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.
firm or solid earth; dry land
Terra firma refers to dry, solid land, as opposed to water or air. But it's often used as a metaphor for any stable foundation in a world that can feel fluid. Even daring explorers eventually find themselves longing for the safety of terra firma.
The exhausted sailors were grateful to leave the boat and stand on terra firma.
a metal or plastic tag at the end of a lace
Did you know that the small plastic or metal tip at the end of your shoelace actually has a name? It's an aglet. Beyond preventing fraying, it makes it easier to tie your shoes. This small detail on your laces has a surprisingly important job!
He struggled to thread his shoelace because the plastic aglet had fallen off the tip.
suitable to be eaten; edible
If something is comestible, it's fit to be eaten, plain and simple. Comestible doesn't necessarily mean it will be delicious, but it will at least be edible!
The survival guide helps backpackers distinguish between poisonous berries and those that are comestible.
a word to the wise; no more needs to be said
Verbum sap signals that no further explanation is needed. Short for a Latin phrase meaning "a word to the wise is enough," it suggests that the hint has been understood and nothing more needs to be said.
I mentioned that the meeting would begin in one minute, verbum sap, and they took their seats.
an elaborate or complicated procedure
Rigmarole refers to an overly complicated process that's full of unnecessary steps or tedious detail. It's thought to be an alteration of "ragman roll," the name of a long legal document in the 13th century. If there are lots of forms to fill out, hoops to jump through, and your patience is wearing thin, it's probably a rigmarole.
We had to go through a long rigmarole just to get a simple library card.
