Word a day

So I am working with my cousin to do a word a day while he's here. It's amazing to me that 1. He doesn't know how to spell words like "jealous" or "choice" and 2. That he doesn't know what the word "optimistic" means. I mean seriously, what kind of education are kids getting these days?

I had a voluminous vocabulary by the time I was in third grade for cripes' sake.

Word for today:

misoneism
PRONUNCIATION:
(mis-uh-NEE-izm)

MEANING:
noun: A hatred or fear of change or innovation.


Thank you word-a-day web site. You are my hero.