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.
noun
a person of puzzling or contradictory character.
Explanation
- Enigma was first recorded in English around 1530–40 and comes from the Greek word aínigma, "riddle,” which derived from aînos, "fable."
- Enigma was also the name of a ciphering machine used by the German military during World War II. A precursor to computer encryption, the Enigma machine encoded messages into a seemingly random string of letters to be decoded by another Enigma machine.
- The deciphering of the Enigma code by Alan Turing and a team of codebreakers allowed the Allies to secretly read intercepted German messages and is thought to be a major factor in the Allied victory.
- His mysterious smile and cryptic words rendered him an enigma that no one could decipher.
- Trying to understand her enigma of a personality proved to be an intriguing challenge for those around her.
noun
dashing smartness, as in dress or appearance; style.
Explanation
- Swank entered English around 1800–10.
- Swank may be related to the Scots word swank, meaning "lively."
- Swank was perhaps ultimately formed from Old English swancor "lithe."
- Swank is similar to the Middle Dutch word swanc, "supple," and the Middle High German word swanken, "to sway."
- The suave gentleman effortlessly exuded swank as he greeted everyone with a charming smile and impeccable grooming.
- "The fashion show was a spectacle of swank, featuring models strutting down the runway in glamorous attire.
verb
to gather, summon, rouse (often followed by up).
Explanation
- Muster entered English around 1250–1300.
- Muster came via French from the Latin verb mōnstrāre, meaning "to show."
- Mōnstrāre derives from the Latin noun mōnstrum, meaning "portent, unnatural event, monster."
- Monster, "any animal or thing huge in size," derives from this same noun.
- They mustered up the courage to confront their fears and take a leap of faith.
- The community members mustered their resources to support those affected by the natural disaster.
noun
imperturbable self-possession, poise, or assurance.
Explanation
- Aplomb was first recorded around 1820–30.
- Aplomb is from the French phrase à plomb, “according to the plummet,” which means straight up and down or in a vertical position.
- Plummet or plumb bob refers to a weight attached to a line, used for determining perpendicularity.
- Despite facing an array of difficult questions, the speaker showed remarkable aplomb and answered each one with confidence.
- As the team captain, she handled the pressure of the final match with aplomb, leading her team to victory.
noun
generosity of spirit or attitude.
Explanation
- Largess was first recorded in 1175–1225.
- Largess is also spelled largesse and comes from the Middle English word largesse, from Old French.
- Largess is related to large, which comes from the Latin word meaning "ample, generous."
- Despite her humble beginnings, the politician displayed an incredible largess by sponsoring scholarships for underprivileged students.
- The artist's largess was displayed in his willingness to share her creative process with others, inspiring a new generation of painters.
