Word of the Day
Learn a new word every day! The Dictionary.com team of language experts carefully selects each Word of the Day to add some panache to your vocabulary.
to tour small towns to stage theatrical performances
To barnstorm is to travel from town to town putting on shows, especially in smaller communities. The term first became popular with touring theater troupes and later with daredevil pilots performing aerial stunts and politicians who visited towns to speak. No matter the occasion, when you barnstorm it's bound to draw a crowd!
The traveling actors decided to barnstorm across the Midwest, performing their new play in several rural towns.
of necessity; by force of circumstance
When something happens perforce, it's because circumstances leave no alternative. A canceled flight may perforce leave travelers stranded overnight, or bad weather may perforce change barbecue plans. In such moments, choice falls away and necessity takes the lead.
With the main bridge closed for repairs, the travelers were perforce required to take the long detour.
a person who is easily duped or cheated
A gudgeon is the kind of person who falls for every scam or trick in the book. The word originally referred to a small fish that was especially easy to catch, which explains how it came to describe a gullible person. If something sounds too good to be true, a gudgeon is the one who believes it anyway.
The smooth-talking salesman easily convinced the gudgeon to buy the car for an inflated price.
a person, thing, action, or statement of remarkable excellence or effect
A humdinger is something remarkable enough to leave a lasting impression. You might hear someone describe an outrageous story or an exciting game by saying, "That was a real humdinger!" Fittingly, the word itself sounds energetic and a little playful, matching the larger-than-life quality of whatever it describes. After all, a true humdinger doesn't just get noticed — it steals the whole show.
The championship match was a real humdinger, with a last-second goal that left the crowd roaring.
to mingle with or add to something else
To admix is to blend one thing into another. A chef might admix spices into a sauce, while a musician might admix jazz into a classical style. The word is often used in a technical sense for adding a secondary substance to a base, but it can also apply to something like a blend of emotions, such as bittersweetness. Add something extra and admix!
She decided to admix a secret family ingredient into the simmering tomato sauce.
