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.
an Italian dessert with coffee and liquor-soaked layers of sponge cake alternating with mascarpone cheese and chocolate.
Tiramisu, from Italian tiramisù, is a literal pick-me-up; the term is based on Italian tira, “pick!”; mi, “me”; and su, “up.” Tira is the command form of tirare, “to pick, pull,” of uncertain origin, while su comes from Latin sūrsum, “upwards.” Tiramisu was first recorded in English in the early 1980s. EXAMPLE OF TIRAMISU USED IN A SENTENCE Sweet, savory slices of tiramisu were the most popular dessert at the Venetian restaurant.
the state or quality of being clouded or opaque, usually because of suspended matter or stirred-up sediment.
Turbidity comes from Medieval Latin turbiditās, which is based on Latin turbidus, meaning “confused, troubled, murky.” Turbidus comes from turba, “crowd, turmoil,” which is also the source of disturb, trouble, and turbulence. Turbidity was first recorded in English in the 1620s. EXAMPLE OF TURBIDITY USED IN A SENTENCE The turbidity of the muddy puddle only increased as a family of geese and goslings waddled through the water.
to expose to an elevated temperature for a period sufficient to destroy certain microorganisms, without radically altering taste or quality.
Pasteurize is named for French chemist Louis Pasteur (1822–95), who proved that germs such as bacteria were responsible for disease. The surname Pasteur means “shepherd” in French and comes from Latin pāscere (stem pāst-), “to feed,” which is the source of antipasto, pabulum, and pasture. Pasteurize was first recorded in English in the early 1880s. EXAMPLE OF PASTEURIZE USED IN A SENTENCE The beer and wine were pasteurized to reduce the risk of food-borne illness.
having an even number of toes or digits on each foot.
Artiodactyl is a compound of artio-, meaning “even number,” and -dactyl, meaning “finger, toe.” Artio- comes from Ancient Greek ártios, “even, fitting, perfect,” while -dactyl comes from dáktylos, which also referred to the fruit of the date palm tree. Artiodactyl was first recorded in English in the 1840s. EXAMPLE OF ARTIODACTYL USED IN A SENTENCE Among the zoo’s longtime residents were alpacas, giraffes, goats, and various other artiodactyl animals.
a broad elevation or mound of earth raised as a fortification around a place and usually capped with a stone or earth parapet.
Rampart comes from Middle French remparer, “to take back possession of,” which derives from re-, meaning “again, back,” and emparer, “to take possession of.” Emparer is ultimately formed from Latin ante, “before,” plus parāre, “to prepare.” Rampart was first recorded in English around 1580. EXAMPLE OF RAMPART USED IN A SENTENCE A rolling series of ramparts protected the palace from the besieging army.
