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 take place or occur as something additional or extraneous
Supervene refers to something that happens unexpectedly, especially as an added or secondary event. The word can imply disruption, used when one thing suddenly inserts itself into the flow of another. Plans shift, outcomes change, and just like that, something new has supervened.
Just as the meeting was ending, an emergency issue supervened, causing it to drag on even longer.
lying or exaggerating to an abnormal degree
Mythomania is the tendency to lie or exaggerate to an extreme degree. The word blends Greek roots meaning "story" and "madness," capturing the over-the-top nature of the behavior. When mythomania strikes, facts may fade, but the story lives on.
Her habit of absurdly embellishing stories suggested a case of mythomania.
to address someone familiarly
To tutoyer someone is to speak to them with easy familiarity, like switching from "sir" to "bro." The word comes from French, where it marks a precise grammatical shift to informal pronouns. Whether you're getting closer or letting your guard down, tutoyer is all about speaking freely.
After becoming friends with my neighbor, we began to tutoyer, dropping the formal titles completely.
a beach at a seashore resort
A plage is more than just a beach — it's the kind with striped umbrellas, crystal blue water, and even a bit of glamour. The word was borrowed from French, and it still carries a breezy, European flair. If you're dreaming of your next coastal escape, plage brings the vacation vibes.
We spent the entire afternoon relaxing on the soft sands of the exclusive Sicilian plage.
while standing or walking on tiptoe
Atiptoe describes quiet, careful movement — walking or standing on tiptoe, perhaps with a sense of stealth or anticipation. The word evokes lightness and hush, like someone trying not to wake a baby. Whether you're moving softly or reaching high, atiptoe says it with poise.
She walked atiptoe through the bedroom to avoid waking her napping toddler.
