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
generosity of spirit or attitude.
Explanation
- Largess was first recorded in 1175–1225.
- Largess is also spelled largesse and comes from the Middle English word largesse, from Old French.
- Largess is related to large, which comes from the Latin word meaning "ample, generous."
- Despite her humble beginnings, the politician displayed an incredible largess by sponsoring scholarships for underprivileged students.
- The artist's largess was displayed in his willingness to share her creative process with others, inspiring a new generation of painters.
noun
the latest fashion; last word.
Explanation
- Dernier cri entered English around 1895–1900.
- Dernier cri comes from French and means literally, "last cry."
- You may recognize cri from cri de coeur, another borrowing from French that means "outcry" or literally, "cry of the heart."
- Her outfit at the party was the dernier cri, catching everyone's attention with its cutting-edge design.
- The restaurant's menu boasted a selection of dishes that were not only delicious but also were the dernier cri in culinary innovation.
noun
reliance on temporary solutions rather than on consistent, long-term plans.
Explanation
- Ad hockery was first recorded between 1890–1900.
- Ad hockery comes from the adjective and adverb ad hoc, "for the special purpose or end presently under consideration."
- Ad hoc entered English from the Latin phrase meaning "for this" around 1550–60 when the expression was quickly being adopted into legal and judicial writings.
- The computer programmer's inclination toward ad hockery often resulted in quick fixes that failed to address the underlying issues at hand.
- The company's ad hockery in managing its budget ultimately led to financial instability and a lack of sustainable growth.
adverb
near in space, time, or relation.
Explanation
- Nigh was first recorded before 900.
- Nigh comes from the Old English word nēah, also spelled nēh.
- Nigh shares an origin with its synonym near, also first recorded before 900.
- Nigh, however, has significantly dropped in frequency since the 1890s and is considered archaic or poetic.
- With each passing day, the end of the week draws nigh and the weekend approaches.
- As the storm grew nigh, the sound of thunder grew louder.
adjective
very lucky.
Explanation
- Jammy was first recorded in 1850–55.
- Jammy is an informal word primarily used in British English.
- Jammy was formed apparently from jam, "a preserve of whole fruit, slightly crushed, boiled with sugar."
- Jammy, in the featured sense, is comparable to the idioms to have jam on it, meaning “to have something easy,” and real jam or pure jam, which means “something easy or pleasant.”
- She found a parking spot right in front of the store, how jammy!
- I was running late for my flight, but luckily the airline held the gate open for me–talk about a jammy break!
