This week's theme
Words made with combining forms

This week's words
iridescent
heterodox
kleptocracy
polymath
necropolis

Spread the word
Send a gift subscription of A.Word.A.Day

---

A.Word.A.Day

PRONUNCIATION:

(POL-ee-math)

MEANING:

noun: A person who is learned in many fields.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Greek polymathes (learned), from poly- (many) and manthanein (to learn). Ultimately from the Indo-European root mendh- (to learn) that is also the root of mathematics, chrestomathy, opsimath, and philomath. Earliest documented use: 1624.

USAGE:

"If ever there was a gifted polymath, it was Prof. Gift Siromoney. He may have been Professor of Mathematics at MCC (Madras Christian College), but his interests were from A to Z, from archaeology to zoology."
S. Muthiah; A Gifted Polymath; The Hindu (Chennai, India); Apr 10, 2011.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: