Word of the Day

: March 8, 2007

jaunty

adjective JAWN-tee

What It Means

: sprightly in manner or appearance : lively

jaunty in Context

Flashbulbs lit up the scene as the bubbly actress sashayed down the red carpet, wearing a jaunty little headpiece that complemented her airy designer gown.

Did You Know?

You might not guess that the words "jaunty" and "genteel" are related -- but they are. Both words evolved from the French word "gentil," which carried the sense of "noble." At first "jaunty" was used, like "genteel," for things aristocratic, but as the years went by people stopped using it that way. Today "jaunty" is used to describe things that are lively and perky -- not things that are aristocratic and elegant -- and the only remaining clue to its noble origin is in its pronunciation.