Episode Overview
Episode Title: Eminently
Podcast: Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day
Host: Peter Sokolowski
Date: January 7, 2026
In this episode, Merriam-Webster’s Peter Sokolowski explores the adverb “eminently,” delving into its meanings, origins, historical uses, and how it’s most commonly understood today. Listeners learn about the nuanced evolution of the word and hear it in real-world context.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Definition and Spelling
- [00:06] “Today's word is eminently spelled E M I N E N T L Y. Eminently is an adverb. It's used as a synonym of very and means to a high degree.”
- The podcast focuses on the current primary meaning: “to a high degree,” synonymous with “very.”
2. Example in Context
- [00:21] “Here's the word used in a sentence from the Gazette of Montreal. This was jazz of the highest order, challenging yet accessible, eminently entertaining and arrestingly beautiful.”
- The host demonstrates how “eminently” amplifies the qualities being described, specifically highlighting entertainment value and beauty.
3. Historical Usage and Origins
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[00:44] “Goosebumps were felt when British physician Tobias Venner wrote in 1620 of houses somewhat eminently situated. He meant that the houses were located at an elevated site. They were literally in a high place.”
- Early usage of “eminently” described literal elevation—physically being in a higher location.
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[01:01] “That use has since slipped into obsolescence, as has the words used to mean conspicuously, a sense that reflects its Latin root, eminere, which means to stick out or to protrude.”
- “Eminently” used to mean “conspicuously” or “sticking out,” following its Latin etymology: eminere.
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[01:11] “All three meanings date to the 17th century, but today's figurative sense of notably or very is the only one now regularly encountered.”
- The host traces the word's semantic journey, emphasizing that only the figurative—intensifying—meaning persists in modern language.
4. Word Origins (Etymology)
- “A sense that reflects its Latin root, eminere, which means to stick out or to protrude.”
- Strong focus on how word meanings shift over centuries, rooted in Latin but evolving in usage and nuance.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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[00:06] Peter Sokolowski:
“Eminently is an adverb. It's used as a synonym of very and means to a high degree.”
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[00:21]:
“...eminently entertaining and arrestingly beautiful.” (Gazette of Montreal example.)
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[01:01] Peter Sokolowski:
“That use has since slipped into obsolescence, as has the words used to mean conspicuously, a sense that reflects its Latin root, eminere, which means to stick out or to protrude.”
-
[01:11] Peter Sokolowski:
“All three meanings date to the 17th century, but today's figurative sense of notably or very is the only one now regularly encountered.”
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 00:06 — Introduction, spelling, and definition of “eminently”
- 00:21 — Contemporary usage sentence example
- 00:44 — 1620 historical example: literal elevation
- 01:01 — Latin root and obsolete meanings
- 01:11 — Summary of historical vs. current usage
Language and Tone
The tone is informative, concise, and enthusiastic about word history. Peter Sokolowski maintains the accessible, educational style that is a hallmark of Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day.
Summary
This episode offers a succinct yet richly detailed exploration of “eminently.” Peter Sokolowski walks listeners through its definition (“to a high degree”), demonstrates its usage in sophisticated contexts, explains its obsolete literal and conspicuous senses, and ties everything back to its Latin origin, eminere. The episode serves as both a vocabulary boost and a micro-lesson in English semantics.
