51吃瓜 of the Day
antihero
[ an-tee-heer-oh ]
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noun
a protagonist who lacks the attributes that make a heroic figure, as nobility of mind and spirit, a life or attitude marked by action or purpose, and the like.
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Why Dictionary.com chose antihero
More about antihero
- Antihero entered English at the turn of the 18th century and is formed from the Latin prefix anti, meaning “opposite of” and hero, originally from the Greek word 丑岣梤艒蝉, meaning “protector” or “defender.”
- Hero听补苍诲 its counterpart antihero聽were first used almost exclusively to refer to a man.
- Although the corresponding word heroine听补苍诲 its counterpart antiheroine were鈥攁nd still are鈥攔eserved for women, hero听补苍诲 antihero are now considered to be gender-neutral words.
EXAMPLES OF ANTIHERO
- Despite his questionable methods and morally ambiguous choices, the antihero of the story captivated audiences with his complex personality and unconventional approach to justice.
- In a refreshing departure from traditional heroes, the antihero‘s flawed nature allowed for a more realistic and relatable depiction of human struggles, resonating with a generation seeking characters who defy conventions.
SYNONYM OF THE DAY
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cantankerous
[ kan-tang-ker-uhs ]
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adjective
disagreeable to deal with; contentious.
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Why Dictionary.com chose cantankerous
More about cantankerous
- Cantankerous was first recorded in 1765鈥�75.
- It is of uncertain origin but may derive from the Middle English word contack, meaning “quarrel” or “contention” that ultimately comes from Old French contek.
- Cantankerous was formed on the model of the not-too-dissimilar words contentious 补苍诲听rancorous.
EXAMPLES OF CANTANKEROUS
- My cantankerous neighbor always complains about the slightest noise coming from my apartment.
- Despite his cantankerous personality, the new boss is known for making effective decisions for the company.
empath
[ em-path ]
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noun
a person who has a particular tendency or ability to psychologically identify with the emotions, thoughts, or attitudes of others.
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Why Dictionary.com chose empath
More about empath
- Empath was first recorded in 1956 in Scottish author J.T. McIntosh鈥檚 1956 鈥淭he Empath,鈥� a story about paranormally empathetic beings called empaths.
- Possibly modeled on telepath, empath聽was formed from empathy, which entered English around 1900 from the Greek word, 别尘辫谩迟丑别颈补, meaning “affection,” translating directly as “in suffering.”
- By the 1990s, empath had jumped from sci-fi to shorthand for a highly sensitive person, and in the 2000s the term was featured in various considerations of emotional intelligence and personality types.
EXAMPLES OF EMPATH
- Being an empath can be both a blessing and a curse, as you feel deeply and truly for others but also can be vulnerable to taking on their emotional baggage.
- As an empath, she felt overwhelmed by the intense emotions of her friends during their breakup.
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