Word of the Day
natto
[ not-oh ]
Show IPA
noun
a dish of fermented cooked soybeans, often eaten for breakfast over white rice or with toppings such as soy sauce and mustard.
Why Dictionary.com chose natto
More about natto
- First recorded in 1870–75.
- Comes from Japanese, from na(t)- and tō, “bean.”
- Na(t) is ultimately from Middle Chinese, a cognate with Mandarin nà, “to bring into, receive.”
EXAMPLES OF NATTO
- For a traditional Japanese breakfast, many people enjoy a serving of natto over steamed white rice.
- Natto is known for its sticky texture, which is a result of the fermentation process.
ad nauseam
adverb
to a sickening or disgusting degree.
Why Dictionary.com chose ad nauseam
More about ad nauseam
- First recorded around 1565.
- Comes from Latin.
- Means literally, “to seasickness.”
EXAMPLES OF AD NAUSEAM
- The catchy commercial jingle played on the tv ad nauseam, getting stuck in everyone’s head.
- The company’s logo was plastered ad nauseam on every surface in the city.
Why Dictionary.com chose spondulicks
More about spondulicks
- An Americanism dating back to 1855–60.
- Of uncertain origin.
- Sometimes spelled spondulix.
EXAMPLES OF SPONDULICKS
- The young entrepreneur was determined to turn her innovative idea into spondulicks for her growing business.
- In the old Western movies, bandits would often demand a hefty sum of spondulicks in exchange for hostages.
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