Word of the Day
The prefix e- (“out of” or “away from”) with the Latin rudis (“unskilled” or “unlearned”) gives the Latin verb erudire, which literally means "to instruct" or "to do away with the rude" (/unlearned/unskilled). Similarly, erudition refers to the quality of having extensive, often book-based learning or scholarship. Some achieve erudition through academic pursuits, while others cultivate it through self-directed study, practical experience... Or engagement with fun & erudite online sites!
The prefix e- (“out of” or “away from”) with the Latin rudis (“unskilled” or “unlearned”) gives the Latin verb erudire, which literally means "to instruct" or "to do away with the rude" (/unlearned/unskilled). Similarly, erudition refers to the quality of having extensive, often book-based learning or scholarship. Some achieve erudition through academic pursuits, while others cultivate it through self-directed study, practical experience... Or engagement with fun & erudite online sites!
For our words of the day, we’ve hand-selected the most challenging vocabulary words that commonly appear on the GRE. For each word, we’ve thought hard about the best way to “make sense of” and remember it - whether that be though exploring roots, drawing connections to similar words, uncovering interesting usage origins, or creating memorable mnemonics. We’ve paired each word with fun and clever illustrations that tie things together and bring concepts and connections to life.
Sign up for our daily email newsletter to receive a new word each day! Make sure to think about the words, the illustrations, and the rich word information following our daily quizzes, to maximize your vocab learning.
This is a great resource for students studying for the GRE, SAT, or other standardized tests, as well as for homeschool and high school enrichment, or for ESL students and other adult learners looking to improve their vocabulary!
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About the creators of the
GRE Word of the Day
GRE Word of the Day
Experts
in learning
Experts
in creativity
We are not linguists. We’re a diverse team of creators who bring a fresh perspective to learning new words. We’ve brought together experienced and innovative educators who have not only scored in the top percentile on the GRE and other standardized tests but also harbor a deep passion for learning.
Contributors to this project have come from a variety of backgrounds, including graduate students, medical doctors, and PhDs in American Literature and Interdisciplinary Studies. Among them are multiple experts in graphic design and illustration, bi- and trilingual content contributors, as well as moms, dads, and individuals spanning four generations. Each contributor is excited to bring you materials that help you understand things better and also make the learning process a lot more interesting!
Why we created the GRE
Word of the Day and how it
can help
Word of the Day and how it
Dr. Alicia Bogatin
Erudition Founder
How we envision helping learners in new ways
I initially got the idea for this product when I was studying the GRE and grappling with unfamiliar words on practice problems. By dissecting the words or drawing parallels with similar-sounding words, I could often approximate their meanings. When I started applying these concepts (similar words, root meanings, and other connections) to studying vocabulary, I quickly found that it was a remarkably fun and effective way to learn new words.
For example, I could never remember the meaning of 'iconoclast' until I related it to osteoclasts: cells that break down bone to release calcium. Sharing the 'clast' root, iconoclasts also ‘break down’ or ‘destroy’ —but instead of dissolving bones, they challenge tradition, destroying figurative icons.
Effective learning always hinges on making strong mental connections and thinking more deeply, which is easier to do when you’re mentally stimulated and engaged. Recognizing this, we launched our vocabulary initiative, not only to help teach you new words, but also to enhance your overall approach to learning. Beyond highlighting important word roots, we’ve sought to make many kinds of interesting conceptual connections - including many you can learn to make on your own. Our illustrators have done an amazing job at bringing our concepts to life with their funny and beautiful illustrations that serve to engage you further.
As Da Vinci said: "Study the science of art. Study the art of science. Develop your senses—especially learn how to see. Realize that everything connects to everything else."
