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.
the state of being oneself
Ipseity names the state of being yourself as a distinct individual. The word comes in handy when talking about the sense that there is a continuous "you" beneath changing moods and circumstances. Your tastes may shift and your life may change, but you'll always have your ipseity.
She expressed her ipseity through her original artwork and personal style.
weak or lacking in courage
Lily-livered describes someone who is cowardly or easily intimidated. The phrase comes from an old belief that the liver was the seat of courage, with a pale or "lily-white" liver suggesting it was lacking. A lily-livered person might talk a big game, but they tend to shrink away when the pressure is on.
My lily-livered brother refused to watch the scary movie, so we picked a comedy instead.
a small piece of bread or the like for dipping in liquid food
A sippet is a small piece of food used for dipping into soup, broth, or another liquid dish. It's more likely than not to be made of bread, like a toast point or a chunk of crusty sourdough. With a sippet in hand, you know exactly what to do with that last bit of flavor left in the bowl.
She dipped a crisp sippet into the warm tomato soup before taking a bite.
a quick community assessment done by driving through an area
A windshield survey offers a fast way to get a feel for a community by observing it from the road. Used in public health and community assessments, the term describes gathering visual information about an area by driving or walking through it. A windshield survey may be happening on your street right now without you even realizing!
Officials conducted a windshield survey of the neighborhood to assess local housing conditions.
the act or process of arranging into thin layers
While you may associate lamination with protecting important documents, the term can describe any process that involves combining thin sheets or layers into a single structure. In baking, lamination involves folding butter and dough together to create the flaky texture found in croissants and other pastries. Next time you have a sweet treat for breakfast, you can thank lamination for each delicious bite.
Careful lamination of thin wooden sheets gave the tabletop exceptional strength and durability.
