Word of the Day : August 23, 2019

excursion \ik-SKER-zhun\ noun

Definition

1 a : a going out or forth : expedition

b (1) : a usually brief pleasure trip

(2) : a trip at special reduced rates

2 : deviation from a direct, definite, or proper course; especially : digression

3 : a movement outward and back or from a mean position or axis; also : the distance traversed : amplitude

Did You Know?

In Latin, the prefix ex- means "out of" and the verb currere means "to run." When the two are put together, they form the verb excurrere, literally "to run out" or "to extend." Excurrere gave rise not only to excursion but also to excurrent (an adjective for things having channels or currents that run outward) and excursus (meaning "an appendix or digression that contains further exposition of some point or topic"). Other words deriving from currere include corridor, curriculum, and among newer words, parkour.

Aired August 23, 2019

All Merriam-Webster content is available at www.merriam-webster.com