Word of the Day
Word of the day
banshee
noun
a wailing spirit in Irish folklore seen or heard as a sign a family member will soon die
learn about the english language
Why Dictionary.com chose banshee
More about banshee
- First recorded in 1765–75.
- Combines the Irish word bean, meaning “woman,” + sídhe “of a fairy mound.”
EXAMPLES OF BANSHEE
- The cat’s wail in the alley could have been mistaken for a banshee.
- In Irish folklore, the banshee is not evil, just a sorrowful herald of death.
tycoon
noun
a businessperson with great wealth or influence
learn about the english language
Why Dictionary.com chose tycoon
More about tycoon
- First recorded in 1855–60.
- From Japanese taikun, meaning “great prince,” a title used for a shogun.
EXAMPLES OF TYCOON
- That waterfront mansion belongs to a shipping tycoon.
- The oil tycoon faced backlash for environmental violations.
learn about the english language
Why Dictionary.com chose gleam
More about gleam
- From Old English (450–1150) glǣm.
- Related to other words meaning “sight” or “light,” such as glimmer, glimpse, and glint.
EXAMPLES OF GLEAM
- The icicles began to gleam as the morning light came.
- The signal fires gleamed from across the river.
Word of the Day Calendar
