Word of the Day: Turbid

The Word of the Day for December 2 is:

turbid \TER-bid\ (adjective)

1. : thick or opaque with or as if with roiled sediment
2. : characterized by or producing obscurity (as of mind or emotions) : confused, muddled*

Example sentence:

According to one reviewer, Chauncey's first book was "the turbid and rambling product of an unclear mind."

Did you know?

"Turbid" and "turgid" (which means "swollen, distended" or "overblown, pompous, or bombastic") are two words so frequently mistaken for one another that they could have been invented to keep dictionary makers in business. Not only do these two words differ by only a letter, but, adding to the confusion, they are often used in contexts where either word might fit. For example, a flooded stream is often both distended and muddy, and badly written prose is often both obscure and grandiloquent. Nevertheless, the distinction between these two words, however fine, is an important one for conveying exact shades of meaning, so it's a good idea to keep them straight.

*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.

----------------

- Brought to you by Merriam-Webster Inc.
http://www.m-w.com