In literature, the word plod vividly conveys a sense of slow, steady, and sometimes burdensome progress. It is often used to depict physical movement through challenging landscapes—evoking images of characters or animals steadily making their way over rough terrain [1][2][3]—while also serving as a metaphor for life's relentless march, as one must continue forward despite fatigue or hardship [4][5][6]. At times the term adopts a more personal or even ironic tone, identifying a character with an unhurried nature or critiquing a monotonous routine, as when someone is remarked upon for “plodding along” without ambition [7][8][9]. In each case, plod encapsulates both the endurance and the weariness of gradual progress.