Word of the Day

Wednesday, June 20, 2001

effusive

\ih-FYOO-siv\ , adjective;

Excessively demonstrative; giving or involving extravagant or excessive emotional expression; gushing.

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Quotes:

His speeches are embarrassingly effusive; treacle drips from their pages: "I yield to none in my admiration for our teachers, doctors, nurses and police . . . Our public servants are the best in the world, and when given the leadership and investment they need, they achieve world-class standards."

-- Mary Ann Sieghart, "Blair lays bare his iron fist for change", Times (London), June 1, 2001

The effusive praise of critics has no doubt bolstered Beowulf's popularity.

-- Brendan I. Koerner, "Required reading", U.S. News, March 20, 2000

This rectitude, even severity, was also a roundabout way of showing his affection and his generosity, for he was altogether incapable of indulging in effusive sentimentality.

-- Patrice Debré, Louis Pasteur (translated by Elborg Forster)

Origin:

Effusive, at root meaning "pouring out," comes from Latin effusus, past participle of effundere, "to pour out," from ex-, "out" + fundere, "to pour."