This week’s theme
Skunk words (words to avoid)

This week’s words
reflexive
nervy
mathematical
moot
mosey

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A.Word.A.Day

PRONUNCIATION:

(math-uh-MAT-i-kuhl)

MEANING:

adjective:
1. Relating to mathematics.
2. Absolute or certain.
3. Possible, but highly improbable.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Latin mathematicus, from Greek mathematikos, from mathema (learning, science), from manthanein (to learn). Ultimately from the Indo-European root mendh- (to learn), which also gave us chrestomathy, philomath, and opsimath. Earliest documented use: 1475.

USAGE:

“By March, through superior voter targeting and organization, his nomination had become a mathematical certainty.”
Tom Rosenstiel; Shining City; HarperCollins; 2017.

“There’s also a mathematical chance at a four-way tie, but let’s not get too worked up yet.”
Michael Fornabaio; Many Contributors Helping Yale Challenge for Ivy Football Title; New Haven Register (Connecticut); Nov 9, 2021.

See more usage examples of mathematical in Vocabulary.com’s dictionary.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: