Word of the Day:

November 2, 2012

sequacious

adjective sih-KWAY-shus

What it Means

: intellectually servile

Sequacious in Context

Eager to prove that he was not merely a sequacious follower, Mario wrote a critical review of his former mentor's book.

"Fund investors are not simply sequacious followers of yield, but are also responding to the federal government's actions to stabilize the macro-economic environment." - From an article by Matthew Sheahan in High Yield Report, January 12, 2009

Did You Know?

"Sequacious" is formed from the Latin "sequac-," or "sequax" (which means "inclined to follow" and comes from "sequi," "to follow") and the English "-ious." The original and now archaic meaning of "sequacious" was "inclined to follow" or "subservient." Although that meaning might as easily describe someone who willingly dropped into line behind a war leader, or who was unusually compliant or obedient in any sense, the concept gradually narrowed into the image of someone who blindly adopts ideas without much thought. Labeling a person "sequacious" is not very complimentary, and implies a slavish willingness to adopt a thought or opinion.

Word Family Quiz

What relative of "sequacious" can refer to the next installment of a literary, cinematic, or televised work? The answer is ...

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