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Why Dictionary.com chose cardinal
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- First recorded as an adjective in 1340–45.
- From Latin cardinālis, meaning “hinge;” hence, it refers to something on which other things hinge.
EXAMPLES OF CARDINAL
- The teacher reminded the students that curiosity is a cardinal trait of great thinkers.
- The tire blew out on an empty highway, and that’s when she realized the cardinal lesson of always making sure to have a spare.
isocracy
noun
a government in which all individuals have equal political power
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Why Dictionary.com chose isocracy
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EXAMPLES OF ISOCRACY
- The student council functioned as an isocracy, giving each member an equal vote.
- It remains uncertain whether a true isocracy can function in a complex society.
shroff
verb
to test (coins) to find out the purity of the metal
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Why Dictionary.com chose shroff
More about shroff
- First recorded in 1610–20 as a noun meaning “a banker or moneychanger.”
- Likely from Arabic ṣayrāfī, meaning “moneychanger.”
EXAMPLES OF SHROFF
- She learned how to shroff coins by studying ancient metallurgy.
- The appraiser shroffed the gold bars and found they were mostly lead.
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