The Word of the Day for Feb 23 is:
bellwether \BEL-WEH-ther ("th" as in "this")\ noun
:one that takes the lead or initiative : leader; also : an indicator of trends
Example sentence:
Always the fashion bellwether of the class, Mike started wearing khaki pants to school while other boys were still wearing jeans.
Did you know?
We usually think of sheep more as followers than leaders, but in a flock one sheep must lead the way. Long ago, it was common practice for shepherds to hang a bell around the neck of one sheep in their flock, thereby designating it the lead sheep. This animal was called the "bellwether," a word formed by a combination of the Middle English words "belle" (meaning "bell") and "wether" (a noun that refers to a male sheep that has been castrated). It eventually followed that "bellwether" would come to refer to someone who takes initiative or who actively establishes a trend that is taken up by others. This usage first appeared in English in the 13th century.
*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.
My sentence:
It appears Arnold will be a political bellwether, championing the rights of non-native born Americans to become President.
lol I like your sentence. Mindboggling, isn't it?
Posted by: Rose | February 24, 2004 at 10:48 PM