Which word fits the clue? Guess before the reveal, then discover its history. #words #vocabulary
Text from the published carousel. Swipe or scroll through the cards, or read them in order with your keyboard.
1 / 7
WORD CHALLENGE: Can you guess the word?.
2 / 7
THE CLUE: Here’s the meaning. Meaning: An unintentional omission resulting from failure to notice something.
3 / 7
FILL IN THE BLANK: Here’s another hint. Leaving her name off the list was an accidental ______.
4 / 7
THE WORD: “oversight”. Say it: /ˈoʊvə(ɹ)ˌsaɪt/ Meaning: An unintentional omission resulting from failure to notice something.
5 / 7
WHERE IT BEGAN: “oversight”. Oversight was formed in English from over and sight. Its earliest recorded sense in the fifteenth century was supervision or watchful care: an overseer figuratively looks over the work entrusted to them.
6 / 7
THE CONNECTION: “oversight”. Within the same century, looking over also supplied the contrary sense: passing over something without noticing it. The two meanings survived together, so an oversight committee exists to prevent the very oversights that inattentive supervision permits.
7 / 7
PLAY LEXIFOUR: Try five more words. Play the free daily vocabulary game at lexifour.com. Follow for more word stories.