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.
the transposing of letters, syllables, or sounds in a word
Metathesis is what happens when sounds or letters in a word swap places, sometimes through speech habits or language evolution. It's one of the many reasons why historical spellings might not match modern ones, or why everyday pronunciation drifts over time. So if a word sounds a little out of order, you might have metathesis to thank for the switcheroo.
Children often say "aminal" instead of "animal," which is a common example of metathesis.
to satisfy fully
To sate is to fill or satisfy completely. It can apply to hunger, curiosity, or even emotional longing that's been fully met. The word traces back to Latin satis, meaning "enough," the root idea being a sense of having had your fill.
The large dinner was enough to sate everyone's intense hunger after a day of swimming.
in a confused or jumbled mass, crowd, manner, etc.
Pell-mell describes something unfolding in a disorderly jumble. Imagine shoppers rushing into a store for a big sale or travelers scrambling to catch a train. When things are happening pell-mell, you can say goodbye to structure and order.
The campers scrambled pell-mell for shelter as the storm rolled in.
a 250th anniversary or its celebration
A semiquincentennial recognizes 250 years — a milestone whose name comes from three Latin elements that add up to "halfway to 500." Across the United States, patriotic festivities are marking the country's semiquincentennial on July 4th. Happy 250th birthday, America!
The nation planned a grand celebration to mark the semiquincentennial of its founding.
truth in speech or statement; truthfulness
Veracity is what separates a true story from a tall tale. From a Latin term meaning "truth," this word is all about withstanding the sharpest scrutiny. It's easy to grab someone's attention, but you'll lose it just as quickly if your veracity is called into question.
The jury questioned the veracity of the witness's statement after seeing the new security footage.
