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Why Dictionary.com chose stilted
More about stilted
- First recorded in 1610–20 meaning “artificially supported with crutches or stilts.”
- Combines stilt + -ed³.
EXAMPLES OF STILTED
- The author’s attempt at poetic language felt stilted, detracting from the story’s flow.
- The diplomat’s stilted manners made the casual dinner feel more like a formal ceremony.
counterpoise
verb
to balance by an opposing weight; counteract by an opposing force
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Why Dictionary.com chose counterpoise
More about counterpoise
- First recorded between 1375–1425 as a noun meaning “a counterbalancing weight.”
- Combines counter-⁵ + poise¹, related to the Latin pendere, meaning “to weigh.”
EXAMPLES OF COUNTERPOISE
- The cool breeze from the lake will often counterpoise the heat of a summer afternoon.
- The seesaw remained steady, perfectly counterpoised by the weight of the two children.
entelechy
noun
a realization or actuality as opposed to a potentiality
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Why Dictionary.com chose entelechy
More about entelechy
- First recorded in 1595–1605.
- From the Greek entelécheia, a word coined by Aristotle.
- Combines en-³, meaning “in,” + Greek télos, meaning “goal,” + Greek écheia, meaning “to have.”
EXAMPLES OF ENTELECHY
- The community center was the entelechy of decades of fundraising and planning.
- The entelechy of art is about bringing imagination to life through creation.
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