• neoteric •
Pronunciation: nee-ê-ter-ik • Hear it!
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: 1. 'Newfangled', related to a new trend or fashion (opposite of ancient or antique), trendy. 2. Having a modern outlook.
Notes: This word is often used in the pejorative sense we feel in newfangled. Though it is not necessarily a pejorative word, it is often used sarcastically. It may be used as a noun denoting a modern, trendy thinker or writer, too. The abstract noun accompanying neoteric is neoterism "neologism, new word or expression; the (frivolous) use of new words or phrases". The verb is neoterize "to coin new words or expressions".
In Play: First, the use of today's word in its positive sense: "The only salvation for the country lies in neoteric ideas that scare conservatives and reactionaries." Now for the use of the word sarcastically: "The neoteric music played by current radio stations drives me up the wall!"
Word History: Today's Good Word was taken from Late Latin neotericus "modern, recent", also used as noun meaning "a person of modern views, a modern author". Latin borrowed the word from Ancient Greek neoterikos "youthful, modern in style", a derivative of neoteros, the comparative of neos "new" + -ikos "-ic", an adjective suffix. The remnants of Proto-Indo-European newo- "new" are strewn throughout the Indo-European languages: Greek neos, Latin novus, Sanskrit navah, Persion nau, Lithuanian naujas, Russian novyi, German neu, French neuf, Welsh newydd, not to mention English new. (Now it's time that we thank Dr. Margie Sved, an old neoteric friend, for recommending today's Good Word.)
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