winged word
A word or statement which is very apt for an occasion, or memorable.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“She chose a winged word that perfectly described the situation.”
“During his retirement speech, he shared a winged word that captured the essence of his long career.”
“The poet was famous for his ability to craft a winged word, leaving his audience deeply moved by the precision and beauty of his language.”
disputed origin
A calque of the Ancient Greek ἔπεα πτερόεντα (épea pteróenta), a phrase frequently employed by Homer, the figure to whom the Iliad and Odyssey are attributed. He is said to have been born circa 750 B.C.E., though the specifics of his biography remain a matter of some debate.
The construction derives from ἔπεᾰ (épeă), the plural of ἔπος (épos), signifying something spoken such as a song or speech, and πτερόεντα (pteróenta). The latter is the plural of πτερόεις (pteróeis), meaning feathered or winged, itself formed from πτερόν (pterón), a feather or wing, and the suffix -εις (-eis), indicating a quality possessed thoroughly. The image suggests words that, once released, take flight toward their listener.
- 01
bad word
A vulgar word.
- 02
breathe a word
To divulge even part of a secret (usually used with a negative).
- 03
cut the pigeon wing
To dance with graceful or fancy movements.
- 04
dicky
[Cockney slang]word
- 05
dirty word
The name of a topic that a person prefers not to hear or discuss.
- 06
empty words
Any type of talk with little meaning; a message that seems to contain meaningful content but is actually vapid.
- 07
from the word go
From the very beginning; from the outset; immediately upon starting.
- 08
get the word out
To make some information more widely known.
Last updated August 10, 2026