Word of the Day
roux
noun
a cooked mixture of butter or other fat and flour used to thicken sauces, soups, and other dishes.
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Why Dictionary.com chose roux
More about roux
- Roux entered English around 1805–15.
- Roux was borrowed from French, and comes from the phrase (beurre) roux, which means “brown (butter).”
- Roux came from the Latin word russus, “red-brown, red-haired,” which is similar to ruber, “red.”
EXAMPLES OF ROUX
- The chef prepared a velvety smooth sauce by slowly whisking a roux made with equal parts butter and flour into the simmering broth.
- The secret to the perfect gravy lies in achieving just the right color and consistency of the roux.
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Why Dictionary.com chose wunderkind
More about wunderkind
- Wunderkind entered English around 1890–95.
- Wunderkind was adopted from German.
- Wunderkind, in German, is composed of the words Wunder, “wonder,” and Kind, “child.”
- Kind is also in another German loanword, kindergarten, which literally translates as “children’s garden.”
EXAMPLES OF WUNDERKIND
- The music industry was abuzz with talks of a new rising star, a wunderkind whose debut album took the charts by storm.
- The novel was written by a literary wunderkind who crafted captivating stories at a remarkably young age.
gauche
adjective
lacking social grace, sensitivity, or acuteness; awkward; tactless.
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Why Dictionary.com chose gauche
More about gauche
- Gauche entered English around 1745–55.
- Gauche comes from the French word meaning “awkward.”
- Gauche in French, is a derivative of the verb gauchir, “to turn, veer,” which has Germanic origins.
EXAMPLES OF GAUCHE
- Trying to fit in with his well-mannered colleagues, he couldn’t help but feel gauche in their refined presence.
- Despite her best efforts, her gauche attempt at small talk only made the conversation more awkward.
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