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 short nap, usually 15–30 minutes, taken immediately after drinking a cup of coffee, the claimed benefit being that the energizing effect of caffeine may be bolstered by a sleeping body’s drop in adenosine levels.
Explanation
- First recorded in 2010–15.
- Added to Dictionary.com on September 5, 2023.
- Read about other new words added this month!
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- As the aroma of freshly brewed coffee engulfed the room, she eagerly anticipated a rejuvenating coffee nap to combat her afternoon slump.
- Feeling drowsy, he gulped down a strong espresso shot, hoping it would kick in before his scheduled coffee nap.
noun
a person who likes cats.
Explanation
- First recorded in 1925–30.
- Comes from Greek aílouro(s), which means "cat" and -phile, meaning "enthusiast for."
- The suffix -phile comes from Greek -philos, meaning "dear, beloved."
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- The cafe down the street attracts ailurophiles from all over the city with its cozy atmosphere and resident cats that roam freely among the patrons.
- As an ailurophile, he has a house filled with feline companions, each with their own unique personalities and quirks.
adjective
indirectly stated or expressed; not straightforward.
Explanation
- First recorded around 1400–50.
- Comes from the Latin term oblīquus, which means "slanting."
- Other words that begin with the prefix ob-, meaning "toward or against," include obsolete, obscure, and obligate.
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- She tactfully made oblique references to his recent mistake during the staff meeting.
- The author used oblique language to weave a complex web of hidden meanings in her novel.
noun
a musical instrument, consisting of a flat sounding box with numerous strings stretched over it, that is placed on a horizontal surface and played with a plectrum and the fingertips.
Explanation
- First recorded in English in 1840–50.
- Comes via German from Latin cithara.
- Cithara is also related to the Greek kithárá, from which we get kithara, "a musical instrument of ancient Greece consisting of an elaborate wooden soundbox having two arms connected by a yoke to which the upper ends of the strings are attached."
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- The delicate harmonies of the piano blended beautifully with the rich tones of the zither in their enchanting duet.
- With each graceful stroke of the plectrum against the strings, the zither produced a soothing melody that transported listeners to another time.
noun
a small lie; fib.
Explanation
- First recorded in 1790–1800.
- An informal term with no clear etymology.
- The second element may be the verb diddle “to move back and forth or up and down quickly.”
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- The mischievous twins concocted a taradiddle about their missing homework to avoid getting into trouble with their teacher.
- In her memoir, the author admitted to embellishing certain events with harmless taradiddles to make them more captivating for readers.
