Word of the Day
favonian
adjective
(especially of wind) mild, favorable, or auspicious
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Why Dictionary.com chose favonian
More about favonian
- First recorded in 1650–60.
- From Favonius, the Roman mythological personification of the west wind, equivalent to Zephyrus in Greek mythology.
- Distantly related to the word favorable.
EXAMPLES OF FAVONIAN
- Summer jogs felt easier with the favonian air drifting through the park.
- A favonian current rippled across the rice paddy.
obi
noun
a long, broad sash tied about the waist over a Japanese kimono
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Why Dictionary.com chose obi
More about obi
- First recorded in 1875–80.
- From Japanese obi, meaning “belt.”
EXAMPLES OF OBI
- After hours of preparation for the wedding, the final touch was the perfectly knotted obi.
- He selected a gold-trimmed obi to complement the kimono.
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Why Dictionary.com chose gainsay
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Why Dictionary.com chose gainsay
More about gainsay
- First recorded between 1250–1300.
- Combines gain-, an archaic prefix meaning “against,” + say¹.
EXAMPLES OF GAINSAY
- The judge saw no reason to gainsay the witness’s statement.
- You can try to gainsay my claim that this is the best playlist ever, but it’s staying on repeat.
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