The Word of the Day is dissonant, an adjective describing things that clash. In music, dissonant refers to notes or chords that are not in harmony. It can also describe sounds that clash together. Beyond music, dissonant applies to things that do not agree or fit well together. For instance, disparate elements might form a dissonant but cohesive whole. The word's origin traces back to the Latin verb sonare, meaning "to sound." This root is shared with words like sonata, supersonic, and resonance. Sonare is related to the Latin word sonus, also meaning "sound." Ultimately, it is an ancestor of the English word "sound." In music, dissonant contrasts with consonance, which signifies agreeable or resolved intervals and chords.