quorum

<font size="-1" face="arial, helvetica"> <p> <strong> <font color="#000066">Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 25, 2023 is:</font> </strong> </p> <p> <strong>quorum</strong> &#149; \KWOR-um\&nbsp; &#149; <em>noun</em><br /> <p><em>Quorum</em> refers to the smallest number of people who must be present at a meeting in order for official decisions to be made. Broadly speaking, <em>quorum</em> may refer to any select group.</p> <p>// The organization's charter states that a <em>quorum</em> of at least seven board members must be present before any voting can take place. </p> <p><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quorum">See the entry ></a></p> </p> <p> <strong>Examples:</strong><br /> <p>"There has been criticism of several councillors not appearing at committee and council meetings over the last two years forcing some meetings to be cancelled because of a lack of <em>quorum</em>." — Kevin Werner, <em>The Hamilton (Ontario) Mountain News</em>, 14 July 2022 </p> </p> <p> <strong>Did you know?</strong><br /> <p>It takes two drama queens to <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/origin-of-dance-phrases">tango</a>, three Nervous Nellies to change a lightbulb, and 218 U.S. <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/House-of-Representatives-United-States-government">House Representatives</a> to constitute a formal meeting. Each of these minimums—especially the last one—may be described as a <em>quorum</em>. This word, which can be pluralized as <em>quorums</em> or <em>quora</em>, comes directly from the Latin word <em>quorum</em>, which translates as "of whom." At one time, this Latin <em>quorum</em> was used in the wording of the commissions granting power to justices of the peace in England. Later, when it became an English noun, <em>quorum</em> initially referred to the number of <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/justice-of-the-peace">justices of the peace</a> who had to be present to constitute a le