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 metal or plastic tag at the end of a lace
Did you know that the small plastic or metal tip at the end of your shoelace actually has a name? It's an aglet. Beyond preventing fraying, it makes it easier to tie your shoes. This small detail on your laces has a surprisingly important job!
He struggled to thread his shoelace because the plastic aglet had fallen off the tip.
suitable to be eaten; edible
If something is comestible, it's fit to be eaten, plain and simple. Comestible doesn't necessarily mean it will be delicious, but it will at least be edible!
The survival guide helps backpackers distinguish between poisonous berries and those that are comestible.
a word to the wise; no more needs to be said
Verbum sap signals that no further explanation is needed. Short for a Latin phrase meaning "a word to the wise is enough," it suggests that the hint has been understood and nothing more needs to be said.
I mentioned that the meeting would begin in one minute, verbum sap, and they took their seats.
an elaborate or complicated procedure
Rigmarole refers to an overly complicated process that's full of unnecessary steps or tedious detail. It's thought to be an alteration of "ragman roll," the name of a long legal document in the 13th century. If there are lots of forms to fill out, hoops to jump through, and your patience is wearing thin, it's probably a rigmarole.
We had to go through a long rigmarole just to get a simple library card.
to prevent from happening or succeeding
To scupper something is to derail it, whether that means it's ruined, postponed, or canceled outright. In nautical language, a scupper is an opening on a ship used to drain water. In everyday use, though, it refers to plans that suddenly go off course. If your event gets scuppered, remain calm!
The rainy weather threatened to scupper our plans for a hike through the canyon.
