Word of the Day

: February 18, 2010

flexuous

adjective FLEK-shuh-wus

What It Means

1 : having curves, turns, or windings

2 : lithe or fluid in action or movement

flexuous in Context

The last leg of the trail is a flexuous path leading up the mountain to a spectacular panoramic view of the valley.

Did You Know?

English author Thomas Hardy was fond of the word "flexuous" and described his dark-haired Tess as "the most flexuous and finely-drawn figure." "Flexuous" may be a synonym of "curvy," but it's not the word most likely to be chosen these days to describe a shapely woman. The botanists' use of "flexuous" to describe plant stems that aren't rigid is a more typical use today. But don't let that tendency deflect you from occasionally employing this ultimately quite flexible word. Stemming straight from Latin "flectere," meaning "to bend," it can also mean "undulating" or "fluid." It might, for example, be used of writing or music, or of something or someone that moves with a fluid sort of grace.