cordial

Summary

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Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day: “Cordial”

Episode Date: May 20, 2026
Host: Peter Sokolowski

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Episode Overview

This episode explores the word “cordial”, delving into its definition, etymology, and usage. Host Peter Sokolowski brings the word to life, connecting its historical roots to its figurative, modern-day meanings, and even touches on its noun form as a liqueur.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Definition and Spelling

• Timestamp [00:43]:
  • “Today's word is cordial. Spelled C O R D I A L, cordial is an adjective. It describes someone or something that is politely pleasant and friendly.”
  • The episode opens with the clear and concise definition.

Usage in Context

• Timestamp [00:55]:
  • Sokolowski reads a sentence from Summers in Squid Tickle: A Newfoundland Odyssey by Robert Finch, vividly illustrating cordial in a real-world context:
    • “The Burnside Post office is a small, one room wooden building profusely planted with flowers all around it. One enters a tiny vestibule and pushes a buzzer, which brings Christine out of the house, brushing bayou into the office proper, where she opens the counter window and with a smile and a toss of her hair, says in a cordial tone, now, my dear, what can I do for you?”
  • This example underscores the word’s association with warmth and polite friendliness.

Etymology and Word Family

• Timestamp [01:28]:
  • The host explores the Latin root of the word:
    • “The Latin root chord or cor, is at the heart of the connection between cordial, concord, meaning harmony, and discord, meaning conflict. Chord means heart, and each of these chord descendants has something to do with the heart, at least figuratively.”
  • Sokolowski links “cordial” to “concord” (harmony, hearts together) and “discord” (conflict, hearts apart), explaining the prefixes com- and dis-.

Historical Meaning

• Timestamp [01:56]:
  • “Hundreds of years ago, cordial could mean simply of or relating to the literal heart. The -IAL is simply an adjective suffix.”
  • Sokolowski notes the shift from a literal meaning to today’s figurative sense.

Modern-Day Usage

• Timestamp [02:06]:
  • “But today anything described as cordial, be it a friendly welcome, a compliment, or an agreement, comes from the heart in a figurative sense.”
  • Current use highlights sincere friendliness or goodwill.

Noun Form: Liqueur

• Timestamp [02:17]:
  • “Cordial is also used as a noun to refer to a usually sweet liqueur, the name being inspired by the idea that a cordial invigorates the heart.”
  • The episode briefly covers this special meaning, rooted in the same etymological history.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On figurative meaning:

  • “But today anything described as cordial, be it a friendly welcome, a compliment, or an agreement, comes from the heart in a figurative sense.” (Peter Sokolowski, [02:06])

• On connection with related words:

  • “The Latin root chord or cor, is at the heart of the connection between cordial, concord, meaning harmony, and discord, meaning conflict. Chord means heart…” (Peter Sokolowski, [01:28])

• Example from literature:

  • “…and with a smile and a toss of her hair, says in a cordial tone, now, my dear, what can I do for you?” ([01:19])

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:43] — Word introduction, definition, and spelling
• [00:55] — Example sentence from Summers in Squid Tickle
• [01:28] — Etymology: Latin roots and meaning
• [01:56] — Historical meaning of “cordial”
• [02:06] — Modern figurative usage
• [02:17] — Noun form: cordial as a sweet liqueur

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Conclusion

Peter Sokolowski masterfully weaves together definition, history, etymology, and real-life examples, making “cordial” not just a word, but a lens into language’s evolution around notions of warmth, heart, and goodwill.

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Transcript

[A]

Foreign.

[B]

It's the word of the day for May 20th.

[C]

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[B]

today's word is cordial. Spelled C O R D I A L, cordial is an adjective. It describes someone or something that is politely pleasant and friendly. Here's the word used in a sentence from Summers in Squid Tickle A Newfoundland Odyssey by Robert Finch the Burnside Post office is a small, one room wooden building profusely planted with flowers all around it. One enters a tiny vestibule and pushes a buzzer, which brings Christine out of the house, brushing bayou into the office proper, where she opens the counter window and with a smile and a toss of her hair, says in a cordial tone, now, my dear, what can I do for you? The Latin root chord or cor, is at the heart of the connection between cordial, concord, meaning harmony, and discord, meaning conflict. Chord means heart, and each of these chord descendants has something to do with the heart, at least figuratively. Concord, which comes from com c o m, meaning together or with plus chord, suggests that one heart is with another. Discord combines the prefix dis, meaning a part, with chord, to imply that hearts are apart. Hundreds of years ago, cordial could mean simply of or relating to the literal heart. The IAL is simply an adjective suffix. But today anything described as cordial, be it a friendly welcome, a compliment, or an agreement, comes from the heart in a figurative sense. Cordial is also used as a noun to refer to a usually sweet liqueur, the name being inspired by the idea that a cordial invigorates the heart with your word of the day. I'm Peter Sokolowski.

[A]

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