Word of the Day - 09/07/26
morass
/mə'ræs/(n.): marshy low-lying land
After the heavy rains, the hiking trail became a muddy morass, making it difficult to walk without sinking.
(n.): a situation that overwhelmingly traps, confuses, or impedes
The company became mired in a morass of conflicting regulations and bureaucratic delays, making it nearly impossible to move forward.
Word Origin
The word 'morass' entered English in the late 17th century from the Dutch 'moeras', meaning 'marsh, swamp'. The Dutch term itself is related to the English word 'moor', tracing back to a common Proto-Germanic root *maura- or *mōra- denoting wet, boggy, or swampy ground.
Words with a similar origin include 'moor' (referring to an expanse of open, uncultivated upland, often boggy) and 'marsh', both deriving from related Germanic roots referring to wet or swampy land.