Word: word Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English word, from Old English word, from Proto-West Germanic *word, from Proto-Germanic *wurdą (“word”), from Proto-Indo-European *werdʰom (“word”), from *werh₁- (“to say, speak”). Doublet of verb, verve, and vort; further related to vrata. Cognates Cognate with Scots wird (“word”), North Frisian uurd, Uurt, wurd, wårde, wür (“word”), Saterland Frisian Woud, Wud (“word”), West Frisian wurd (“word”), Alemannic German wort, wourd, wuart, wòrt, wört (“word”), Bavarian boart, bort, bört, Wurt (“word”), Cimbrian bóart, bort (“word”), Dutch woord (“word”), German Wort (“word”), German Low German Woord, Woort (“word”), Limburgish waord, Woërt (“word”), Luxembourgish Wuert (“word”), Mòcheno bourt (“word”), Vilamovian wiüt, wuyt (“word”), Yiddish וואָרט (vort, “word”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish ord (“word”), Elfdalian uord (“word”), Faroese, Icelandic, and Scanian orð (“word”), Gutnish ård (“word”), Gothic 𐍅𐌰𐌿𐍂𐌳 (waurd, “word”); also Ancient Greek ῥητός (rhētós, “spoken, stipulated”); also Latin verbum (“word”), Umbrian 𐌖𐌄𐌓𐌚𐌀𐌋𐌄 (uerfale, “temple”), Ancient Greek εἴρω (eírō, “to say, speak, tell”), Latgalian vuords (“name; word”), Latvian vārds (“name; word”), Lithuanian var̃das (“name”), Russian врать (vratʹ, “to lie”), Serbo-Croatian ва̏рати, vȁrati (“to cheat, deceive, trick, swindle; to be mistaken”), Armenian հորջորջել (horǰorǰel, “to call, name”), Ashkun vīri (“word”), Kamkata-viri vëri, viri (“word”), Prasuni veri, verī, vëre, vëri (“word”), Sanskrit व्रत (vrata, “command; law; will”). Pronunciation: /wɜːd/, /wɜɹd/, /wəɹd/, [wɚ(ɹ)d], /wɛːd/ 1. The smallest unit of language that has a particular meaning and can be expressed by itself; the smallest discrete, meaningful unit of language. (contrast morpheme.) Labels: countable, uncountable Example: But every word, whether written or spoken, which urges the woman to antagonism against the man, every word which is written or spoken to try and make of her a hybrid, self-contained opponent of men, makes a rift in the lute to which the world looks for its sweetest music. Example: The word, whether written or spoken, does not look like or sound like its meaning — it does not resemble its signified. We only connect the two because we have learnt the code — language. Without such knowledge, 'Maggie' would just be a meaningless pattern of shapes or sounds. 2. The smallest unit of language that has a particular meaning and can be expressed by itself; the smallest discrete, meaningful unit of language. (contrast morpheme.) Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Then all was silent save the voice of the high priest, whose words grew louder and louder, […] Example: Mr. Cooke at once began a tirade against the residents of Asquith for permitting a sandy and generally disgraceful condition of the roads. So roundly did he vituperate the inn management in particular, and with such a loud flow of words, that I trembled lest he should be heard on the veranda. 3. The smallest unit of language that has a particular meaning and can be expressed by itself; the smallest discrete, meaningful unit of language. (contrast morpheme.) Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Polonius: What do you read, my lord? Hamlet: Words, words, words. Example: The name was a confused gift of love from her father, who could not read the word but picked it out of the Bible for its visual shape, […] 4. The smallest unit of language that has a particular meaning and can be expressed by itself; the smallest discrete, meaningful unit of language. (contrast morpheme.) Labels: countable, uncountable Example: “Ain’t! How often am I to tell you ain’t ain’t a word?” Example: Fisherwoman isn’t even a word. It’s not in the dictionary. 5. The smallest unit of language that has a particular meaning and can be expressed by itself; the smallest discrete, meaningful unit of language. (contrast morpheme.) Labels: countable, uncountable 6. Something like such a unit of language: Labels: countable, uncountable Example: In still another variation, the nonsense word is presented and the teacher asks, "What sound was in the beginning of the word?" "In the middle?" and so on. The child should always respond with the phoneme; he should not use letter labels. Example: All 15.5 million ‘words’ (or so–the exact length depends on the repeat sequences, which vary greatly) in the twenty-second chapter of the human autobiography have been read and written down in English letters: 47 million As, Cs, Gs and Ts. 7. Something like such a unit of language: Labels: countable, uncountable 8. Something like such a unit of language: Labels: countable, uncountable Example: The size of a register in the MIPS architecture is 32 bits; groups of 32 bits occur so frequently that they are given the name word in the MIPS architecture. 9. Something like such a unit of language: Labels: countable, uncountable 10. Something like such a unit of language: Labels: countable, uncountable 11. Something like such a unit of language: Labels: countable, uncountable 12. The fact or act of speaking, as opposed to taking action. . Labels: countable, uncountable Example: […] she believed them still so very much attached to each other, that they could not be too sedulously divided in word and deed on every occasion. Example: As they fell apart against Austria, England badly needed someone capable of leading by word and example. 13. Something that someone said; a comment, utterance; speech. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Example: She said; but at the happy word "he lives", / My father stooped, re-fathered, o'er my wound. 14. A watchword or rallying cry, a verbal signal (even when consisting of multiple words). Labels: countable, uncountable Example: mum's the word Example: Our ancient word of courage, fair Saint George, inspire us with the spleen of fiery dragons! 15. A proverb or motto. Labels: countable, obsolete, uncountable Example: Among all other was wrytten in her trone / In golde letters, this worde, whiche I dyde rede: / Garder le fortune que est mauelz et bone. Example: Let the word be 'Not without mustard'. Your crest is very rare, sir. 16. News; tidings. Labels: uncountable Example: Have you had any word from John yet? Example: I've tried for weeks to get word, but I still don't know where she is or if she's all right. 17. An order; a request or instruction; an expression of will. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: He sent word that we should strike camp before winter. Example: Don't fire till I give the word. 18. A promise; an oath or guarantee. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: I give you my word that I will be there on time. 19. A brief discussion or conversation. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: I managed to murmur some words of consolation as I left the funeral. Example: Can I have a word with you? 20. A minor reprimand. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: I had a word with him about it. 21. See words. Labels: countable, in-plural, uncountable Example: There had been words between him and the secretary about the outcome of the meeting. Example: After seeing me pull up, he decided to come out to start words with me about what I said about him. 22. Communication from God; the message of the Christian gospel; the Bible, Scripture. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Her parents had lived in Botswana, spreading the word among the tribespeople. 23. Logos, Christ. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: And that worde was made flesshe, and dwelt amonge vs, and we sawe the glory off yt, as the glory off the only begotten sonne off the father, which worde was full of grace, and verite. Example: And so the Word had breath, and wrought ⁠With human hands the creed of creeds ⁠In loveliness of perfect deeds, More strong than all poetic thought; […]