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
designative; descriptive.
Explanation
- First recorded around 1375–1425.
- Comes via late Middle English from the Late Latin word appellātīvus.
- Related to the Latin word appellātus, meaning "called upon, named, appealed to."
- The appellative term "Big Apple" is often used to describe the city of New York.
- In this context, the word "whale" is appellative for large marine mammals.
verb
to carry on intensive and thorough research for data, information, or the like; investigate.
Explanation
- First recorded before 900.
- Comes via the Middle English word delven from Old English delfan.
- Has an archaic sense of "to dig."
- The author's new book will delve into the complexities of human emotions and relationships.
- The detective decided to delve deeper into the mysterious disappearance of the valuable painting.
adjective
tending to promote peace or reconciliation; peaceful or conciliatory.
Explanation
- First recorded in 1860–65.
- Comes from the Greek word eirēnikós, equivalent to eirḗn(ē), “peace.”
- Related to the name "Irene."
- As tensions rose between the feuding families, they longed for an irenic resolution to their dispute.
- Her irenic approach to conflict resolution often diffused tense situations in the office.
noun
one of a number of portions or divisions likened to layers or levels.
Explanation
- First recorded 1590–1600.
- Comes from the Latin word strātum, which means literally "a cover."
- Strātum comes from the past participle of sternere, "to spread, strew."
- The novel delves into the protagonist's psyche, uncovering hidden strata of emotions and motivations.
- The artist's work often explores the complexities of human existence by depicting different strata of society in her paintings.
adjective
mediocre, unimpressive, or disappointing.
Explanation
- In its original sense, first recorded before 900.
- Shortening of the word middle.
- Comes from Middle English, Old English midd- (both an adjective and the initial element of a compound).
- Similar to Greek mésos, méssos, méttos, Latin medius, and Sanskrit madhya, “middle.”
- His attempt at a joke fell flat among his friends, who found it to be quite mid in terms of humor.
- The new smartphone model failed to impress users, who found its features to be rather mid.
