modicum
noun
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The Origins of Modicum Can Be Found in the Bathroom
What does modicum have to do with a toilet? It just so happens that modicum shares the same Latin parent as commode, which is a synonym of toilet. Modicum and commode ultimately derive from the Latin noun modus, which means "measure." (We borrowed the noun commode from the French, who also used the word as an adjective meaning "suitable, convenient.") Modicum, which, logically enough, refers to a small "measure" of something, has been a part of the English language since the 15th century. It descends from the Latin modicus ("moderate"), which is itself a descendant of modus. Modus really measures up as a Latin root—it also gave us mode (originally a kind of musical "measure"), modal, model, modern, modify, and modulate. More distant relatives include mete, moderate, and modest.
Synonyms
Examples of modicum in a Sentence
Andrew Cuomo, New York Daily News, 1 Apr. 2024
Like in most industries, women in gaming have to work twice as hard for even a modicum of respect.
—Katherine Singh, refinery29.com, 6 Feb. 2024
The Garner family sued the city and settled for $5.9 million but sought a legal inquiry into Garner’s death in 2021 to bring some modicum of justice to the case.
—Kizzy Cox, Essence, 18 July 2024
With a modicum of cooperation restored, the United States and Russia could take more specific steps to reduce the likelihood of a new nuclear arms race—of vital importance for international security, particularly in light of the probable demise of the INF Treaty.
—Ernest J. Moniz, Foreign Affairs, 6 Aug. 2019
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Cite this Entry
“Modicum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/modicum. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.
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modicum
noun
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