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.
adjective
of, relating to, or resembling a fish or fishes.
Explanation
- First recorded around 1790–1800.
- Comes from the Latin word piscīnus, related to pisc(is), "fish."
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- The dancer's elegant movements were reminiscent of a piscine creature gracefully gliding through water.
- As an avid swimmer, she felt a deep connection to the piscine world beneath the ocean's surface.
noun
popular outcry.
Explanation
- First recorded in 1350–1400.
- Comes via the Middle English word clamor from the Latin word clāmāre, "to cry out."
- Also related is claim, "to demand by virtue of a right."
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- After the controversial decision was announced, a clamor of disapproval erupted among the community.
- Within minutes of the announcement, social media was ablaze with a clamor of opinions on the topic.
noun
an image, message, or symbol carved into a tree, especially by Indigenous people and often hundreds of years old, providing cultural and historical information not available from other sources.
Explanation
- Coined in 1918 by Australian curator Robert Etheridge, Jr.
- Formed from dendro-, "tree," and glyph, "carving,"
- This term replaced the earlier term arborglyph.
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- Walking through the ancient forest, we stumbled upon a mysterious dendroglyph carved into the trunk of a mighty oak tree.
- Conservation efforts were put in place to protect the valuable history preserved in each delicate dendroglyph scattered throughout the woodland.
noun
the practice of purchasing an air ticket for a flight with a layover at one’s true destination, getting off at the layover point, and skipping the last leg of the flight.
Explanation
- First recorded in 2015–20.
- Comes from the verb skiplag, which was formed from skip, "to pass form one point to another, disregarding what intervenes," and lag, "a lapse of time."
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- Some airlines have started cracking down on skiplagging by penalizing passengers who engage in this practice.
- Skiplagging has become a contentious topic in the travel industry, with debates on whether it is a legitimate money-saving tactic or a form of unethical behavior.
adjective
superior in weight, force, influence, numbers, etc.; prevailing.
Explanation
- First recorded in 1650–60.
- Comes from the stem of the Latin word praeponderāns, which is the present participle of praeponderāre, meaning "to outweigh."
- Related to the verb ponder, "to consider deeply and thoroughly."
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- Despite her preponderant presence in the room, she preferred to stay silent.
- The preponderant influence of social media shapes many people's opinions and behaviors.
