Podcast Summary: Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day

Title: Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day
Episode: Career
Release Date: March 6, 2025
Host: Merriam-Webster (Peter Sokolowski)

1. Introduction and Promotions

The episode opens with a brief promotion for the Hulu Original Series "Good American Family". The host discusses the show's premise, focusing on the sensitive topic of a little girl with dwarfism who is up for adoption. The narrative hints at underlying tensions and challenges faced by the family, featuring stars Ellen Pompeo and Mark Duplass.

“[00:00] …We have a little girl here for adoption. She has dwarfism. Starring Ellen Pompeo and Mark Duplass. Something is off. She’s just a little girl. You think she’s faking?...The Hulu Original Series Good American Family premieres March 19th. Streaming on Hulu.”
— Speaker A

This promotional segment sets a serious and emotional tone, preparing listeners for the day's main content.

2. Introduction of the Word of the Day: "Career"

Peter Sokolowski introduces today's word, "career," highlighting its spelling and fundamental definition.

“[00:00] Today’s word is career, spelled C A R E E R. Career is a verb to career is to go at top speed, especially in a headlong manner.”
— Peter Sokolowski

This definition frames "career" not just as a noun related to one's professional life but emphasizes its verb form, indicating rapid or focused movement.

3. Usage Example from The Atlantic

To contextualize the word "career," the host provides a sentence excerpted from an article in The Atlantic by Annie Lowery. The example illustrates the verb form in action, describing the behavior of cattle at an auction.

“[00:00] Here’s the word used in a sentence from The Atlantic By Annie Lowery: 'This winter I attended a livestock auction on California’s remote northern coast. Ranchers sat on plywood bleachers, warming their hands as the auctioneer mumble chanted and handlers flushed cows into a viewing paddock. One by one, most of the cows were hale animals, careering in and cantering out.'”
— Peter Sokolowski

This example effectively demonstrates how "career" conveys swift and spirited movement, enhancing the listener's understanding through real-world application.

4. Etymology and Historical Usage

Delving deeper, the podcast explores the rich history of the word "career," tracing its origins and evolution over centuries.

“[00:00] If you’re already familiar with career’s equestrian history, surely you joust. The noun career dates to the early 16th century, when it referred to the speed of something moving along a particular course. To go in full career or at full career was to hurdle, barrel, blaze, or zip, a meaning employed by Sir Walter Scott in a jousting scene in his historical romance Ivanhoe.”
— Peter Sokolowski

The host references Sir Walter Scott's Ivanhoe to illustrate the term's historical context, where "career" was associated with the vigorous actions of knights during jousting.

Further expanding on its etymology:

“The verb career thus originally conveyed the action of a horse or rider making a short gallop or charge, as when the very aptly named John Speed wrote in his 1611 History of Great Britain, ‘his horse of a fierce courage careered as he went.’”
— Peter Sokolowski

This reference to John Speed's historical account underscores the word's longstanding association with motion and speed.

5. Additional Meanings and Applications

Beyond its original equestrian context, "career" has broadened in meaning over time. The podcast outlines its various applications, both literal and metaphorical.

“[00:00] It later gained additional senses applied to the movement of horses, such as to prance or caracole, to turn to one side and another in running, as well as one to rush forward quickly and recklessly. That can be applied to anything or anyone feeling their oats velocity wise.”
— Peter Sokolowski

This segment highlights how "career" can describe not only the physical movement of animals but also metaphorical actions involving rapid or unrestrained progress, applicable to both animals and humans.

6. Conclusion and Sign-off

Wrapping up the episode, Peter Sokolowski reiterates the day's word and encourages listeners to engage further with Merriam-Webster's resources.

“[00:00] With your word of the day, I’m Peter Sokolowski. Visit merriamwebster.com today for definitions, wordplay and trending word lookups.”
— Peter Sokolowski

This closing remarks invite listeners to explore more words and deepen their vocabulary through Merriam-Webster's comprehensive tools.

Key Takeaways

• "Career" as a Verb: Defined as moving at top speed, often in a headlong manner.
• Historical Context: Originating in the 16th century, associated with swift movement in equestrian settings.
• Modern Usage: Expanded to describe rapid or reckless progress in various contexts beyond horse riding.
• Practical Example: Illustrated through a real-life scenario from The Atlantic, showcasing "career" in action.

Notable Quotes

• “Today’s word is career, spelled C A R E E R. Career is a verb to career is to go at top speed, especially in a headlong manner.”
  — Peter Sokolowski [00:00]

• “One by one, most of the cows were hale animals, careering in and cantering out.”
  — Peter Sokolowski [00:00]

• “With your word of the day, I’m Peter Sokolowski. Visit merriamwebster.com today for definitions, wordplay and trending word lookups.”
  — Peter Sokolowski [00:00]

Conclusion

This episode of Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day provides an in-depth exploration of the word "career," enriching listeners' understanding through definitions, historical context, and practical examples. Whether you're expanding your vocabulary or intrigued by linguistic evolution, this episode offers valuable insights into the multifaceted nature of "career."