Word of the Day

Friday, July 04, 2003

encomium

\en-KOH-mee-uhm\ , noun;

plural encomiums or encomia \-mee-uh\

An often formal expression of warm or high praise.

Quotes:

He ended with an encomium about her "high integrity and simple humanity" which ensured that "she loved her country, and her country loved her."

-- David Cameron, "Mourning service", The Guardian, April 3, 2002

The giant throws the butler into the lake, whereupon Charles delivers the perfunctory encomium, "Wickham was a good servant."

-- Jeremy Treglown, Romancing: The Life and Work of Henry Green

He brought in the bread, cheese and beer, with many high encomiums upon their excellence.

-- Charles Dickens, The Old Curiosity Shop

Origin:

Encomium derives, via Latin, from Greek enkomion, from en-, "in" + komos, "revel."