Today's Word "Meretricious"
Published in Vocabulary
meretricious \mer-eh-TRISH-ehs\ (adjective) - Gaudy, vulgar, especially attracting attention by being gaudy or vulgar. "Meretriciously" is the adverb and "meretriciousness," the noun.
"Melinda's tenth-grade daughter seems to equate 'creativity' with the wearing of meretricious outfits."
Entered English in the 17th century from Latin meretrix, meretric- "prostitute" in turn from merere "to earn; deserve." (The idea of the "working girl" goes way back.) The same stem appears in "merit" and "turmeric" (from Latin "terra merita" via French).
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