Word of the Day — February 27, 2013

(the) Enlightenment - en-LITE-en-MENT - a European intellectual movement, late 17th, early 18th centuries, which forsook tradition for reason & individualism

polymath - POLY-MATH - a person of wide-ranging knowledge or learning

Example: "An article in the NY Times looking back at the age of Enlightenment & celebrating one of its exemplary thinkers reminded the readers that 'The Enlightenment polymath Denis Diderot turns 300 this year, and his October birthday is shaping up to be special.'"