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Why Dictionary.com chose ablution
More about ablution
- First recorded around 1350–1400.
- Comes via Middle English from the Latin stem of ablūtiō, related to abluere (from which comes abluent, “serving to cleanse”).
- Often used in the plural, ablutions.
EXAMPLES OF ABLUTION
- As part of his daily routine, he would perform the ablution with reverence and mindfulness, appreciating the ritual’s significance.
- The sound of running water during ablution brought a sense of calm and tranquility to her morning routine.
bafflegab
noun
confusing or generally unintelligible jargon; gobbledegook.
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Why Dictionary.com chose bafflegab
More about bafflegab
- First recorded in 1950–55.
- Formed from the words baffle, “to confuse, bewilder,” and gab, “to talk or chat idly.”
- It was possibly invented by American lawyer Milton A. Smith.
EXAMPLES OF BAFFLEGAB
- As a beginner in the field, I found the technical manual to be full of bafflegab that made learning difficult.
- The company’s financial report was so laden with bafflegab that even seasoned analysts struggled to make sense of it.
repine
verb
to be fretfully discontented; fret; complain.
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Why Dictionary.com chose repine
More about repine
- First recorded in 1520–30.
- Constituted of re-, “in the case of,” and pine, “to yearn deeply.”
- The slightly more common related word, unrepining means “not complaining.”
EXAMPLES OF REPINE
- The disgruntled customer seemed to always repine about the service at the restaurant.
- It’s hard to be around people who constantly repine without taking any action to improve their situation.
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