Summary: Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 18, 2012 is: worldly-wise \WERLD-lee-wyze\ adjective : possessing a practical and often shrewd understanding of human affairs Examples: The interns' supervisor addressed the group, saying "We don't expect our interns to be worldly-wisewe expect them to be conscientious, hardworking, and committed to learning how work in a small non-profit is done." "His supposed ruthlessness is the perfect antidote to that greatest of sins for the worldly-wisenaïveté." From Miles J. Unger's 2011 book Machiavelli: A Biography Did you know? "Worldly-wise" is one of a handful of compound adjectives formed from the word "wise" ("having wisdom or knowledge"). "Penny-wise" (from the phrase "penny-wise and pound-foolish") is a good word for describing someone who is good with only small sums or matters. "Weather-wise" can describe a competent meteorologist or someone who is competent in a different kind of forecasting: that of changes in opinion or feeling. These adjectives aren't especially common, but they do see occasional use. Even less common is "air-wise," which can be applied to people skilled in aviation. And if you master these words and feel the wiser for it, you may consider yourself "self-wise"that is, wise in your own estimation.
