Word of the Day

: April 9, 2014

rancid

adjective RAN-sid

What It Means

1 : having a rank smell or taste

2 : offensive

rancid in Context

Although considered healthier, unsaturated fats become rancid much more easily than saturated fats do.

"Oddly enough, this wild conjecture is about as far as McGinniss goes into the rancid waters of tabloid gossip." - From a book review by Jonathan Yardley in the Washington Post, March 11, 2014

Did You Know?

"Rancid" has a fairly straightforward history; it derives from Latin "rancidus," itself from the Latin verb "rancēre," meaning "to be rancid" or "to stink." In addition to the related words "rancidness" and "rancidity," another descendant of "rancēre" in English is "rancor," meaning "bitter deep-seated ill will." ("Rancor" passed through Middle French rather than being borrowed into English directly.) These days, "rancid" also has developed a second, extended sense which is used in the context of offenses to less literal or physical senses than those of smell or taste, and you might see references to "rancid behavior" or "a rancid personality."