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.
adverb
in a way that is characterized by melancholy or longing; pensively.
Explanation
- First recorded in 1660–70.
- Comes from the word wistful, with the obsolete word wist, “quiet, silent, attentive” as the stem.
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- The musician played a haunting melody on his violin, making the audience sway wistfully to its melancholic tune.
- Walking through the deserted park, she smiled wistfully at the faded graffiti that reminded her of past adventures.
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."
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- 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."
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- 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."
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- 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.
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- 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.
