Which word fits the clue? Guess before the reveal, then discover its history. #words #vocabulary
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WORD CHALLENGE: Can you name this word?.
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THE CLUE: Start with the meaning. Meaning: Emotionally hardened and insensitive.
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FILL IN THE BLANK: One more clue. His ______ response showed no concern for their suffering.
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THE WORD: “callous”. Say it: /ˈkæləs/ Meaning: Emotionally hardened and insensitive.
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WHERE IT BEGAN: “callous”. Callous came through Middle English from Latin callosus, thick-skinned or hardened, based on callum or callus, hard skin. The noun callus and adjective callous therefore share one Latin source despite their different modern spellings.
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THE CONNECTION: “callous”. Hard, thickened skin becomes less sensitive to touch. English turned that physical hardness into a moral metaphor: a mind or person repeatedly hardened against suffering could become insensitive and unsympathetic.
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PLAY LEXIFOUR: Try five more words. Play the free daily vocabulary game at lexifour.com. Follow for more word stories.