Word of the Week for the week of August 14, 2016

Ignominious

[ig-nuh-MIN-ee-uh s]

Meaning & Usage

adjective deserving of or causing shame and disgrace, particularly from the public; humiliating and contemptible.

Malala showed that girls have every right to an education. For standing up against those who think girls should not go to school, she suffered ignominious treatment by the hands of men who were threatened by her strength and courage.

Origin

Via French, from Latin ignominia, from ig- (not) + nomen (name). Ultimately from the Indo-European root no-men- (name) which also gave us name, anonymous, noun, synonym, eponym, renown, nominate, misnomer, and moniker. Earliest documented use: 1530.

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