Word of the Day
ad hockery
noun
reliance on temporary solutions rather than on consistent, long-term plans.
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Why Dictionary.com chose ad hockery
More about ad hockery
- Ad hockery was first recorded between 1890–1900.
- Ad hockery comes from the adjective and adverb ad hoc, “for the special purpose or end presently under consideration.”
- Ad hoc entered English from the Latin phrase meaning “for this” around 1550–60 when the expression was quickly being adopted into legal and judicial writings.
EXAMPLES OF AD HOCKERY
- The computer programmer’s inclination toward ad hockery often resulted in quick fixes that failed to address the underlying issues at hand.
- The company’s ad hockery in managing its budget ultimately led to financial instability and a lack of sustainable growth.
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Why Dictionary.com chose nigh
More about nigh
- Nigh was first recorded before 900.
- Nigh comes from the Old English word nēah, also spelled nēh.
- Nigh shares an origin with its synonym near, also first recorded before 900.
- Nigh, however, has significantly dropped in frequency since the 1890s and is considered archaic or poetic.
EXAMPLES OF NIGH
- With each passing day, the end of the week draws nigh and the weekend approaches.
- As the storm grew nigh, the sound of thunder grew louder.
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Why Dictionary.com chose jammy
More about jammy
- Jammy was first recorded in 1850–55.
- Jammy is an informal word primarily used in British English.
- Jammy was formed apparently from jam, “a preserve of whole fruit, slightly crushed, boiled with sugar.”
- Jammy, in the featured sense, is comparable to the idioms to have jam on it, meaning “to have something easy,” and real jam or pure jam, which means “something easy or pleasant.”
EXAMPLES OF JAMMY
- She found a parking spot right in front of the store, how jammy!
- I was running late for my flight, but luckily the airline held the gate open for me–talk about a jammy break!
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