Word of the Day
interlocutor
noun
a person who takes part in a conversation or dialogue.
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Why Dictionary.com chose interlocutor
More about interlocutor
- Interlocutor was first recorded in 1505–15.
- Interlocutor comes from a stem of the Latin word interloquī, meaning “to speak between.”
- The loqui part, which means “to speak,” also appears in loquacious, eloquent, and circumlocution.
EXAMPLES OF INTERLOCUTOR
- The television show featured a lively discussion between the host and an interlocutor, in which they explored various perspectives on a controversial topic.
- During the language exchange program, students are assigned interlocutors who help them practice speaking more fluently.
pithy
adjective
brief, forceful, and meaningful in expression.
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Why Dictionary.com chose pithy
More about pithy
- Pithy is a Middle English word dating back to 1300–50.
- It comes from pith, the white, spongy part of a citrus fruit between the rind and the thin skin of individual segments.
- Pith can also refer to the important or essential part of something.
- Pith was first recorded before 900 and comes from the Old English word pitha, a cognate of the Dutch word pit.
EXAMPLES OF PITHY
- In one pithy statement, she encapsulated the essence of the entire debate.
- The speaker’s pithy remark resonated with the audience, leaving a lasting impression.
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Why Dictionary.com chose spumescent
More about spumescent
- Spumescent was first recorded in 1855–60.
- Spumescent comes from the word spume, which means “to froth” or which can refer to the foam or froth itself.
- Spume comes from the Latin word spūma, meaning “foam, froth.”
- The ending –escent is borrowed from Latin, where it expresses the beginning of an action or process and often corresponds to verbs ending in –esce and nouns ending in –escence.
- Other examples with this ending are luminescent, adolescent, and frondescent.
EXAMPLES OF SPUMESCENT
- The barista skillfully poured steamed milk into the espresso, creating a spumescent layer of foam on top.
- The bubbling jacuzzi produced a relaxing and spumescent experience for the tired travelers.
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