Word of the Day
libretto
noun
the words of an opera or other musical compositions
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Why Dictionary.com chose libretto
More about libretto
- First recorded in 1735–45.
- From Italian libretto, combining libro, meaning “book” related to library, + -etto, meaning “little.”
- Historically, opera goers could purchase a small booklet, or libretto, containing the lyrics to follow along with the performance.
EXAMPLES OF LIBRETTO
- The provocative libretto led to a drawn-out scandal for the opera’s creators.
- The libretto contained references to both myth and contemporary events that added layers of meaning to the performance.
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Why Dictionary.com chose dight
More about dight
- From Old English (450–1150) dihtan, meaning “to compose or arrange.” Now considered archaic.
- Possibly from the Proto-Germanic dīkaną, meaning “to create,” which may be influenced by the Latin dictāre, meaning “to dictate or order.”
EXAMPLES OF DIGHT
- The warm weather calls for one to dight themselves in cool, light fabrics.
- For their coworker’s birthday, they decided to dight her desk with colorful flowers.
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Why Dictionary.com chose fenny
More about fenny
- From Old English (450–1150) fennig.
- Combines fen¹, meaning “a boggy land or marsh,” + -y².
- Related to the rare regional word vinew, meaning “mold or moldiness.”
EXAMPLES OF FENNY
- Her footsteps left dark imprints in the fenny soil, each one filling with water.
- The horse hesitated before stepping onto the fenny path, sensing the unstable ground beneath its hooves.
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