Word of the Day — January 22, 2013

Nadir — nay-dir — the lowest point, as in the fortunes of a person or organization, the opposite of zenith disenfranchise — dis-en-FRANCHIZE — to deprive of voting rights or power in the vote

Example: "A N.Y. Times editorial, in discussing the recent inauguration of the president, commented in retrospect: 'But in last year's spirited competition for the nadir of our political life, the lowest blow may have been the Republicans' systematic attempts to disenfranchise Democrats ...'"