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.
sharp or caustic in style, tone, etc.
Mordacious describes language with a cutting edge. A mordacious remark might be clever, but its humor often comes at someone else's expense. The word is related to a Latin verb meaning "to bite," so you can see why a mordacious comment might still hurt after the conversation ends.
His mordacious words during the meeting left several team members feeling insulted.
a person's individual speech pattern
An idiolect is the distinctive way an individual speaks, shaped by vocabulary, pronunciation, and favorite turns of phrase. Even people from the same family or community develop speech habits that are uniquely their own. Your idiolect is like a verbal fingerprint, recognizable to anyone who knows you well.
The linguist noted how the politician's idiolect was shaped by years of living in different cities.
to affirm or declare positively or earnestly
To asseverate is to declare something in a way that leaves no doubt about where you stand. The word goes beyond simply stating an opinion because it carries a sense of deep conviction. When you asseverate something, you are making your position unmistakably clear.
The witness was prepared to asseverate his account of the accident under oath in court.
a dish of many ingredients
An olio is a dish made by combining several ingredients in one pot. The word suggests abundance rather than precision, with each addition contributing its own flavor to the whole. An olio can turn a collection of odds and ends into a meal worth gathering around.
The chef prepared a flavorful olio by tossing pasta with garlic, oil, and various herbs.
living again; revived
Redivivus describes a person or thing brought back to life or prominence after seeming to disappear. While the word can describe a literal return from the dead, it's especially useful for unexpected second acts. A forgotten fashion or abandoned tradition may suddenly show up redivivus, ready to take the world by storm again.
After many years in storage, the forgotten statue stood redivivus in the town square.
