Word of the Day

Thursday, November 30, 2000

modicum

\MOD-ih-kum\ , noun;

A small or moderate or token amount.

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Quotes:

Abraham Lincoln's childhood education, conducted almost entirely by himself, with only a modicum of schooling, is one of the most familiar stories in American history.

-- Douglas L. Wilson, Honor's Voice

Ruth worked in the sociology department which had a garden in an internal courtyard that gave the place a modicum of charm.

-- Gillian Slovo, Every Secret Thing

While he derived a modicum of pleasure from his son's rambunctiousness, he was also disturbed by it.

-- Jonah Raskin, For the Hell of It

Origin:

Modicum is from Latin modicus, moderate, from modus, measure.