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 loanword borrowed from one language and established in many unrelated languages, usually in a chain determined by established trade routes, and sometimes undergoing changes through contact with the dominant language where the word is adopted.
Wanderwort is a borrowing from German and literally translates as “wander word.” German wander shares an origin with the English verbs wander, wend, and wind. Meanwhile, German Wort is related to English word. Wanderwort was first recorded in English in the early 1910s. For examples of Wanderwörter in English, check out the Words of the Day caterwaul and matcha. EXAMPLE OF WANDERWORT USED IN A SENTENCE His joy in researching the wanderwort led him to pursue a degree in historical linguistics.
the practice of giving gifts to one another or to people in need on Purim.
Shalach manoth is an adaptation of either Yiddish shalakh-mones or its Hebrew ancestor mishlóakh manót, literally “delivery of portions.” The Hebrew noun mishlóakh means “delivery, shipment,” while manót is the plural of manáh, “portion, ration, share.” A close relative of manáh is minyan, a group of 10 people, from Hebrew minyān, “number.” Shalach manoth was first recorded in English in the late 1910s. EXAMPLE OF SHALACH MANOTH USED IN A SENTENCE The charity, in an act of shalach manoth, donated dozens of gift baskets and bags of food to the local community.
to amend a written work by removing or modifying passages considered vulgar or objectionable.
Bowdlerize is the namesake of Thomas Bowdler, who published an edited version of Shakespeare’s plays in 1807. Bowdler claimed that he had removed “defects which diminish [the plays’] value.” The surname Bowdler has two possible origins: in reference to a person who buddles or is from Boelare (modern Nederboelare in Belgium). Bowdlerize was first recorded in English in the 1830s. EXAMPLE OF BOWDLERIZE USED IN A SENTENCE The students noticed that their edition of Hamlet had been bowdlerized, with several exciting yet controversial scenes significantly whittled down.
the soft, dense, light-brown woolly undercoat of the musk ox, used in making fabrics.
Qiviut is the plural of qiviuq, “down, underhair.” It’s a borrowing from one of the Inuit languages, as are Words of the Day angakok and anorak. The letter q in Inuit languages is pronounced farther back in the mouth than the q in English, producing a sound about halfway between English k and French r. Give it a try! Qiviut was first recorded in English in the late 1950s. EXAMPLE OF QIVIUT USED IN A SENTENCE The thick lining of qiviut inside his coat kept him warm during his morning walk.
of or relating to rain, especially much rain; rainy.
Pluvial comes from the Latin pluvia, “rain.” Another word for “rain” in Latin is imber, but while pluvia is the source of many modern Romance words for “rain” (such as French pluie, Italian pioggia, and Spanish lluvia), imber has barely any related words today. Pluvial was first recorded in English in the 1650s. EXAMPLE OF PLUVIAL USED IN A SENTENCE The burst of pluvial weather left mud and puddles in its wake.
