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 Yearmoving backward; having a backward motion or direction; retiring or retreating.
Retrograde comes from Latin retrōgradus, meaning “going back,” which is based on retrō, “back, backward,” and gradī, “to step, go.” While retrō can be found in many words indicating backward movement, both in space and in time, gradī is related to centigrade and graduate. Retrograde was first recorded in English in the late 14th century. EXAMPLE OF RETROGRADE USED IN A SENTENCE Mercury’s arc in the sky turned retrograde, becoming more of an S shape as the planet moved among the constellations.
divination through dreams.
Oneiromancy is based on Ancient Greek óneiros, “dream,” and manteía, “divination.” Óneiros is of uncertain origin, with relatives in Albanian and Armenian but in no other languages. Manteía comes from mántis, “prophet,” which is also the source of praying mantis. Oneiromancy was first recorded in English circa 1650. EXAMPLE OF ONEIROMANCY USED IN A SENTENCE Though oneiromancy doesn’t quite have a scientific basis, dreams may serve as windows not into the future but rather into the subconscious.
a person who enjoys rain and rainy days, and who is fascinated by the sights, sounds, etc., of rain.
Pluviophile is partly based on pluvia, one of two Latin words for “rain”; the other, imber, appears in the Word of the Day ignimbrite. The -phile element comes from Ancient Greek -philos, meaning “dear, beloved.” Pluviophile was first recorded in English in the early 1990s. Pluviophile is one of the recent additions to Dictionary.com. EXAMPLE OF PLUVIOPHILE USED IN A SENTENCE Despite their earlier complaints about rainy weather, many locals had become pluviophiles following the long drought.
equal in power, effect, etc.; equivalent.
Equipollent is ultimately based on Latin aequus, “equal,” and pollēre, “to be able.” Pollēre is a fusion of Latin potis, “able,” and valēre, “to be strong.” Potis is the source of possible, power, and the Word of the Day plenipotent, while valēre gives rise to valedictorian and valentine. Equipollent was first recorded in English around the turn of the 15th century. EXAMPLE OF EQUIPOLLENT USED IN A SENTENCE For every action, there is an equipollent, opposing reaction.
to pour forth lava or the like.
Extra- from extravasate comes from the Latin adjective exter, “on the outside.” Forms of exter are the sources of English exterior (literally “more outside”) and extreme (“most outside”). Vas comes from Latin vās, “vessel,” which is the source of vase and vessel as well as vascular. Extravasate was first recorded in English circa 1660. EXAMPLE OF EXTRAVASATE USED IN A SENTENCE The volcano erupted, sending out a plume of smoke and ash as rivers of lava extravasated from the fiery peak.
