Word of the Day - 06/12/26
panegyric
/,pænɪ'dʒɪrɪk/(n.): a formal expression of praise
He delivered a heartfelt panegyric detailing the senator's long and distinguished public service.
Word Origin
The word 'panegyric' originates from the Greek word 'panēgyrikos', meaning 'suitable for a public assembly or festival'. This in turn comes from 'panēgyris', which refers to a public assembly, especially a festival. 'Panēgyris' is composed of two parts: 'pan-' meaning 'all' or 'every', and 'agyris' meaning 'assembly' or 'gathering' (related to the verb 'ageirein' meaning 'to assemble'). Thus, a panegyric was originally a speech delivered at a general assembly or festival, praising someone or something.
Words sharing the Greek 'pan-' prefix, meaning 'all' or 'every', include 'pandemic' (from Greek 'pandēmos' meaning 'pertaining to all people'), 'panorama' (from Greek 'panhorama' meaning 'a complete view'), 'pantheon' (from Greek 'pantheon' meaning 'of all gods'), and 'panacea' (from Greek 'panakeia' meaning 'cure-all').