; don't hide the madness. -Allen Ginsberg, poet (3 Jun 1926-1997)

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