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 deprive of force or strength; destroy the vigor of; weaken.
Explanation
- Enervate was first recorded in 1595–1605.
- Enervate is from the Latin word ēnervātus, meaning “weakened.”
- Ēnervātus is formed from ē-, meaning “from, out of,” and nerv(us), “sinew, tendon.”
- The monotonous routine of his desk job enervated his motivation, making it difficult for him to stay focused.
- The heatwave and high humidity enervated the athletes, hindering their performance on the field.
adjective
liable or threatening to cause the dizzying sensation of vertigo.
Explanation
- Vertiginous entered English around 1600–10.
- Vertiginous comes from the Latin word vertīginōsus, meaning "dizzy."
- Vertiginous shares the same stem as vertigo, "a dizzying sensation of tilting within stable surroundings or of being in tilting or spinning surroundings."
- Looking out from the observation deck, the city's skyscrapers seemed to rise endlessly into a vertiginous skyline.
- The towering roller coaster offered a vertiginous thrill to its riders as it plunged from dizzying heights.
plural noun
small pieces; bits.
Explanation
- Smithereens was first recorded in 1820–30.
- Smithereens may come from the dialectal variant smithers, "tiny pieces."
- Smithereens also contains the suffix -een similar to Irish -ín, which is used to emphasize the small size of something.
- Smithereens is always used in the plural form.
- She tore up the letter into tiny smithereens of paper before throwing them in the trash.
- The old building was demolished, reducing it to smithereens in a matter of seconds.
noun
an inn; hostel.
Explanation
- Auberge entered English from French around 1770–80.
- The French word auberge comes from Old Provençal alberga, which meant "encampment, hut."
- These forms diverged from the verb arbergar, "to lodge, shelter," which was originally from an East Germanic term meaning, "to shelter an armed force."
- Both harbinger, which can mean "a person sent in advance of troops," and harbor, "shelter," may have similar origins.
- After a long day of hiking, we were relieved to find a welcoming auberge to rest our weary bodies.
- The cozy auberge by the lake offered comfortable accommodations and delicious homemade meals.
verb
to behave in a high-spirited, festive manner.
Explanation
- Cavort is an Americanism dating back to 1785–95.
- Cavort comes from the earlier word cavault.
- Cavault is perhaps a combination of the words cur(vet), "a leap of a horse from a rearing position, in which it springs up with the hind legs outstretched as the forelegs descend," and vault, "to leap or spring."
- After weeks of intense studying, the students decided to let loose and cavort around town at the end of the semester.
- The dancers cavorted with contagious enthusiasm, lifting the spirits of all who were watching.
