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.
the illusion of having previously experienced something encountered for the first time
Ever visited a place for the first time but felt strangely certain you'd been there before? That's déjà vu, a French phrase that literally means "already seen." For a scientific synonym of déjà vu, try out "promnesia." But you may get some confused looks in return.
Walking into the unfamiliar café, she was struck by a sense of déjà vu.
pertaining to or resembling alchemy
Something that's spagyric resembles alchemy. Thought to be coined by the physician and alchemist Paracelsus, it involves purifying substances by separating, extracting, and recombining them. You won't find spagyric remedies at your doctor's office, but the term offers a glimpse into the alchemical roots of early medicine.
The ancient healer mixed herbal extracts using spagyric techniques to create a magical elixir.
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.
