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Why Dictionary.com chose blithesome
More about blithesome
- First recorded in 1715–25.
- Combines blithe, from an Old English word meaning “cheerful, gentle”; + -some¹.
EXAMPLES OF BLITHESOME
- The team cheered in blithesome unison after the victory.
- He whistled a blithesome tune while making a quesadilla.
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Why Dictionary.com chose remora
More about remora
- First recorded in 1560–70.
- From Latin remorārī, meaning “to linger, delay;” the remora fish also comes from this root, as some thought these fish would attach to and slow down ships.
EXAMPLES OF REMORA
- The bureaucracy’s love of paperwork is an eternal remora to efficiency.
- Legal disputes added a remora that pushed the merger timeline back.
primogeniture
noun
the state or fact of being the firstborn of children of the same parents
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Why Dictionary.com chose primogeniture
More about primogeniture
- First recorded in 1500–20.
- Combines Latin prīmō, meaning “at first” + genitūra, meaning “birth, generation.”
EXAMPLES OF PRIMOGENITURE
- In some cultures, primogeniture defined social status from birth.
- Even today, a preference for primogeniture can shape family dynamics and prompt younger siblings to strike out on their own.
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