perfunctory

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The Word of the Day for April 25 is:

perfunctory   \per-FUNK-tuh-ree\   adjective
    *1 : characterized by routine or superficiality : mechanical
     2 : lacking in interest or enthusiasm

Example sentence: 
     Clearly exhausted after a long day on her feet, our server gave us only a 
perfunctory greeting before taking our drink orders.

Did you know?
     "Perfunctory" is a word whose origins are found entirely in Latin. First 
appearing in English in the late 16th century, it derives via the Late Latin 
"perfunctorius," meaning "done in a careless or superficial manner," from the 
Latin "perfungi," meaning "to accomplish" or "to get through with." That verb 
is formed by combining the prefix "per-," meaning "through," with the verb 
"fungi," meaning "to perform." "Fungi" can be found in the roots of such words 
as "function," "defunct," and "fungible." "Perfunctory" can describe something 
that is carried out with little effort or care, as in "He did a perfunctory job 
raking the leaves," but when used to describe a person it usually means 
"lacking enthusiasm."  

*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence. 





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