THE FIRST WORD

redoubtable

PRONUNCIATION:

(ri-DOU-tuh-buhl) 

MEANING:

adjective: Arousing fear or awe; evoking respect or honor.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Old French redoutable, from redouter (to dread), from re- (again) + douter (to doubt, fear). Ultimately from the Indo-European root dwo- (two) that also gave us dual, double, dubious, doubt, diploma, twin, between, and didymous. Earliest documented use: 1421.

USAGE:

"Even the redoubtable German economy now seems to be buckling."
Powering Down; The Economist (London, UK); Jul 7, 2012.