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.
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.
noun
the leap year.
Explanation
- First recorded in 1585–95.
- From the word bissextus, which refers to February 29th.
- Bissextus means literally “the second sixth,” so called because the 6th day before the first day of March in the ancient Roman calendar appeared a second time once every leap year.
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- The extra day in a bissextile helps keep the calendar in sync with the solar year.
- February 29th is an occurrence that only happens in a bissextile.
verb
to foreshadow; prefigure.
Explanation
- First recorded in 1575–85.
- Comes from the past participle of the Latin verb adumbrāre, “to shade.”
- Adumbrāre has the stem umbr(a), “shade, shadow,” also found in the Astronomy terms umbra, "the complete or perfect shadow of a planet," and penumbra, "the partial or imperfect shadow outside the complete shadow of a planet."
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- The subtle hints in her letter adumbrated her true intentions.
- The cryptic message seemed to adumbrate a dark future for the kingdom.
noun
the final resolution of the intricacies of a plot, as of a drama or novel.
Explanation
- First recorded in 1745–55.
- From French, literally means, “an untying.”
- Noer from Old French means “to knot” and comes from a Latin derivative of nōdus, “knot.”
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- As the play reached its denouement, the audience held their breath in anticipation.
- In a surprising denouement, the protagonist turned out to be the long-lost heir to the fortune.
adjective
suitable for use as food; edible.
Explanation
- First recorded in 1615–25.
- Comes from Latin ēsculentus, “edible, full of food.”
- Esculentus shares a root with escarole, "a broad leaf used in salads."
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- Explorers in the jungle had to rely on their survival skills to find esculent plants for sustenance.
- The food critic praised the restaurant for its innovative dishes featuring esculent flowers and herbs.
