Word of the Day
shilly-shally
verb
to show indecision or hesitation; be irresolute
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Why Dictionary.com chose shilly-shally
More about shilly-shally
- First recorded in 1690–1700 as an adverb.
- From the adverb phrase “shill I, shall I,” meaning “undecidedly;” an ablaut form of the repeated question “Shall I? Shall I?”
EXAMPLES OF SHILLY-SHALLY
- The jury appeared to be shilly-shallying on the verdict, delaying the final decision.
- There’s no time to shilly-shally! We need to go now!
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Why Dictionary.com chose well-nigh
More about well-nigh
- From Old English wel neah (450–1150).
- Nigh is also the root of near, from nigh + -er⁷, and of next, from nigh + -est¹.
EXAMPLES OF WELL-NIGH
- The snow-covered field was well-nigh painful to look at because the sun’s reflection made it so bright.
- The intricate puzzle was well-nigh impossible to complete without clues.
pyrophoric
adjective
capable of igniting spontaneously in air
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Why Dictionary.com chose pyrophoric
More about pyrophoric
- First recorded in 1780–90.
- From the Greek pyrophóros, meaning “fire-bearing;” combines pyro-², meaning “fire,” + -phore, meaning “bearer of,” + -ic².
EXAMPLES OF PYROPHORIC
- The scientist handled the pyrophoric material with extreme caution to avoid accidental ignition.
- The chemical only showed pyrophoric properties above a certain temperature.
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