Word of the Day
kyogen
noun
a type of short comic Japanese play, often performed between classic dramas
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Why Dictionary.com chose kyogen
More about kyogen
- First recorded in 1870–80; sometimes written as kyōgen.
- From the Japanese kyōgen; combines kyō, meaning “crazed, mad;” + gen, meaning “speech, talking.”
EXAMPLES OF KYOGEN
- Between the tragic scenes, the troupe performed a kyogen to offer some comic relief.
- The humorous dialogue and puns in the kyogen entertained the audience.
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Why Dictionary.com chose caliginous
More about caliginous
- First recorded in 1540–50.
- From Latin cālīginōsus, meaning “misty;” combines Latin cālīgō, meaning “fog, gloom,” + -ous.
EXAMPLES OF CALIGINOUS
- A caliginous cave led them deeper into the heart of the mountain.
- The polluted air was thick with caliginous fumes and stifling humidity.
echolalia
noun
the imitation of sounds by babies as they learn to talk
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Why Dictionary.com chose echolalia
More about echolalia
- First recorded in 1880–85.
- Combines echo + -lalia, from the Greek lălĭā́, meaning “talking, speech.”
EXAMPLES OF ECHOLALIA
- The baby’s echolalia delighted her parents as she mimicked their laughter.
- The toddler’s echolalia of “night night” was adorable; he repeated it every evening after his brother said it.
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