Word of the Day

Banal

ba•nal
Pronunciation: \bə-ˈnal, ba-, -ˈnäl; bā-ˈnal; ˈbā-nəl\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Serbo-Croatian ban 'lord, ruler'

commonplace; tired or petty

"The consciously perceived message is often banality in its purest form, but the hidden message, designed for the subliminal perception, may be exquisite."

— Wilson Bryan Key, The Clam-Plate Orgy: And Other Subliminals The Media Use To Manipulate Your Behavior, 1980