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
an apparently meaningful coincidence in time of two or more similar or identical events that are causally unrelated.
Explanation
- In the highlighted sense, first recorded in 1950–55 in the psychological theory of Carl G. Jung.
- Comes from synchronous, originally from the Greek word sýnchronos, meaning "together in time."
- Sign up for more Word of the Day!
- Experiencing synchronicity in their thoughts and actions, the duo felt a deep connection despite only having met recently.
- When they both showed up wearing matching outfits without prior planning, it was a hilarious example of synchronicity in action.
noun
a person who steals books.
Explanation
- First recorded in 1880–85.
- Formed from the Greek stem biblio-, "book," and the Greek word kléptēs, "thief."
- Related is the term kleptomania, "an irresistible impulse to steal."
- Sign up for more Word of the Day!
- Often forgetting to return library books, he admitted to being a bit of an unintentional biblioklept.
- The shop owner understood the desire for books and offered a shelf of free used books to help satiate those occasional biblioklepts.
noun
a person who is especially competent to pass critical judgments in an art, particularly one of the fine arts, or in matters of taste.
Explanation
- First recorded in 1705–15.
- Comes from French, and ultimately from the Latin stem cognōscitōr-, “knower.”
- Also related is the word cognoscible, "capable of being known."
- Sign up for more Word of the Day!
- After many years of study and travel to tea estates around the world, she became a renowned tea connoisseur.
- A connoisseur of fine cheeses, he could tell an authentic Parmigiano Reggiano just by smell.
noun
a feeling of or the expression of joy or exultation.
Explanation
- First recorded around 1350–1400.
- Comes from the Middle English word jubilacioun, which comes from the Latin word jūbilātiōn-, "a shouting for joy."
- The verb jubilate, "to show or feel great joy," also comes from the same Latin stem.
- Sign up for more Word of the Day!
- It was wonderful to witness their jubilation as they crossed the finish line.
- There was an atmosphere of jubilation and excitement at the grand opening ceremony.
verb
to dress or adorn in a showy, gaudy, or tasteless manner.
Explanation
- First recorded in 1655–65.
- Formed from the verb dizen, "to deck with clothes or finery."
- Dizen was originally a weaving term that refers to a bunch of wool fiber on a distaff, a spinning wheel attachment.
- Sign up for more Word of the Day!
- The attendees had bedizened themselves for the midnight release of the new fantasy film.
- The children loved to use their parents' old costume jewelry to bedizen themselves.
