Word of the Day

: October 15, 2009

oracular

adjective aw-RAK-yuh-ler

What It Means

1 : resembling an oracle (as in solemnity of delivery)

2 : of, relating to, or being an oracle

oracular in Context

A knowledgeable wine drinker herself, Roberta refuses to assign oracular status to professional wine critics; she drinks what she likes, not what has been well-reviewed.

Did You Know?

When the ancient Greeks had questions or problems that were worrying them, they would often turn to one of their gods for answers by consulting an oracle. The word "oracle" has several meanings. It can refer to the god's answer, to the shrine the worshippers went to when seeking advice, or to a person through whom the god communicated, usually in the form of cryptic verse. (The words "oracular" and "oracle" trace back to the Latin verb "orare," which means "to speak.") Today, "oracle" can simply mean an authoritative pronouncement or a person who makes such pronouncements ("a designer who is an oracle of fashion"). The related adjective "oracular" is used in similar contexts ("a designer who is the oracular voice of fashion").