Word of the Day: innate

innate \ ɪˈneɪt \ adjective

1. present at birth but not necessarily hereditary; acquired during fetal development

2. not established by conditioning or learning

3. (of a talent) existing through inherited qualities; natural

The word innate has appeared in 107 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year, including on Oct. 26 in the book review “3 Ways to Unlock Your ‘Hidden Potential’” by Melinda Wenner Moyer:

In a culture that focuses so intensely on success, it’s easy to feel like a failure. But according to the organizational psychologist Adam Grant, that might be because we’re thinking about achievement all wrong.

Many people assume that accomplishments are tied closely to innate ability, so they give up on pursuits they find challenging. That’s a mistake, Dr. Grant writes in his new book, “Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things.”

Dr. Grant shares anecdotes about people who accomplished the extraordinary despite showing little aptitude at first — including himself. He qualified twice for the Junior Olympic diving championships even though, he writes, he was woefully ungraceful and for a long time couldn’t touch his toes without bending his knees.

Daily Word Challenge

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