Word of the Day
shamrock
noun
a type of clover, used as a symbol of Ireland
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Why Dictionary.com chose shamrock
More about shamrock
- First recorded in 1565–75.
- From Irish seamróg, the diminutive form of seamair, meaning “clover.”
EXAMPLES OF SHAMROCK
- She found a tiny shamrock growing between the cobblestones.
- The bakery’s signature Saint Patrick’s Day cake featured shamrocks made of frosting.
centesimal
adjective
pertaining to division into hundredths
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Why Dictionary.com chose centesimal
More about centesimal
- First recorded in 1675–85.
- From Latin centēsimus, meaning “hundredth;” combines cent, meaning “100,” + -ēsimus, a Latin suffix related to -th², + -al².
EXAMPLES OF CENTESIMAL
- What people casually call decimal currency is actually a centesimal system.
- The GPS device calculated distances with centesimal precision.
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Why Dictionary.com chose alee
More about alee
- First recorded between 1350–1400.
- Combines a-³, meaning “to, toward, in,” + lee¹, meaning “the side that is turned away from the wind.”
EXAMPLES OF ALEE
- The ship’s deck was cold and slippery, but standing alee provided some relief.
- He threw the rope alee so it wouldn’t tangle in the wind.
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