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 purple or violet quartz, used as a gem.
Amethyst comes by way of Latin from Ancient Greek améthystos, literally meaning “not intoxicating.” Perhaps because of amethyst’s winelike hue, a common belief in the ancient Mediterranean was that the stone prevented drunkenness. The ultimate origin, méthy, “wine,” is distantly related to English mead, a liquor made from fermented honey. Amethyst was first recorded in English in the late 13th century. EXAMPLE OF AMETHYST USED IN A SENTENCE The deep purple amethyst in her necklace contrasted with her white dress.
of or relating to organisms that live in or on soil.
Humicolous, “of or relating to organisms living in or on soil,” is based on Latin humus, “earth,” and colere, “to inhabit.” Humus comes from an Indo-European root found in numerous words related to land or humankind, such as Words of the Day chernozem, chthonian, and duniewassal. Colere also gives us colony and culture. Humicolous was first recorded in English at the turn of the 20th century. EXAMPLE OF HUMICOLOUS USED IN A SENTENCE As they dug through the soil in the garden, ants, worms, and other humicolous creatures kept appearing.
to bear fruit; become fruitful.
Fructify is based on Latin frūctus, which means “fruit.” Frūctus evolved into Old French fruit, which was borrowed into English. The change from Latin -ct- to French -it- also appears in Latin coctus, which became French cuit, “cooked” (as in biscuit). Fructify was first recorded in English around the turn of the 14th century. EXAMPLE OF FRUCTIFY USED IN A SENTENCE After blossoming in spring, apple trees begin to fructify by summer.
forming an exact proper divisor.
Aliquot is formed from Latin alius, “some, other,” and quot, “as many as, every.” Alius is also the source of alias, alibi, and alien, all of which have to do with otherness, whether by name or location. Words of the Day altruistic and ultramafic are formed from alter, “other,” and uls, “beyond,” Latin relatives of alius. Aliquot was first recorded in English in the 1560s. EXAMPLE OF ALIQUOT USED IN A SENTENCE Aliquot parts of 24 include 2, 3, 4, and 6, but not 5.
to observe or commemorate with rites or ceremonies.
Solemnize is equivalent to Latin sollemnis, meaning both “common, established” and “consecrated, holy.” Sollemnis may be connected to sollus, “whole,” the source of solicit and the Word of the Day insouciant, but not all linguists agree. Solemnize was first recorded in English in the late 14th century. EXAMPLE OF SOLEMNIZE USED IN A SENTENCE The newlyweds solemnized their marriage by exchanging vows they had written themselves.
