Word of the Day: Dastard

(Noun)

Pronunciation: ['dæs-têrd] Listen

Definition: Originally this word referred to a dullard, dimwit or sot but in the 16th century it began to be used to mean "despicable coward," where it stands today.

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Usage: The adjective "dastardly" is used most frequently today. The quality of a dastard is "dastardliness."

Suggested Usage: Guess which inappropriate word today's can replace in your anger vocabulary? "The rotten dastard introduced his new girlfriend to Selma as his cousin, rather than tell Selma he had broken off with her. Next, the dastardly rapscallion slipped out the back door when the two women began talking to each other." (Believe it or not, "rapscallion" comes from "rascal" via obsolete "rascallion" and not vice versa.) Just remember a dastard is a coward, not merely a scoundrel.

Etymology: Probably based on the Middle English past participle form of "daze," "dasen," i.e. dast "dazed" + -ard, a suffix with pejorative connotations, cf. "dullard," "laggard," "drunkard." The stem is related to Swedish dasa "to lie idle," Old Norwegian dasask "to become weary," and Icelandic dasi "lazy fellow."

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