Summary of Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day Episode: "Uncouth"

Podcast Information

• Title: Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day
• Host/Author: Merriam-Webster
• Episode: Uncouth
• Release Date: April 17, 2025
• Description: A free daily dose of word power from Merriam-Webster's experts.

Introduction

In the April 17, 2025 episode of Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day, hosted by Peter Sokolowski, the featured term is "uncouth." This episode provides an in-depth exploration of the word's meaning, usage, historical background, and evolution in the English language.

Definition of "Uncouth"

Peter Sokolowski begins by spelling out the word and defining it:

"Uncouth, spelled U-N-C-O-U-T-H. Uncouth is an adjective. It describes things such as language or behavior that are impolite or socially unacceptable. A person may also be described as uncouth if they are behaving in a rude way."
—Peter Sokolowski [00:41]

Usage and Examples

To illustrate the word in context, Sokolowski references literary examples:

"Here's the word used in a sentence from lithub.com: 'Perhaps people deride those who buy books solely for how they look because it reminds them that despite their primary love of literature, they still appreciate a beautiful cover. It's not of primary importance, but liking how something looks in your home matters to some extent, even if it feels uncouth.'"
—Peter Sokolowski [00:41]

He further cites classic literature to demonstrate historical usage:

"In Captain Singleton by novelist Daniel Defoe, for example, the author refers to a strange noise more uncouth than any they had ever heard, while Shakespeare wrote of an uncouth forest in As You Like It."
—Peter Sokolowski [00:41]

Historical Etymology

Sokolowski delves into the origins of "uncouth," tracing its roots back to Old English:

"Old English speakers used the word 'couth' to describe things that were familiar to them and 'uncouth' for the strange and mysterious. These words passed through Middle English into Modern English with different spellings but the same meanings. While 'couth' eventually dropped out of use, 'uncouth' soldiered on."
—Peter Sokolowski [00:41]

Evolution of Meaning

The episode explains how the meanings of "uncouth" and its counterpart "couth" have shifted over time:

"This unfamiliar sense of 'uncouth,' however, joined 'couth' in becoming, well, unfamiliar to most English users, giving way to the now common meanings rude or lacking polish or grace."
—Peter Sokolowski [00:41]

Sokolowski also touches on the modern resurrection of "couth":

"The adjective 'couth' in use today, meaning sophisticated or polished, arose at the turn of the 20th century, not from the earlier 'couth,' but as a back formation of 'uncouth,' joining the ranks of other uncommon opposites, such as 'kempt' and 'gruntled.'"
—Peter Sokolowski [00:41]

Notable Insights

• Historical Persistence: Despite changes in language, "uncouth" has remained in use longer than its counterpart "couth," which has mostly fallen out of favor.

• Back Formation: The revival of "couth" as an opposite to "uncouth" is an example of linguistic back formation, where a new word is created by removing a part of an existing word.

Conclusion

Peter Sokolowski wraps up the episode by encouraging listeners to expand their vocabulary and understanding of English words through Merriam-Webster's resources:

"With your word of the day, I'm Peter Sokolowski."
—Peter Sokolowski [02:30]

Additionally, listeners are directed to visit the Merriam-Webster website for more definitions, wordplay, and trending word lookups:

"Visit merriamwebster.com today for definitions, wordplay and trending word lookups."
—Host [02:30]

Key Takeaways:

• "Uncouth" is an adjective meaning impolite or socially unacceptable behavior or language.
• Historically, "uncouth" contrasted with "couth," the latter meaning familiar or sophisticated, although "couth" has largely fallen out of common usage.
• Literary examples from Daniel Defoe and Shakespeare illustrate the term's longstanding presence in English literature.
• The evolution of "uncouth" showcases the dynamic nature of language and how word meanings can shift over time.

This comprehensive exploration of "uncouth" not only enhances listeners' vocabulary but also provides insight into the etymological journey of English words.