Word of the Day
kenspeckle
adjective
conspicuous; easily seen or recognized.
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Why Dictionary.com chose kenspeckle
More about kenspeckle
- Kenspeckle was first recorded around 1705–15.
- Kenspeckle features in Scottish and Northern English and derives from kenspeck, which is of Scandinavian origin.
- Norwegian has a similar word, kjennespak, “quick at recognizing,” literally, “know-clever.”
- The English word ken, “knowledge, understanding, or cognizance; mental perception,” is also related.
EXAMPLES OF KENSPECKLE
- The kenspeckle neon sign outside the store attracted customers from afar.
- Her kenspeckle sense of style made her stand out in a crowd.
salubrious
adjective
favorable to or promoting health; healthful.
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Why Dictionary.com chose salubrious
More about salubrious
- Salubrious entered English around 1540–50.
- Salubrious comes from the Latin word salūbr(is), meaning “promoting health,” which is related to the Latin word salūs, “health.”
- Salūs also gives us the Spanish word salud, “health,” which is used to say “Cheers!” (“To your health!”) when toasting drinks or instead of “Bless you!” when someone sneezes.
- Use of salud in English dates back to at least the 1930s.
EXAMPLES OF SALUBRIOUS
- The company’s commitment to providing a salubrious workplace includes regular ergonomic assessments and wellness programs for employees.
- The fresh sea breeze and clean ocean air make this coastal town an incredibly salubrious place to live.
pernicious
adjective
deadly; destructive; exceedingly harmful.
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Why Dictionary.com chose pernicious
More about pernicious
- Pernicious entered English around 1515–25.
- Pernicious comes from the Latin word perniciōsus, meaning “ruinous.”
- Perniciōsus combines per-, “through,” and –nici-, a form of nex, “death, murder,” that has the stem nec-.
- A few terms that share this stem are necromancy, “a method of divination through alleged communication with the dead,” and necropsy, also known as an autopsy, “the examination of a body after death.”
EXAMPLES OF PERNICIOUS
- The pernicious effects of smoking can lead to severe health problems, including lung cancer and heart disease.
- The invasive species had a pernicious impact on the fragile ecosystem, wiping out native plants and disrupting the natural balance.
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