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Word of the Day

Word of the day

crepuscular

[ kri-puhs-kyuh-ler ] [ krɪˈpʌs kyə lər ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

adjective

of, relating to, or resembling twilight; dim; indistinct.

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Why Dictionary.com chose crepuscular

More about crepuscular

  • Crepuscular was first recorded in 1660–70.
  • Crepuscular comes from the noun crepuscule, “twilight; dusk.”
  • Crepuscule was first recorded around 1350–1400 from the Latin word crepuscul(um), which is similar to creper, “obscure.”

EXAMPLES OF CREPUSCULAR

  • During the crepuscular times of day, the sky takes on a mesmerizing blend of colors.
  • The early morning mist added to the crepuscular atmosphere as we hiked through the craggy landscape.
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Word of the day

haimish

[ hey-mish ] [ ˈheɪ mɪʃ ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

adjective

homey; cozy and unpretentious.

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Why Dictionary.com chose haimish

More about haimish

  • Haimish was first recorded in 1925–30.
  • Haimish comes from the Yiddish word heymish, which comes from the Old High German word heimisc, “pertaining to the home.”
  • The word home comes from before the 900s from the Old English word hām, which is also related to the German word for home, Heim.

EXAMPLES OF HAIMISH

  • The small café down the street had a haimish atmosphere that made me feel instantly at ease as soon as I walked through the door.
  • With its quaint decorations and homemade dishes, the charming restaurant created a haimish dining experience that reminded me of my grandmother’s cooking.
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Word of the day

dapple

[ dap-uhl ] [ ˈdæp əl ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

verb

to mark or become marked with spots.

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Why Dictionary.com chose dapple

More about dapple

  • Dapple, the verb, was first recorded in 1545–55.
  • Dapple was probably formed from the adjective dappled, “having spots of a different shade from the background.”
  • Dappled first appeared around 1350–1400 and comes from Middle English.
  • Dappled probably has Scandinavian roots and is similar to Old Norse depill, meaning “spot.”

EXAMPLES OF DAPPLE

  • The artist used a hairbrush to dapple paint onto the canvas, creating an abstract masterpiece.
  • The sunlight dappled the leaves, casting beautiful patterns on the forest floor.
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