Today's Word "Thelyphthoric"
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Published in Vocabulary
thelyphthoric \the-lehf-THO-rik\ (adjective) - (Obsolete) Corruptive of the morals of women.
"The parson warned the congregation of the thelyphthoric effects of Britney Spears' new video."
Today's word was the creation of Martin Madan, who wrote in 1780 "Thelyphthora or, A treatise on female ruin: in its causes, effects, consequences, prevention, and remedy." Madan put this word together from Greek thelus "woman" + phthora "destruction, ruin." Both Greek words have resisted efforts of etymologists to dissipate their mystery.