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Why Dictionary.com chose fenny
More about fenny
- From Old English (450–1150) fennig.
- Combines fen¹, meaning “a boggy land or marsh,” + -y².
- Related to the rare regional word vinew, meaning “mold or moldiness.”
EXAMPLES OF FENNY
- Her footsteps left dark imprints in the fenny soil, each one filling with water.
- The horse hesitated before stepping onto the fenny path, sensing the unstable ground beneath its hooves.
decoct
verb
to extract the flavor or essence of something by boiling
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Why Dictionary.com chose decoct
More about decoct
- First recorded between 1375–1425.
- From Latin dēcoctus, meaning “boiled down.”
EXAMPLES OF DECOCT
- The chef knew how to decoct flavors from natural ingredients to create concentrated versions.
- Decocting herbs and vegetables for too long may strip away their nutrients and produce unsavory compounds.
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Why Dictionary.com chose chichi
More about chichi
- First recorded in 1905–10.
- From French chichi; possibly related to the French word chiche, meaning “a small thing or trifle.”
EXAMPLES OF CHICHI
- A silk scarf is sometimes chichi but undeniably elegant.
- The CEO bought a designer townhouse in a chichi neighborhood.
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