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
lacking social grace, sensitivity, or acuteness; awkward; tactless.
Explanation
- Gauche entered English around 1745–55.
- Gauche comes from the French word meaning "awkward."
- Gauche in French, is a derivative of the verb gauchir, "to turn, veer," which has Germanic origins.
- Trying to fit in with his well-mannered colleagues, he couldn't help but feel gauche in their refined presence.
- Despite her best efforts, her gauche attempt at small talk only made the conversation more awkward.
adjective
consisting of hoops or rings.
Explanation
- Armillary was first recorded around 1655–65.
- Armillary comes from the Latin word armill(a), "bracelet, hoop," which is typically worn on the arm.
- The Latin word armill(a) was formed from the Latin word arm(us), meaning "shoulder," and the diminutive suffix -illa.
- Armillary is most often used in the term armillary sphere, "an ancient instrument consisting of an arrangement of rings used to show the relative positions of the celestial equator, ecliptic, and other circles on the celestial sphere."
- As I studied the antique armillary sundial, I marveled at the elegant combination of delicate rings that allowed for precise timekeeping.
- The museum displayed a stunning armillary globe, its metal rings forming a three-dimensional representation of the celestial sphere.
adjective
covered with bushes, shrubs, and small trees; woody.
Explanation
- Bosky was first recorded in 1585–95.
- Bosky comes from the noun bosk, "a small wood or thicket," which entered English around 1250–1300.
- Bosk, in turn, comes from the Middle English variant of busk(e), which shares the Old Norse origin, buskr, with bush, "a low plant with many branches."
- In the heart of the bosky knoll, a family of deer gracefully emerged from the undergrowth, their antlers blending with the surrounding verdant foliage.
- The old stone cottage nestled in a cozy clearing, its windows framed by a bosky landscape that seemed straight out of a fairy tale.
verb
to dry up.
Explanation
- Exsiccate was first recorded around 1375–1425.
- Exsiccate comes from the Latin word exsiccātus, meaning "dried up."
- This form can be broken down further into the prefix ex-, which means "thoroughly," and the verb siccāre, "to dry, make dry."
- Desiccate, "to dry up," and desiccant, "a drying agent," are related to exsiccate, but entered English about 300 years later.
- With no rainfall for months, the soil in the farmer's field started to exsiccate, making it difficult for crops to grow.
- The ancient parchment documents were carefully stored in a dry environment to prevent them from exsiccating and becoming brittle over time.
noun
a cake, especially a very light sponge cake with a rich icing or filling.
Explanation
- Gâteau was first recorded in English in 1835–45.
- Gâteau came from French and has origins in the Old French word gastel.
- Gastel is possibly similar to the Old English, Old Saxon word wist, meaning "food or nourishment."
- As I took the first bite of the gâteau, its light and fluffy texture melted in my mouth, leaving behind the delightful flavors of almond and apricot.
- For her birthday, she requested a decadent gâteau with layers of moist vanilla sponge, luscious raspberry filling, and a smooth cream cheese icing.
