Word of the Day
Weltschmerz
noun
sorrow that one feels and accepts as one's necessary portion in life; sentimental pessimism.
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Why Dictionary.com chose Weltschmerz
More about Weltschmerz
- First recorded in English in 1860–65.
- From German, Welt means “world” and Schmerz means “pain.”
- The English verb smart, in the sense “to cause a sharp pain,” is related to Schmerz.
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EXAMPLES OF WELTSCHMERZ
- The poetry of the Romantic era often captures the essence of Weltschmerz, evoking a poignant longing for an unattainable ideal.
- The protagonist in the novel was consumed by Weltschmerz, finding solace only in the depths of tragic literature.
risible
adjective
causing or capable of causing laughter; laughable; ludicrous.
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Why Dictionary.com chose risible
More about risible
- Entered English around 1550–60.
- From Late Latin rīsibilis, “that can laugh.”
- Risible can also mean “having the ability, disposition, or readiness to laugh.”
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EXAMPLES OF RISIBLE
- The cartoonist masterfully depicted the world’s leaders in a risible manner, providing a satirical critique of their actions.
- The absurd plot of the movie made it thoroughly risible, leaving the viewers in stitches.
cavil
verb
to raise irritating and trivial objections; find fault with unnecessarily.
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Why Dictionary.com chose cavil
More about cavil
- First recorded in 1540–50.
- From Latin cavillārī “to jeer, scoff, quibble.”
- Cavillārī is a derivative of cavilla “jesting, banter.”
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EXAMPLES OF CAVIL
- Instead of appreciating the effort put into the event, he chose to cavil about the choice of music, claiming it ruined the entire experience.
- She tends to cavil about grammar mistakes in online forums, often derailing discussions with her pedantic comments.
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