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.
verb
to gather, summon, rouse (often followed by up).
Explanation
- Muster entered English around 1250–1300.
- Muster came via French from the Latin verb mōnstrāre, meaning "to show."
- Mōnstrāre derives from the Latin noun mōnstrum, meaning "portent, unnatural event, monster."
- Monster, "any animal or thing huge in size," derives from this same noun.
- They mustered up the courage to confront their fears and take a leap of faith.
- The community members mustered their resources to support those affected by the natural disaster.
noun
imperturbable self-possession, poise, or assurance.
Explanation
- Aplomb was first recorded around 1820–30.
- Aplomb is from the French phrase à plomb, “according to the plummet,” which means straight up and down or in a vertical position.
- Plummet or plumb bob refers to a weight attached to a line, used for determining perpendicularity.
- Despite facing an array of difficult questions, the speaker showed remarkable aplomb and answered each one with confidence.
- As the team captain, she handled the pressure of the final match with aplomb, leading her team to victory.
noun
generosity of spirit or attitude.
Explanation
- Largess was first recorded in 1175–1225.
- Largess is also spelled largesse and comes from the Middle English word largesse, from Old French.
- Largess is related to large, which comes from the Latin word meaning "ample, generous."
- Despite her humble beginnings, the politician displayed an incredible largess by sponsoring scholarships for underprivileged students.
- The artist's largess was displayed in his willingness to share her creative process with others, inspiring a new generation of painters.
noun
the latest fashion; last word.
Explanation
- Dernier cri entered English around 1895–1900.
- Dernier cri comes from French and means literally, "last cry."
- You may recognize cri from cri de coeur, another borrowing from French that means "outcry" or literally, "cry of the heart."
- Her outfit at the party was the dernier cri, catching everyone's attention with its cutting-edge design.
- The restaurant's menu boasted a selection of dishes that were not only delicious but also were the dernier cri in culinary innovation.
noun
reliance on temporary solutions rather than on consistent, long-term plans.
Explanation
- Ad hockery was first recorded between 1890–1900.
- Ad hockery comes from the adjective and adverb ad hoc, "for the special purpose or end presently under consideration."
- Ad hoc entered English from the Latin phrase meaning "for this" around 1550–60 when the expression was quickly being adopted into legal and judicial writings.
- The computer programmer's inclination toward ad hockery often resulted in quick fixes that failed to address the underlying issues at hand.
- The company's ad hockery in managing its budget ultimately led to financial instability and a lack of sustainable growth.
