Word of the Day
abscond
verb (used without object)
to depart in a sudden and secret manner.
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Why Dictionary.com chose abscond
More about abscond
- The first records of the word abscond come from around the 1600s.
- Abscond comes from the Latin verb abscondere, meaning “to hide or stow away.”
- The word typically implies that someone has left because they have done something wrong and want to avoid any consequences.
- Abscond is often followed by the word with and the thing that the person has absconded with, such as the things they’ve stolen.
- A person who absconds can be called an absconder or an abscondee.
EXAMPLES OF ABSCOND
- After embezzling a large sum of money, the accountant decided to abscond in the middle of the night, leaving no trace behind.
- In a daring heist, the thief successfully absconded with the priceless diamond necklace, eluding both security and surveillance cameras.
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Why Dictionary.com chose plaudit
More about plaudit
- An earlier version of plaudit was plaudite, which was pronounced as three syllables.
- Plaudite came from Latin plaudere, meaning “to applaud.”
- Plaudit can also refer to a round of applause; in fact, Roman actors would shout Plaudite! to encourage their audiences to clap after a play.
- It’s often used in the plural form plaudits and was first recorded in 1615-25.
EXAMPLES OF PLAUDIT
- The novel received numerous plaudits from critics, praising the author’s unique writing style.
- Despite having stage fright, the speaker gained confidence over time as she received plaudits for her inspiring speeches.
palsy-walsy
adjective
friendly or appearing to be friendly in a very intimate or hearty way.
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Why Dictionary.com chose palsy-walsy
More about palsy-walsy
- Palsy-walsy is a slang term that was first recorded in 1930-35.
- It is a rhyming compound based on the adjective palsy, which was first recorded in 1925-30 and comes from pal.
- Pal was first recorded in 1675-85 and comes from a variant of the continental Romani word phral, “brother, mate,” ultimately from Sanskrit bhrātṛ “brother.”
EXAMPLES OF PALSY-WALSY
- The salesperson’s overly palsy-walsy attitude made the customer feel uncomfortable.
- I don’t like how she acts all palsy-walsy with me when she needs something.
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