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.
a geographical dictionary.
Gazetteer is ultimately based on gazeta, the Venetian word for “newspaper.” In this Romance language spoken in Venice, gazeta originally referred to a coin used to purchase a newspaper and may come from Venetian gaza, “magpie,” after the bird markings on the coins. Gazetteer was first recorded in English at the turn of the 17th century. EXAMPLE OF GAZETTEER USED IN A SENTENCE The tourists relied on a detailed gazetteer as they traveled around the Highlands and Lowlands of Scotland.
the recollection or remembrance of the past; reminiscence.
Anamnesis comes from the Ancient Greek verb anamimnḗskein, “to remember” or, literally, “to call to mind again.” Ancient Greek aná means “again, back, re-,” while mimnḗskein, “to call to mind,” is also the source of amnesia and amnesty. Anamnesis was first recorded in English in the 1650s. EXAMPLE OF ANAMNESIS USED IN A SENTENCE During a period of intense anamnesis, the patient recalled several nearly forgotten memories of his childhood that he hadn’t thought about in years.
a large shade tree native to China, having fan-shaped leaves and fleshy seeds with edible kernels.
Ginkgo is a misspelling of Japanese ginkyō, with German physician Engelbert Kaempfer responsible for the original error in the early 1690s. The gin- element means “silver” and is related to Mandarin yín, while the kyō part means “apricot” and is cognate to Mandarin xìng. Gingko was first recorded in English in the early 1770s. EXAMPLE OF GINKGO USED IN A SENTENCE The immense ginkgo cast an even larger shadow over the park’s grounds.
confused; bewildered.
Ferdutzt is from Pennsylvania Dutch, similar to the recent Word of the Day ferhoodle, and comes from German verdutzt, “bewildered, nonplussed.” Verdutzt is the past participle of the verb verdutzen, “to confuse, bewilder,” in which -dutz- may be related to English dote. Ferdutzt was first recorded in English in the early 1980s. EXAMPLE OF FERDUTZT USED IN A SENTENCE The mechanic was ferdutzt and surprised that the new car had broken down so soon after its purchase.
a plant adapted for growth under dry conditions.
Xerophyte is formed from xero-, meaning “dry,” and -phyte, meaning “plant.” Xero- comes from Ancient Greek xērós, the root of the Word of the Day xeriscaping, and -phyte comes from Ancient Greek phytón, the source of the Word of the Day neophyte. Xerophyte was first recorded in English at the end of the 19th century. EXAMPLE OF XEROPHYTE USED IN A SENTENCE Cacti, aloe plants, and other xerophytes grew throughout the arid scrubland.
