Word of the Day
riparian
adjective
of or pertaining to the bank of a river
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Why Dictionary.com chose riparian
More about riparian
- First recorded in 1840–50.
- Combines the Latin root rīpārius, meaning “river band” and also the root of river¹, + -an⁹.
- Often used to refer to the ownership of a riverbank.
EXAMPLES OF RIPARIAN
- Scientists conducted a study on the biodiversity of the riparian ecosystem.
- The riparian rights grant homeowners access to a private stretch of the river.
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Why Dictionary.com chose ormolu
More about ormolu
- First recorded in 1755–65.
- From French or moulu, meaning “ground or milled gold.”
EXAMPLES OF ORMOLU
- The antique clock was adorned with ormolu, giving it a regal shimmer.
- These grand yet excessive interiors featured intricate ormolu and boulle inlays.
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Why Dictionary.com chose octonary
More about octonary
- First recorded in 1525–35.
- From Latin octōnārius; combines Latin octōnī, meaning “by eights,” + -ary².
- Often used to describe a base-8, octal, number system, which counts by 1s, 8s, 64s, etc., rather than 1s, 10s, 100s, etc.
EXAMPLES OF OCTONARY
- They realized the radio transmission used an octonary code.
- The orchestra’s brass section was arranged in an octonary formation, with eight musicians in two rows.
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