maverick
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What is the word of the day and its basic definition?
It's the word of the day podcast for july twenty third. Today's word is maverick, spelled M-A-V-E-R-I-C-K. Maverick is a noun.
How is “maverick” defined as a non‑conformist in everyday language?
It refers to a person who refuses to follow the customs or rules of a group, in other words, a nonconformist. Here's the word used in a sentence from Collisions, a physicist's journey from Hiroshima to the death of the dinosaurs by Alec Nevala Lee.
Which real‑world example illustrates a maverick in science?
Luis Alvarez has been described as a scientific Indiana Jones, but his reputation as a maverick was built on a foundation of patience and discipline. When a client gave Samuel A. Maverick four hundred cattle to settle a one thousand two hundred dollars debt, the nineteenth century South Texas lawyer had no use for them, so he left the cattle unbranded and allowed them to roam freely, supposedly under the supervision of one of his employees. Neighboring stockmen recognized their opportunity and seized it, branding and herding the stray cattle as their own.
What historical story gave rise to the term “maverick”?
Maverick eventually recognized the folly of the situation and sold what was left of his depleted herd, but not before his name became synonymous with such unbranded livestock. By the end of the 19th century, the term Maverick was being used to refer to individuals who prefer, like cattle left to their own devices, to blaze their own trails. With your word of the day, I'm Peter Sokolowski. Visit MarionWebster dot com today for definitions, wordplay, and trending word lookups.
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