Word of the Day

Tuesday September 22, 2009

inculcate [in-KUHL-kayt; IN-kuhl-kayt]

transitive verb

To teach and impress by frequent repetitions or admonitions; indoctrinate

By controlling the purse strings parents can feel as if they are exerting some sort of discipline while ensuring that young lives are not overtaken with bad food and baleful experiences. Yet the arbitrary way in which parents give children money does little to inculcate awareness, appreciation of value and prudence.

Robert Cole, "Bring back the piggy bank", The Times, Aug 1, 2009
A second lesson from his life is that when you are blessed with a talent so massive that you can influence a generation, you should use that to maximum meaningful advantage, to inculcate values such as kindness, caring, understanding, harmony and others. Somehow, Jackson's fame withered into notoriety, a sorry reminder of what could have been.

Reuven Bulka, "Ask the Experts; Question", The Ottawa Citizen, Jul 11, 2009
Mr. Smallweed, hearing that this authority is an old soldier, so strongly inculcates the expediency of the trooper's taking counsel with him, and particularly informing him of its being a question of five guineas or more, that Mr. George engages to go and see him.

Charles Dickens (1812-1870) English novelist and social campaigner. Bleak House (1852-1853)

Origin of the Word

Inculcate, approximately 1550, derives from Latin inculcatus, past participle of inculcare "force upon, stamp in," from in- "in" + calcare "to tread, press in," from calx "heel."