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.
of a leaf with smaller leaflets arranged on either side of its stalk or stem
A pinnate leaf has smaller leaflets arranged on either side of its stalk or stem. It's a word used in biology to describe a perfectly balanced plant pattern. Once you start noticing pinnate leaves, you'll see them everywhere, from ferns to rose leaves.
The fern had delicate pinnate leaves.
living or growing among rocks
Saxicoline is a term in botany and zoology to describe plants or creatures living or growing among rocks. From mossy hideaways to wildflowers dotting the mountainside, it's all about finding a foothold in the rocky corners of the world. Next time you spot a plant sprouting from a cliffside, you can proudly declare it saxicoline.
The saxicoline plants clung to the rocky cliff face.
books produced before 1501, in the early days of printing
Incunabula are books printed before 1501, offering a rare glimpse into the dawn of printing. The word is derived from the Latin word for "cradle," evoking the birth of the printing press. These treasures remind us of the painstaking craft behind each page and serve as a window into the past, centuries before e-readers. It's no wonder incunabula continue to captivate people today!
The library housed a rare collection of incunabula, including several Bibles printed in the 15th century.
bad handwriting; poor penmanship
Cacography is bad handwriting or poor penmanship. It comes from Greek words meaning "bad" and "writing," and its opposite is the beautiful, artsy "calligraphy." From messy scribbles to chicken-scratch notes, cacography keeps us humble about our writing skills.
His cacography made it difficult to read his handwritten notes.
unfavorable or unfortunate
Untoward describes something unfavorable or unfortunate. In earlier English, toward could mean "agreeable," and its opposite untoward stepped in when things didn't turn out so well. Whether it's bad weather or an awkward moment, keep your eyes peeled and you'll (fingers crossed!) dodge the untoward.
The sudden, untoward turn of events left everyone feeling uneasy.
