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
the illusory perception of meaningful patterns or images of familiar things in random or amorphous data, as a face seen on the moon.
Explanation
- First recorded in 1960–65.
- Comes from German Pareidolien, plural of Pareidolie.
- Pareidolie is formed from par(a)- "at the side of; beside; beyond," and eidol(on) "phantom; apparition."
- Sign up for more Word of the Day!
- The excitement grew as the researchers discovered what appeared to be pareidolia in the data collected from deep space.
- As I stared at the clouds, I experienced pareidolia and saw a bunny shape formed by their fluffy contours.
noun
a usually short, heavy rainstorm.
Explanation
- First recorded in 1900–05.
- Used primarily in Midland and Western United States dialects of English.
- Gully comes from gullet, "the throat," which comes from French.
- Washer comes from the English verb wash, recorded before 900.
- Sign up for more Word of the Day!
- The farmers rejoiced as the gullywasher replenished their parched fields.
- The residents of the desert town knew to brace themselves whenever dark clouds gathered on the horizon, signaling an imminent gullywasher.
verb
to abruptly detain someone in conversation.
Explanation
- First recorded in 1555–65.
- Formed from the words button and hole.
- Button comes from butt, meaning "to push or strike something."
- Hole comes from Old English hol, meaning “hole, cave.”
- Sign up for more Word of the Day!
- The enthusiastic salesperson, eager to showcase the latest products, buttonholed the customer as they entered the store.
- I was in a rush to catch my train, but my colleague buttonholed me in the hallway to discuss a new project.
adjective
sleepy; drowsy.
Explanation
- First recorded around 1425–75.
- Comes from late Middle English sompnolent, via Old French from Latin somnolentus.
- Somnolentus is a derivative of somnus, "sleep," plus -ulent, "having in quantity."
- Sign up for more Word of the Day!
- The warm afternoon sun shining through the window made the class feel somnolent, with many students struggling to stay awake.
- As the train rocked gently back and forth, the rhythmic motion made me feel pleasantly somnolent.
noun
a person of great and varied learning.
Explanation
- First recorded in 1565–75.
- Originally comes from Greek polyístōr “very learned.”
- The prefix poly- represents "much, many" and hístōr, “one who knows or sees.”
- Sign up for more Word of the Day!
- As I delved into the pages of her autobiography, I discovered that my grandmother was a polyhistor, with accomplishments spanning from art to politics.
- The documentary showcased Leonardo da Vinci not only as an artist but also as a polyhistor with his contributions to science and engineering.
