Word of the Day
quidnunc
noun
a person who is eager to know the latest news and gossip.
Why Dictionary.com chose quidnunc
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More about quidnunc
In Latin, quidnunc means “what now?” English wh- often corresponds to Latin qu-, which is how English what, who, and when are related to their Latin translations quid, quis, and quandō. Nunc is one of two Latin words for “now.” Quidnunc was first recorded in English at the turn of the 18th century.
EXAMPLE OF QUIDNUNC USED IN A SENTENCE
The quidnuncs spent hours on their phones each day as they checked all the media outlets for updates.
ferhoodle
verb
to confuse or mix up.
Why Dictionary.com chose ferhoodle
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More about ferhoodle
Ferhoodle is adapted from verhuddle, “to tangle, confuse,” in Pennsylvania Dutch, a dialect of German. This means that verhuddle is closely related to German verhudeln, “to bungle, make a mess of,” in which the ver- element is related to the for- in English forgive and forget. Ferhoodle was first recorded in English in the mid-1950s.
EXAMPLE OF FERHOODLE USED IN A SENTENCE
The alternating days of searing heat and chilling cold ferhoodled everyone’s gardening plans.
logophile
noun
a lover of words.
Why Dictionary.com chose logophile
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More about logophile
Logophile is a compound of logo-, meaning “word, speech,” and -phile, meaning “lover of.” Logo- comes from Ancient Greek lógos, which has a variety of senses, including “word, saying,” “speech, discourse,” and “proportion, ratio.” The form -phile can also be found in the Words of the Day ailurophile and bibliophile. Logophile was first recorded in English in the late 1950s.
EXAMPLE OF LOGOPHILE USED IN A SENTENCE
While most students were dreading the standardized test, a few plucky logophiles were excited to learn the words that would likely appear in the reading section.