Word of the Day
Word of the day
ombudsman
noun
a government official who investigates complaints from citizens about other officials or agencies
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Why Dictionary.com chose ombudsman
More about ombudsman
- First recorded in 1910–15.
- From Swedish ombud, meaning “an agent or proxy,” + man.
EXAMPLES OF OMBUDSMAN
- He filed a grievance with the ombudsman regarding the smell coming from the nearby factory.
- The ombudsman’s office is located in the city center, accessible to all residents.
cherub
noun
a kind of angel, often represented as a rosy-cheeked child with wings
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Why Dictionary.com chose cherub
More about cherub
- First recorded in Old English (450–1150).
- From Hebrew kərūbh; possibly from a root meaning “to bless.”
EXAMPLES OF CHERUB
- The statue of a cherub stood guard at the entrance to the old cemetery.
- The baby grinned up at them, pink-cheeked and bright-eyed like a cherub.
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Why Dictionary.com chose bon mot
More about bon mot
- First recorded in 1725–35.
- From French, meaning “good word;” mot is related to the word motto.
EXAMPLES OF BON MOT
- Her bon mot about the movie star’s red-carpet style went viral.
- The interview was full of clever insights and the occasional bon mot.
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