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.
confidentially, secretly, or privately
When something is done sub rosa, it's secret or confidential. Literally meaning "under the rose" in Latin, the phrase evokes discretion and hidden knowledge. If a meeting happens sub rosa, expect closed doors and maybe even drawn shades.
The team discussed the sensitive plan sub rosa, away from the prying ears of their rivals.
any association of three in office or authority
A triumvirate is a trio in authority or office, from a Latin term meaning "three men." Political leaders, business partners, or creative teams can form a triumvirate, sharing power and responsibility. A triumvirate, when successful, shows how three voices can lead as one.
The new political triumvirate included the president, vice president, and treasurer.
being or becoming youthful
Juvenescent describes something that feels young and fresh, like discovering your own personal fountain of youth. Whether it's a burst of energy, a new idea, or that feeling of renewal after a relaxing trip, this word is all about that youthful spark.
The seasoned professor felt juvenescent when he started teaching the freshman class again.
a phantom or apparition
An eidolon is a fancy word for a ghostly figure. Elusive and eerie, it can chill the air or send a shiver down your spine. This spooky word is a reminder that some things exist more in feeling than in form.
The shimmering figure that appeared on the staircase was clearly an eidolon.
to exist as an inseparable quality or attribute of something
To inhere is to be an essential or built-in part of something. Courage may inhere in a hero, and curiosity in a scientist — traits that seem inseparable from the person who has them. If something inheres, it's woven so tightly into the whole thing that you can't imagine it any other way.
A strong sense of honesty and justice must inhere in all judges.
