Word of the Day
zeitgeber
noun
an environmental cue, as the length of daylight or the degree of temperature, that helps to regulate the cycles of an organism's biological clock.
Why Dictionary.com chose zeitgeber
More about zeitgeber
- Zeitgeber was first recorded in English in 1970–75.
- Zeitgeber comes from German, in which it was coined by J. Aschoff in 1954.
- Zeitgeber means literally, “time-giver,” on the model of the German word Taktgeber, “electronic synchronization device, timer, metronome.”
EXAMPLES OF ZEITGEBER
- In the absence of external zeitgebers, such as clocks or natural light, some individuals may struggle to maintain regular sleep patterns.
- The sunrise served as a powerful zeitgeber for the birds, signaling the start of their daily singing rituals.
phub
verb
to ignore a person or one's surroundings when in a social situation by busying oneself with a phone or other mobile device.
Why Dictionary.com chose phub
More about phub
- Phub was first recorded in 2010–15.
- Phub was a result of a linguistic experiment by a group of lexicographers, authors, and poets to coin a word to describe the behavior, and is a combination of the words phone and snub.
- Phone is a shortening of telephone, which combines the Greek forms Greek têle-, “far,” and – phōnḗ, “voice.”
- Snub, first recorded in the 14th century, comes from the Old Norse word snubba, “to scold, reprimand.”
EXAMPLES OF PHUB
- The couple’s romantic dinner was marred by their constant need to phub each other, diverting their attention to their phones rather than enjoying each other’s company.
- As the speaker passionately delivered his presentation, he noticed several audience members phubbing him, their focus shifted to their screens rather than paying attention.
curmudgeon
noun
a bad-tempered, difficult, cantankerous person.
Why Focus Features chose curmudgeon
A perfect example of a curmudgeon is prep school teacher Mr. Hunham, played by Paul Giamatti in Alexander Payne's new film The Holdovers. Will Mr. Hunham’s curmudgeonly comportment doom or redeem him in the end? Find out in this “irresistibly entertaining” film—get your tickets now at TheHoldoversFilm.com!
More about curmudgeon
- Curmudgeon was first recorded around 1570–80 and has an unexplained origin.
- A curmudgeon is someone who revels in having a negative outlook, insistently saying things like “adversity builds character.”
- A curmudgeon may have a tender heart, but they hide it behind a crusty exterior.
EXAMPLES OF CURMUDGEON
- Everyone knew Mr. Hunham as a true curmudgeon, the kind of teacher who would start a new lesson right before the holiday break.
- His students called him a curmudgeon behind his back, and he called them troglodytes, philistines, vulgarians, and Visigoths—to their faces.
