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 first person to cross the threshold of a house on New Year's Day
As the new year begins, a Scottish tradition celebrates the first person to come through the door after midnight. This first-foot is believed to bring luck for the year ahead, often arriving with symbolic gifts like coal or bread. The first-foot marks a beginning steeped in hope, ceremony, and prosperity.
As the first-foot, our neighbor brought a traditional lump of coal for good luck.
a place or point of entering or beginning
A threshold marks the start of something new — a crossing point from one state, space, or moment into another. It can be a symbolic shift or an actual doorway, but either way, it signals movement and change. When you're ready for change, threshold names that powerful transition.
She stood on the threshold of a new adventure.
to shine or polish to a high sheen, especially with wax
To simonize is to polish something to a dazzling, glossy finish, especially using wax. The word originated as a brand name for car wax in the early 20th century, but it eventually slid into English as a verb. Whether you're buffing chrome or giving extra sparkle to a favorite phrase, simonize makes everything shine brighter.
He will simonize the car so it shines for the show.
an animal, person, or thing adopted by a group as its representative symbol and supposed to bring good luck
A mascot is more than a costumed character — it's a symbol meant to embody the spirit, luck, or identity of a group. Whether it's a lion prowling the sidelines or a lucky trinket hanging from a rearview mirror, a mascot gives form to shared pride and purpose.
The team's mascot, a tiger, rallied the fans with its energetic antics.
wintry
A brumal day might bring crisp air, frost, or short daylight hours. In fact, the word comes from a Latin term that originally meant "winter solstice," the shortest day of the year. When things feel brumal, it's a perfect excuse to curl up with a good book and relax indoors.
The brumal air made me shiver.
