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.
to praise someone or something highly through speech or writing
To panegyrize is to celebrate someone or something with enthusiastic praise in speech or writing. The word traces back to Ancient Greek public assemblies, where formal speeches honored notable people and achievements. A heartfelt tribute can panegyrize someone without sounding exaggerated.
The guest speaker began to panegyrize the soldiers for their incredible bravery and service to the country.
easily crumbled or reduced to powder; crumbly
Something friable breaks apart with very little pressure instead of staying firm. Geologists and bakers alike encounter materials that crumble with ease, though for different reasons. A friable texture can be either useful or inconvenient depending on what you're working with.
The pastry was friable, crumbling into tiny pieces all over her desk.
a soothing, medicinal substance
A demulcent is a medicinal substance that calms irritated tissue, particularly in the throat or digestive tract. Many traditional remedies rely on ingredients that coat and soothe rather than aggressively treat a symptom. Sometimes a demulcent offers exactly the comfort that's needed.
The pharmacist recommended a natural demulcent to help calm the patient's dry and persistent cough.
to draw forth or bring out; elicit
To educe is to bring something forth, such as an idea or emotion. The word comes from a Latin verb meaning "to lead out," making it a fitting choice when something is drawn into the open rather than created from scratch. A thoughtful question can educe an answer that was there all along.
The detective hoped his clever questions would educe a full confession from the suspect.
a quick movement of the eyes when changing focus from one point to another
Every time your eyes dart from one object to another, they're making a saccade. Rather than gliding smoothly across a scene, they make countless tiny jumps every day as they gather visual information. Even though you rarely notice a saccade happening, your gaze is constantly on the move.
His eyes made saccades as he read the book.
