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.
Check out the Word of the Yearnoun
a protagonist who lacks the attributes that make a heroic figure, as nobility of mind and spirit, a life or attitude marked by action or purpose, and the like.
Explanation
- Antihero entered English at the turn of the 18th century and is formed from the Latin prefix anti, meaning "opposite of" and hero, originally from the Greek word hḗrōs, meaning "protector" or "defender."
- Hero and its counterpart antihero were first used almost exclusively to refer to a man.
- Although the corresponding word heroine and its counterpart antiheroine were—and still are—reserved for women, hero and antihero are now considered to be gender-neutral words.
- Despite his questionable methods and morally ambiguous choices, the antihero of the story captivated audiences with his complex personality and unconventional approach to justice.
- In a refreshing departure from traditional heroes, the antihero's flawed nature allowed for a more realistic and relatable depiction of human struggles, resonating with a generation seeking characters who defy conventions.
adjective
disagreeable to deal with; contentious.
Explanation
- Cantankerous was first recorded in 1765–75.
- It is of uncertain origin but may derive from the Middle English word contack, meaning "quarrel" or "contention" that ultimately comes from Old French contek.
- Cantankerous was formed on the model of the not-too-dissimilar words contentious and rancorous.
- My cantankerous neighbor always complains about the slightest noise coming from my apartment.
- Despite his cantankerous personality, the new boss is known for making effective decisions for the company.
noun
a person who has a particular tendency or ability to psychologically identify with the emotions, thoughts, or attitudes of others.
Explanation
- Empath was first recorded in 1956 in Scottish author J.T. McIntosh’s 1956 “The Empath,” a story about paranormally empathetic beings called empaths.
- Possibly modeled on telepath, empath was formed from empathy, which entered English around 1900 from the Greek word, empátheia, meaning "affection," translating directly as "in suffering."
- By the 1990s, empath had jumped from sci-fi to shorthand for a highly sensitive person, and in the 2000s the term was featured in various considerations of emotional intelligence and personality types.
- Being an empath can be both a blessing and a curse, as you feel deeply and truly for others but also can be vulnerable to taking on their emotional baggage.
- As an empath, she felt overwhelmed by the intense emotions of her friends during their breakup.
noun
the essential nature of a thing.
Explanation
- Quiddity is from the Latin word, quidditās, meaning “essence” or "whatness."
- Quintessence or quintessential refer to the perfect embodiment of something and also derive from the same Latin root, quid, meaning "what."
- Quiddity was first recorded in 1350–1400.
- Understanding the quiddity of the problem is key to finding a solution.
- She knew that the quiddity of her subject would come out in the final painting.
verb
to make something more lively and interesting, stylish, or appealing, as by a small change or addition.
Explanation
- Zhuzh first appeared in the mid-1960s in gay communities in the U.K. in the sense meaning “to improve the look of one’s clothing or outfit.”
- The current sense of zhuzh (also spelled zhoosh) was first recorded in 1975–80.
- Zhuzh possibly comes from a Polari word meaning “to fix or tidy” or the Romani word zhouzhou, meaning “clean, neat.”
- It's more likely that zhuzh is imitative of someone rushing around.
- She decided to zhuzh up her outfit with a colorful scarf and some bold jewelry.
- With just a few new throw pillows and some rearranging of furniture, they zhuzhed up the living room.
