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.
equal in power, effect, etc.; equivalent.
Equipollent is ultimately based on Latin aequus, “equal,” and pollēre, “to be able.” Pollēre is a fusion of Latin potis, “able,” and valēre, “to be strong.” Potis is the source of possible, power, and the Word of the Day plenipotent, while valēre gives rise to valedictorian and valentine. Equipollent was first recorded in English around the turn of the 15th century. EXAMPLE OF EQUIPOLLENT USED IN A SENTENCE For every action, there is an equipollent, opposing reaction.
to pour forth lava or the like.
Extra- from extravasate comes from the Latin adjective exter, “on the outside.” Forms of exter are the sources of English exterior (literally “more outside”) and extreme (“most outside”). Vas comes from Latin vās, “vessel,” which is the source of vase and vessel as well as vascular. Extravasate was first recorded in English circa 1660. EXAMPLE OF EXTRAVASATE USED IN A SENTENCE The volcano erupted, sending out a plume of smoke and ash as rivers of lava extravasated from the fiery peak.
the art of producing and publishing books.
As we learned from the Word of the Day bibliophile, biblio- comes from Ancient Greek biblíon, “papyrus roll.” The form -gony, meaning “origination, production,” comes from Ancient Greek gónos, “seed, generation,” which appears in several words related to reproduction. Bibliogony was first recorded in English circa 1840. EXAMPLE OF BIBLIOGONY USED IN A SENTENCE The emerging demand for e-books spurred a seismic shift in the standards of bibliogony.
a symbiotic association of the mycelium of a fungus with the roots of certain plants.
Myco- in mycorrhiza comes from Ancient Greek mýkēs, “mushroom, fungus,” which may be a distant relative of Latin mūcus. The form -rrhiza comes from Ancient Greek rhíza, “root,” which is also the source of licorice. Mycorrhiza was first recorded in English in the early 1890s. EXAMPLE OF MYCORRHIZA USED IN A SENTENCE The mushrooms developed mycorrhizae with the roots of a nearby tree, allowing the tiny fungi and the tall plant to exchange nutrients with one another.
the point in the heavens from which a shower of meteors appears to radiate.
Radiant is based on Latin radiāns, “shining,” from the verb radiāre, “to shine.” While English uses -ing for present participles (as in seeing, going), Latin uses -ns, often changing to -nt-. This is why Latin pungēns, “piercing,” becomes pungent and conveniēns, “coming together,” becomes convenient. Radiant was first recorded in English in the late 15th century. EXAMPLE OF RADIANT USED IN A SENTENCE The meteors emerged from a radiant somewhere in the constellation Lyra and streaked across the night sky.
