Word of the Day
exculpatory
adjective
tending to clear from a charge of fault or guilt
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Why Dictionary.com chose exculpatory
More about exculpatory
- First recorded in 1770–80.
- Combines exculpate, from Latin exculpātus, meaning “free from blame,” + -ory¹.
- Shares the same Latin root as culpable.
EXAMPLES OF EXCULPATORY
- The lawyer presented exculpatory evidence that cast doubt on the defendant’s testimony.
- The DNA results from the crime scene were exculpatory, ruling out the accused as the perpetrator.
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Why Dictionary.com chose dislimn
More about dislimn
- First recorded in 1600–10.
- Combines dis- + limn, meaning “to illuminate or portray.”
- Sometimes used poetically to mean “to become forgotten.”
EXAMPLES OF DISLIMN
- Heavy rain began to dislimn the outlines of passing cars.
- The words in the journal were dislimned and faded by the writer’s tears.
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Why Dictionary.com chose khaki
More about khaki
- First recorded in 1855–60.
- From Persian khākī, meaning “dusty or earth-colored,” via Urdu.
- The word came to describe the fabric of the British military field uniforms, which were originally dyed this color for camouflage.
EXAMPLES OF KHAKI
- The casserole took on a strange, khaki color after reheating, and no one dared eat it.
- The tent’s khaki canvas blended into the dry grasslands.
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