Word of the Day

: August 31, 2007

tyro

noun TYE-roh

What It Means

: a beginner in learning : novice

tyro in Context

A reviewer described the new photography manual as "a clear explanation of the basics, ideal for tyros but too elementary for seasoned shutterbugs."

Did You Know?

The word "tyro" is hardly a newcomer to Western language. It comes from the Latin "tiro," which means "young soldier," "new recruit," or more generally, "novice." The word was sometimes spelled "tyro" as early as Medieval Latin, and can be spelled "tyro" or "tiro" in English (though "tyro" is the more common American variant). Use of "tyro" in English has never been restricted to the original "young soldier" meaning of the Latin term. Writers in the 17th and 18th centuries wrote of tyros in various fields and occupations. Herman Melville used "tyro" to refer to men new to whaling and life at sea. More recently, The New York Times Book Review and Rolling Stone used the noun attributively (that is, directly before another noun), referring to a "tyro sleuth" and a "tyro director," respectively.