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.
noun
sorrow that one feels and accepts as one's necessary portion in life; sentimental pessimism.
Explanation
- First recorded in English in 1860–65.
- From German, Welt means "world" and Schmerz means “pain.”
- The English verb smart, in the sense “to cause a sharp pain,” is related to Schmerz.
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- The poetry of the Romantic era often captures the essence of Weltschmerz, evoking a poignant longing for an unattainable ideal.
- The protagonist in the novel was consumed by Weltschmerz, finding solace only in the depths of tragic literature.
adjective
causing or capable of causing laughter; laughable; ludicrous.
Explanation
- Entered English around 1550–60.
- From Late Latin rīsibilis, "that can laugh."
- Risible can also mean "having the ability, disposition, or readiness to laugh."
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- The cartoonist masterfully depicted the world's leaders in a risible manner, providing a satirical critique of their actions.
- The absurd plot of the movie made it thoroughly risible, leaving the viewers in stitches.
verb
to raise irritating and trivial objections; find fault with unnecessarily.
Explanation
- First recorded in 1540–50.
- From Latin cavillārī “to jeer, scoff, quibble.”
- Cavillārī is a derivative of cavilla “jesting, banter.”
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- Instead of appreciating the effort put into the event, he chose to cavil about the choice of music, claiming it ruined the entire experience.
- She tends to cavil about grammar mistakes in online forums, often derailing discussions with her pedantic comments.
plural noun
things that cannot be precisely determined, measured, or evaluated.
Explanation
- First recorded in 1920–25.
- From Medieval Latin imponderābilis, "not ponderable."
- Imponderābilis comes from Latin ponderāre, “to weigh, reflect on,” a derivative of pondus, “weight.”
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- Throughout history, artists have tried to capture the imponderabilia of human emotions.
- The philosopher contemplated the imponderabilia of existence, pondering questions that had no easy answers.
adjective
honest; fair; straightforward.
Explanation
- First recorded in 1825–30.
- Primarily used in British and Australian dialects of English.
- Of uncertain origin, but has been applied to a type of oat bread, jannock bread.
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- The jannock approach of the coach brought out the best in her players, instilling a sense of fairness and camaraderie.
- The jannock businessman refused to engage in deceptive practices, maintaining a reputation for honesty and integrity.
