brainiac
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\n \n Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 18, 2024 is:\n \n
\n \n\n brainiac • \\BRAY-nee-ak\\ • noun
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A brainiac is a very intelligent person.
\n\n// Her ability to solve almost any puzzle within minutes secured her place as the brainiac of the family.
\n\n\n \n \n\n Examples:
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"In this modern, adult-oriented take on the classic 'Scooby-Doo' franchise, the series follows the origin story of Velma Dinkley (Kaling), the brainiac of the Mystery Inc. gang. After a corpse is found in her high school, Velma teams up with Daphne (Constance Wu), Shaggy (Sam Richardson) and Fred (Glenn Howerton) to solve the murder." \u2014 Michaela Zee, Variety, 21 Dec. 2022
\n \n \n\n Did you know?
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As Superman fans know, Brainiac was the superintelligent villain in the Action Comics series and its spin-offs. His name is a portmanteau of brain and maniac. You don't need x-ray vision to see the connection here\u2014etymologists think Superman's brainy adversary is the likely inspiration for the common noun brainiac. The term was not coined right away though. The comic-book series was launched in 1938 and the character Brainiac debuted in 1958, but current evidence doesn't show general use of brainiac to refer to a superintelligent person until the 1970s.
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