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.
drizzle; mist.
- Mizzle can also mean "to rain in fine drops."
- Mizzle has Germanic roots.
- It was first recorded in English in 1475-85.
- I decided to walk in the mizzle since it would be cooler than the usual sun-drenched day.
- If you're planning a picnic, make sure to bring an umbrella in case of mizzle.
a beginner in learning anything; novice.
- Tyro comes from the Latin word meaning “recruit.”
- It was first recorded in English in 1605–15.
- Someone who is like a beginner can be described as tyronic.
- As a tyro in the field of photography, she was still learning the basics about lighting, composition, and exposure.
- Despite being a tyro in the kitchen, he managed to whip up an impressive meal for his dinner guests.
a performer who is skilled at balancing in unusual positions and hazardous movements, as a tightrope walker in a circus.
Equilibrist comes by way of French from Latin aequilībrium, “equilibrium,” which is formed from aequus, “equal,” and lībra, “balance.” Though aequus is of unknown origin, lībra may be distantly related to English liter. Equilibrist was first recorded in English in the 1750s. EXAMPLE OF EQUILIBRIST USED IN A SENTENCE The equilibrists performed cartwheels on the narrow beam suspended in the air.
to your health.
A vuestra salud is from Spanish, consisting of a, “to”; vuestra, “your”; and salud, “health.” These three words come from Latin, all unchanged in meaning; a comes from Latin ad, vuestra comes from vester, and salud comes from salūs (as in salute). A vuestra salud was first recorded in English in the early 1850s. EXAMPLE OF A VUESTRA SALUD USED IN A SENTENCE The dinner guests clinked their glasses together and proclaimed “A vuestra salud” as they began to drink.
the act of sneezing.
Sternutation is based on the Latin verb sternūtāre, “to sneeze repeatedly,” from sternuere, “to sneeze.” Though the ultimate origin of sternuere is uncertain, linguists have noted its resemblance to Ancient Greek ptárnysthai, “to sneeze,” as evidence of a deeper connection between the two words. Sternutation was first recorded in English around 1540. EXAMPLE OF STERNUTATION USED IN A SENTENCE “Gesundheit!” exclaimed the nurse as a fit of sternutation overcame his patient.
