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.
a word or phrase from a mishearing of another word or phrase, especially in a song or poem
A mondegreen happens when a phrase or lyric is misheard, giving it a whole new (and often funny) meaning. Songs, poems, and familiar sayings are prime territory for these accidental twists. Mondegreens remind us that sometimes mistakes can be pretty entertaining.
Like many other fans, she thought the lyrics were "All the lonely Starbucks lovers" instead of "Got a long list of ex-lovers," but she later learned it was a mondegreen.
shaped like an arrowhead
Nature and design often form sharp, arrow-like shapes. Sagittate describes objects, leaves, or patterns that resemble an arrowhead. Looking for a helpful way to remember the word? Picture the archer in the Sagittarius symbol.
The arrowhead-shaped leaves of the plant were strikingly sagittate in their design.
to bewilder or confuse
When a situation leaves you scratching your head, it has flummoxed you. The word captures moments of genuine confusion, when events or explanations defy expectation and challenge your wits. It's a fitting word for those times when nothing seems to make sense, no matter how hard you try.
The confusing instructions on the exam paper would flummox even the brightest student in the class.
loss or omission of the last letter, syllable, or part of a word
Apocope is the name for the graceful trimming of words. It's a small omission that can change rhythm, rhyme, or even meaning in writing and speech. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "a cutting off," a nod to the final letters or sounds that are quietly dropped.
The word "cinema" is an example of apocope, since it omits the end of "cinematography."
on the spur of the moment
Extempore describes actions done on the spur of the moment, without rehearsal or planning, where spontaneity meets creativity and keeps everyone on their toes. Ideas, speeches, or performances can spring to life without warning; that's extempore!
The speaker delivered a truly impressive extempore address without any preparation.
