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.
a strange, horrible, or impossible idea or figment of the imagination
A chimera is a fanciful or impossible idea that exists more in the imagination than in reality. The word comes from Greek mythology, where the Chimera was a frightening, fire-breathing creature with parts from several animals. Today, a chimera might not be an actual monster, but it can still be a scary thought!
His plan to become a millionaire overnight proved to be nothing more than a chimera.
to seize
To hent is to take hold of something. Although this verb has been around since the time of Old English, it's rarely heard today, turning up mainly in plays or historical works. Or perhaps you can use it when you need an old-fashioned, dramatic way to say you've just seized something. "I will hent this pen and write a letter!"
He lunged forward to hent the suitcase as it started rolling down the ramp.
the ability to read and write proficiently
Did you know that September is National Literacy Month? It highlights the importance of literacy, which is the ability to read and write. The word comes from a Latin term meaning "letter," reflecting its connection to the written word. Whether you're reading a novel or composing an email, literacy is a skill you can use every day.
Literacy gives people the tools to confidently read and write.
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.
