rebarbative

****************************************************************
Attention word gurus:  try WORD SWEEP!, the first board game to feature 
Merriam-Webster definitions! Available at Borders Bookstores.
http://www.wordsweep.com
****************************************************************

The Word of the Day for April 2 is: 

rebarbative   \rih-BAR-buh-tiv\   adjective
     : repellent, irritating

Example sentence:
     Adrianna frequently wrote to her local newspaper to complain about the 
redundant headlines, rebarbative editorial commentary, and grammatical errors.

Did you know?
     You may be surprised to learn that today's word traces back to the Latin 
word for "beard" -- "barba" -- making it a very distant relative of the English 
word "beard." But there is some sense to the connection. After all, beards may 
not be repellent, but they can be prickly and scratchy! Another descendant of 
Latin "barba" is the English word "barb," which can refer to a sharp projection 
(as found on barbed wire) or a biting critical remark, both of which can 
discourage others from getting too close.




You Are Subscribed As: gclw-mw-wod7@xxxxxxxxx
To unsubscribe, change your e-mail address or to subscribe to the html
version of Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day, featuring audio
pronunciations, please visit:

http://mw.drhinternet.net/sm/wod/changeofaddress.iphtml

(c) 2007 by Merriam-Webster, Incorporated

Merriam-Webster, Inc.
47 Federal Street
P.O. Box 281
Springfield, MA 01102