hale

<font size="-1" face="arial, helvetica"> <p> <strong> <font color="#000066">Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 30, 2021 is:</font> </strong> </p> <p> <strong>hale</strong> &#149; \HAIL\&nbsp; &#149; <em>adjective</em><br /> <p><strong>:</strong> free from defect, disease, or infirmity <strong>:</strong> <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sound#h3">sound</a>; <em>also</em> <strong>:</strong> retaining exceptional health and vigor</p> </p> <p> <strong>Examples:</strong><br /> <p>"Uncle Charles was a <em>hale</em> old man with a well tanned skin, rugged features and white side whiskers." — <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/files/4217/4217-h/4217-h.htm">James Joyce, <em>A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man</em>, 1916</a></p> <p>"Buying healthy, thriving plants is as much art as science. But knowing what to look for when you buy your spring plants is one of the best ways to get your garden off to a good start. Starting with <em>hale</em> and hearty plants is one of the 'secrets' of successful gardeners." — <a href="https://www.toronto.com/opinion-story/8583286-growing-green-have-a-plan-take-time-to-create-best-garden/">Rob Howard, <em>The Hamilton (Ontario, Canada) Mountain News</em>, 6 May 2018</a></p> </p> <p> <strong>Did you know?</strong><br /> <p>English has two words <em>hale</em>: the adjective that is frequently paired with <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hearty"><em>hearty</em></a> to describe those healthy and strong, and the somewhat uncommon <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hale#h2">verb</a> that has to do with literal or figurative hauling or pulling. (One can hale a boat onto shore, or hale a person into a courtroom with the aid of legal ramifications for resistance.) The verb comes from Middle English <em>halen</em>, also root of our word <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/haul"><em>haul</em></a>, but the adjective has a bifurcated origin, with two Middle Eng