Word of the Day - 10/15/25
cadre
/'kɑdrə/(n.): a small unit serving as part of or as the nucleus of a larger political movement
The party's youth cadre worked tirelessly to register new voters and spread their message.
(n.): a nucleus of military personnel capable of expansion
The veteran cadre formed the core of the new battalion, ready to train the fresh recruits.
Word Origin
The word 'cadre' comes from French 'cadre', meaning 'frame' or 'framework'. This French word, in turn, derives from the Latin 'quadrum', meaning 'a square' or 'a frame'. The term evolved from referring to a physical frame or structure to denote a framework of officers or key personnel within a military or political organization, particularly in the sense of a nucleus around which a larger unit could be built.
Words with similar origins often stem from the Latin root 'quadrum' or 'quattuor' (four). Examples include 'quadrant' (a fourth part, from Latin 'quadrans'), 'quadrilateral' (a four-sided figure, from Latin 'quadri-' meaning 'four' and 'latus' meaning 'side'), and 'square' (ultimately from Latin 'quadra', a square stone, related to 'quadrum').