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
one’s usual way of doing something.
Explanation
- First recorded in 1645–55.
- Comes from New Latin and means literally, “mode of working.”
- Often abbreviated MO.
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- By studying the wildlife biologist's modus operandi, conservationists hoped to replicate successful conservation efforts.
- Understanding the enemy's modus operandi is crucial in developing effective counterstrategies.
noun
a paragraph mark.
Explanation
- First recorded around 1400–50.
- An apparent alteration of the late Middle English word pylcraft(e), perhaps from Old French paragrafe, pelagraphe.
- Paragraph has origins in Greek paragraphḗ, meaning "marked passage."
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- The editor asked the writer to insert pilcrows to indicate new paragraphs in the manuscript.
- Students learning about typography are usually introduced to the concept of the pilcrow as a visual marker for paragraphs.
noun
a distinguishing mark or feature; stamp.
Explanation
- First recorded in 1630–40.
- Can also mean "superior status; prestige."
- From French cachet, derived from the verb cacher, "to hide."
- Related to cache, "a hiding place."
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- The luxurious car had a cachet of elegance that set it apart from the rest of the vehicles on the road.
- His eloquent speeches carried a cachet of authority and wisdom, earning him respect from his audience.
noun
a person or thing that shows the existence or direction of a trend; index.
Explanation
- First recorded around 1400–50.
- A bellwether originally meant "a male sheep that leads the flock, usually bearing a bell."
- Formed from the words bell and wether, "a castrated male sheep," both with Old English origins.
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- The sudden surge in tech stocks is often seen as a bellwether for the overall market sentiment.
- Her fashion choices are considered a bellwether of upcoming trends in the industry.
verb
to understand thoroughly and intuitively.
Explanation
- Coined by Robert A. Heinlein in the science-fiction novel Stranger in a Strange Land, published in 1961.
- Can also mean "to communicate sympathetically."
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- After reading the novel multiple times, he finally grokked the underlying themes and symbolism.
- As a seasoned detective, she had the ability to grok people's intentions from their body language alone.
