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 swaggering swordsman, soldier, or adventurer
A swashbuckler is someone who leaps into an adventure with their trusty weapon at the ready. While you won't find very many swashbucklers in real life, you're bound to encounter them in films and books. These romantic daredevils make for charming characters — and they pave the way for plenty of drama.
The swashbuckler swung from the ship's rigging with his sword drawn.
late; tardy
If you've ever fallen behind on a deadline or arrived late to an appointment, you've found yourself behindhand. The word dates back to the 16th century and is thought to have developed as a counterpart to "beforehand." While "beforehand" is comfortably early, behindhand is decidedly not.
Because of the heavy traffic, I arrived behindhand for my meeting.
lasting a very short time
Some things are here today and gone tomorrow, making them truly ephemeral. Think of a bubble that's about to pop or a delicate snowflake on the verge of melting in your hand. If it's fleeting, it's ephemeral.
The rainbow was ephemeral, fading away just as quickly as it had appeared.
a person who is an adept conversationalist while dining
A deipnosophist is someone who excels at conversation over a meal. The word has a distinctly old-world flavor, but the idea is familiar: A good dinner companion can keep the table lively without dominating it. A true deipnosophist knows that the best dinners depend on more than what is served.
The talented deipnosophist kept everyone at the dinner table thoroughly entertained with his fascinating stories.
to hide or conceal with or as if with foliage, greenery, or the like
To embosk is to hide or conceal something with foliage or greenery. The word brings to mind a bench tucked behind tall hedges or a cottage wall disappearing behind climbing vines. When plants do the hiding, embosk gives the scene a poetic touch.
The deer would often embosk themselves within the dense thicket to escape nearby predators.
