Some 16th-century Italian clergymen tried to ban coffee because they believed it to be “satanic.” However, Pope Clement VII loved coffee so much that he lifted the ban and had coffee baptized in 1600.
RELUCTANT
reluctant
(adjective) not eager; “foreigners stubbornly reluctant to accept our ways”; “fresh from college and reluctant for the moment to marry him”
reluctant
(adjective) disinclined to become involved; “they were usually reluctant to socialize”; “reluctant to help”
loath, loth, reluctant
(adjective) unwillingness to do something contrary to your custom; “a reluctant smile”; “loath to admit a mistake”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Adjective
reluctant (comparative more reluctant, superlative most reluctant)
(now rare) Opposing; offering resistance (to).
Not wanting to take some action; unwilling.
(regular expressions) Tending to match as little text as possible.
Antonym: greedy
Synonyms
• (offering resistance to): refractory
• (not wanting to take some action): unwilling, disinclined
Anagrams
• tralucent
Source: Wiktionary
Re*luc"tant (-tant), a. Etym: [L. reluctans, -antis, p. pr. of reluctari. See Reluct.]
1. Striving against; opposed in desire; unwilling; disinclined; loth. Reluctant, but in vain. Milton. Reluctant now I touched the trembling string. Tickell.
2. Proceeding from an unwilling mind; granted with reluctance; as, reluctant obedience. Mitford.
Syn.
– Averse; unwilling; loth; disinclined; repugnant; backward; coy. See Averse.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
9 June 2025
HERMAPHRODITE
(noun) one having both male and female sexual characteristics and organs; at birth an unambiguous assignment of male or female cannot be made
Coffee Trivia
