elutriate

Pronounced: ih-LOO-tree-ate, verb (first syllable can also be ‘ee-‘ or ‘uh-‘)

Notes: It looks a bit like elucidate, but that’s not the meaning

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Yesterday’s word

The word lief means “soon, gladly”

First usage

The word first appeared in the 1200s

Background / Comments

The word was lēof in Old English, and started in Bewulf as an adjective meaning “dear” or “beloved”. The adverb appeared later. The word is not used much today; some consider it to be archaic. If it is used, it shows up in a phrase like “would as lief”.