Word of the Day 16-17

Word of the Day 16~~October 16, 2009


Redolent \RED-uh-luhnt\

adjective:

1.
Having or exuding fragrance; scented; aromatic.
2.
Full of fragrance; odorous; smelling (usually used with 'of' or 'with').
3.
Serving to bring to mind; evocative; suggestive; reminiscent (usually used with 'of' or 'with').


Origin:
Redolent derives from Latin redolens, -entis, present participle of redolere, "to emit a scent, to diffuse an odor," from red-, re- + olere, "to exhale an odor."


Word of the Day 17~~October 17, 2009


Innocuous \ih-NOK-yoo-uhs\

adjective:

1.
Harmless; producing no ill effect.
2.
Not likely to offend or provoke; as, "an innocuous remark."



Origin:
Innocuous is from Latin innocuus, from in-, "not" + nocuus, "harmful," from nocere, "to harm." It is related to innocent, formed from in- + nocens, nocent-, "harming, injurious, hence criminal, guilty," from the present participle of nocere. Less common is the opposite of innocuous, nocuous.