Word of the Day
demarcation
noun
the specification of boundaries
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Why Dictionary.com chose demarcation
More about demarcation
- First recorded in 1720–30.
- Originally referred to the linea de demarcación, the “line of demarcation” that separated the Spanish and Portuguese colonies.
- Combines de-⁴, indicating “separation,” + mark¹ + -ation.
EXAMPLES OF DEMARCATION
- The river formed a natural demarcation between the two countries.
- The law outlines a demarcation of authority between federal and state governments.
amphigory
noun
a meaningless or nonsensical piece of writing
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Why Dictionary.com chose amphigory
More about amphigory
- First recorded in 1800–10.
- From the French amphigouri; combines amphi-, a prefix meaning “two, both sides,” + gouri, possibly from the Greek gûros, meaning “circle,” or agoría, meaning “speech.”
EXAMPLES OF AMPHIGORY
- My essay devolved into an amphigory as I ran out of ideas.
- His argument tries to maintain clarity, though it strays at moments into amphigory.
pelagic
adjective
of or relating to the seas and oceans
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Why Dictionary.com chose pelagic
More about pelagic
- First recorded in 1650–60.
- Combines the Greek root pélagos, “the sea,” + suffix -ic².
EXAMPLES OF PELAGIC
- The study revealed how some pelagic ecosystems are affected by plastic waste.
- The whale is a pelagic mammal, spending most of its life far from the coast.
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