Word of the Day: ARDUOUS
Trying or tough
arduous (adj) - difficult to accomplish or requiring great physical effort and exertion; strenuous or taxing [ahr-dyoo-uhs]
arduity is difficulty or steepness
BREAKDOWN: The word arduous comes to English almost fully-formed from the Latin arduus meaning lofty, high, or steep. Interestingly, the other English words based on this word trace back to its earlier Greek root ORTHO- meaning correct or right in words like orthogonal, orthosomnia, and unorthodox.
“The world cannot be discovered by a journey of miles, no matter how long, but only by a spiritual journey, a journey of one inch, very arduous and humbling and joyful, by which we arrive at the ground at our own feet, and learn to be at home.” —Wendell Berry
[Our Wednesday Wildcards are fascinating and important words that are not necessarily derived from classical roots.]