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
a change or variation occurring in the course of something.
Explanation
- Often used in the plural, vicissitude was first recorded in 1560-70.
- Vicissitude comes via Middle French from Latin vicissitūdō, “in turn.”
- The first part of vicissitude is from the same root as vice, “in the place of,” as in vice president.
- The middle part comes from the Latin word cessim, “giving way," and the last part from -tūdō, which indicates state or condition, as in attitude.
- Life is full of vicissitudes, with unexpected twists and turns that shape our journey.
- The relationship went through many vicissitudes as their feelings for each other grew and evolved over time.
noun
any of several large Central and South American birds of the trogon family, having golden-green and scarlet plumage.
Explanation
- Quetzal was first recorded in English around 1820-30.
- Quetzal comes via Latin American Spanish from the Nahuatl word quetzalli, meaning “plumage of the quetzal bird.”
- While now endangered, the quetzal was revered as a sacred bird by the Maya and Aztec peoples, who used the tailfeathers in ceremonial dress as symbols of freedom and wealth.
- Today, the resplendent quetzal is the national bird of Guatemala, even featured as their monetary unit, also called the quetzal.
- The quetzal, with its vibrant golden-green and scarlet plumage, soared gracefully through the rainforest canopy.
- As I hiked through the dense jungle, I was fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of a glittering quetzal perched on a branch.
noun
a roundabout or indirect way of speaking.
Explanation
- Circumlocution was first recorded in English in 1375-1425.
- Circumlocution comes from the Latin word circumlocūtiō, "the act of speaking around; periphrasis."
- Circum- is a prefix with the meaning “round about, around,” found in many Latin loanwords, like circumnavigate or circumstance.
- Locution comes from the Latin word locūtiō, meaning “speech, style of speech,” also present in interlocutor and eloquent.
- Instead of answering the simple question with a yes or no, he resorted to circumlocution, confusing everyone in the room.
- She was known for her tendency to use circumlocution, often taking a meandering path to reach her point in the conversation.
adjective
of or relating to clothing or style or manner of dress.
Explanation
- Sartorial was first recorded in 1815-25.
- Sartorial comes from the Late Latin word sartor, meaning “tailor,” from the verb sarcire, "to patch or mend."
- Sartorial also can refer to the sartorius, which comes from the New Latin term sartorius musculus, literally "tailor's muscle," because it is the muscle that allows one to sit in the cross-legged position in which tailors traditionally sat while sewing.
- Her sartorial choices were always impeccable, as she effortlessly combined different fabrics and colors to create stunning outfits.
- As a stylist, he was known for his ability to transform clients' wardrobes, enhancing their sartorial confidence and helping them express their personal style.
adjective
speaking or expressed in a lofty style, often to the point of being pompous.
Explanation
- Grandiloquent was formed from the noun grandiloquence, which came from the Latin word grandiloqu(us), "speaking loftily."
- The first part, grandi(s), means "great; large."
- The second part, loqui, means "to speak," which you might recognize in loquacious, "talkative," and in monologue, "prolonged talk by a single speaker."
- Grandiloquent was first recorded in English around 1585-95.
- His grandiloquent speeches may impress some, but they simply bore me.
- The politician's grandiloquent promises were unconvincing to the skeptical audience.
