Word of the Day

: October 22, 2015

replete

adjective rih-PLEET

What It Means

1 : fully or abundantly provided or filled

2 a : abundantly fed

b : fat, stout

3 : complete

replete in Context

The children were delighted to find that the costume trunk was replete with dresses, hats, capes, and all sorts of props to play make-believe.

"While his sumptuous poetic language is replete with historical references and deeply philosophical turns, it is also studded with words and images from the inn and the countryside." — Michael Beckerman, The New York Times, 30 Aug. 2015

Did You Know?

Given that one of the roots of replete is the Latin verb plēre, meaning "to fill," it isn't surprising that the word has synonyms such as full and complete. Replete, full, and complete all indicate that something contains all that is wanted or needed or possible, but there are also subtle differences between the words. Full implies the presence or inclusion of everything that can be held, contained, or attained ("a full schedule"), while complete applies when all that is needed is present ("a complete picture of the situation"). Replete is the synonym of choice when fullness is accompanied by a sense of satiety.