Port Dickson Toastmasters Word of the Day: Redoubt

A redoubt (rih-DOUT) - from the Latin for "refuge" - is a temporary structure built to defend a pass, hilltop, etc.

Example (as used by Victor Hugo in Les Miserables): "The four walls of the living redoubt had fallen, hardly could a quivering be detected here and there among the corpses; and thus the French legions, grander than the Roman legions, expired at Mont-Saint-Jean on ground soaked in rain and blood, in the somber wheatfields, at the spot where today at four in the morning, whistling, and gaily whipping up his horse, Joseph drives by with the mail from Nivelles."

PD Toastmasters Club's Word of the Day: Delectation

Delectation (dee-lek-TAY-sun) - from the Latin for "to please" - is another way of saying pleasure, delight, or enjoyment.

Example: "Even after the buffet had evolved into the more functional sideboard in the 18th century, lavish arrangements of silver and porcelain continued to be put out for the delectation of guests at large dinners."

PD Toastmasters Club's Word of the Day: Immutable

Immutable (ih-MYOO-tuh-bul) - from the Latin for "unchangeable" - means ageless; not subject to variation in form or quality over time.

Example (as used by William James): "The most immutable barrier in nature is between one man's thoughts and another's."

PD Toastmasters Club's Word of the Day: Pervicacious

Pervicacious (pur-vih-KAY-shus) - from the Latin for "to maintain one's opinion" - means stubborn or headstrong.

Example (as used by Samuel Richardson in Clarissa): "... one of the most pervicacious young creatures that ever was heard of!"

Today's Word of the Day: Repartee

Repartee (rep-er-TAY) - from the French for "retort" - is a quick, witty reply or a conversation full of such replies.

Example (as used by Charles Dickens): "Silence is the unbearable repartee."

Today's Word of the Day: Sclerosis

Biologically speaking, sclerosis (sklih-ROH-sis) - from the Greek - is the hardening of a tissue or cell wall. We use the word to refer to a debilitating lack of progress or innovation.

Example: "God spare me sclerosis of the curiosity, for the curiosity which craves to keep us informed about the small things no less than the large is the mainspring, the dynamo, the jet propulsion of all complete living."

Word of the Day: Innocuous

Something that's Innocuous (ih-NOK-yoo-us) - from the Latin for "harmless" - is not likely to irritate or offend; not interesting, stimulating, or significant.

Example: "If you keep your eyes and ears open and raise your level of awareness, you'll be amazed at how many lessons you can learn from even seemingly innocuous experiences."

Today's Word of the Day: Dither

A Dither (DITH-er) - from the Middle English - is a state of flustered confusion, excitement, or fear.

Example: "Practice easing your way along. Don't get het up or in a dither. Do your best; take it as it comes. You can handle anything if you think you can. Just keep your cool and your sense of humor."