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 Yearany of a number of timbers forming the lower, more curved portion of the frame in a wooden hull.
Futtock may be an alteration of foothook, the ribs in a boat frame that one could hook oneâs foot under for stability while on board. Similarly formed words include baloney from bologna, and cockamamie from the Word of the Day decalcomania. Futtock was first recorded in English around 1610. EXAMPLE OF FUTTOCK USED IN A SENTENCE The futtocks creaked and groaned as the boat was tossed about in the stormy sea.
stately; regal.
Junoesque is formed from Juno, the name for the Roman goddess known as the queen of the gods. The name Juno (Latin JĆ«nĆ) may be related to Latin juvenis, âyoung,â the source of English junior, juvenile, and the Word of the Day rejuvenate. This connection may come from Junoâs ancient association with the new moon. Junoesque was first recorded in English in the late 1880s. EXAMPLE OF JUNOESQUE USED IN A SENTENCE The Junoesque attorney addressed the court with composure and elegance.
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 âwander word.â 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 mishlĂłakh manĂłt, literally âdelivery of portions.â The Hebrew noun mishlĂłakh means âdelivery, shipment,â while manĂłt is the plural of manĂĄh, âportion, ration, share.â A close relative of manĂĄh is minyan, a group of 10 people, from Hebrew minyÄn, ânumber.â 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 Shakespeareâs plays in 1807. Bowdler claimed that he had removed âdefects which diminish [the playsâ] value.â 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.
