Word of the Day
da capo
adverb
repeated from the beginning (used as a musical direction).
learn about the english language
Why Dictionary.com chose da capo
More about da capo
- Da capo entered English around 1715–25.
- Da capo comes from Italian and literally means “from the head.”
- You may hear da capo used in music with al fine, which means “to the end” as in, da capo al fine.
- In sheet music, da capo is often abbreviated d.c. and can also be used with al coda, meaning “to the tail.”
EXAMPLES OF DA CAPO
- The violinist knew she would have to go on playing the song through again da capo until the guest of honor appeared.
- That particular piece of music sounded better when played da capo al fine.
monadnock
noun
a residual hill or mountain standing well above the surface of a surrounding area.
learn about the english language
Why Dictionary.com chose monadnock
More about monadnock
- Monadnock entered English around 1735–45.
- Monadnock came from the name of Mount Monadnock in New Hampshire.
- Mount Monadnock was first named Grand Monadnock after an Algonquian name from one of the Abenaki peoples’ languages that meant “isolated mountain.”
EXAMPLES OF MONADNOCK
- Hikers flock to the monadnock, eager to conquer its towering peak and experience its rugged beauty.
- As I reached the top of the monadnock, I couldn’t help but marvel at nature’s ability to shape such impressive landforms.
learn about the english language
Why Dictionary.com chose dacker
More about dacker
- Dacker was first recorded in 1625–35.
- Dacker is primarily used in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
- Dacker possibly came from the early Dutch word daeckeren, which means “to flutter, vibrate.”
EXAMPLES OF DACKER
- As the hiker reached the summit, exhaustion took over, and they began to dacker down the steep slope.
- The toddler, still unsteady on his feet, would dacker and stumble as he tried to walk across the room.
Word of the Day Calendar