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
indirectly stated or expressed; not straightforward.
Explanation
- First recorded around 1400–50.
- Comes from the Latin term oblīquus, which means "slanting."
- Other words that begin with the prefix ob-, meaning "toward or against," include obsolete, obscure, and obligate.
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- She tactfully made oblique references to his recent mistake during the staff meeting.
- The author used oblique language to weave a complex web of hidden meanings in her novel.
noun
a musical instrument, consisting of a flat sounding box with numerous strings stretched over it, that is placed on a horizontal surface and played with a plectrum and the fingertips.
Explanation
- First recorded in English in 1840–50.
- Comes via German from Latin cithara.
- Cithara is also related to the Greek kithárá, from which we get kithara, "a musical instrument of ancient Greece consisting of an elaborate wooden soundbox having two arms connected by a yoke to which the upper ends of the strings are attached."
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- The delicate harmonies of the piano blended beautifully with the rich tones of the zither in their enchanting duet.
- With each graceful stroke of the plectrum against the strings, the zither produced a soothing melody that transported listeners to another time.
noun
a small lie; fib.
Explanation
- First recorded in 1790–1800.
- An informal term with no clear etymology.
- The second element may be the verb diddle “to move back and forth or up and down quickly.”
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- The mischievous twins concocted a taradiddle about their missing homework to avoid getting into trouble with their teacher.
- In her memoir, the author admitted to embellishing certain events with harmless taradiddles to make them more captivating for readers.
noun
the practice of spending many hours in bed during the day, often with snacks or an electronic device, as a voluntary retreat from activity or stress.
Explanation
- First recorded in 2023 and is derived from the noun bed and the verb rot.
- Despite the negative connotation of rotting, many use this term in a positive way to refer to what they consider a form of self-care.
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- Escaping the chaos of everyday life, I sought refuge in the serenity of bed rotting.
- On lazy Sundays, bed rotting becomes an art form as I immerse myself in movies and delicious treats.
noun
a molecular cloud in which new stars are being formed.
Explanation
- First recorded between 1910-1915, and it's a compound of stellar and nursery.
- Stellar was first recorded in 1650–60 and comes from Late Latin stellāris, from stell(a), “star.”
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- The vibrant colors emitted by young stars painted a mesmerizing picture of the stellar nursery.
- The James Webb Space Telescope has captured some stunning images of stellar nurseries, including some close to the Milky Way.
