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.
the use of an opponent's strengths or one's own weaknesses to accomplish a goal
You may know jujitsu as a martial art, but it can also describe using an opponent's strengths, or even your own weaknesses, to accomplish a goal. Now go take down today's challenges and claim the win.
to counterbalance or offset in weight, force, or importance
Equiponderate means "to balance or weigh things equally." It fuses Latin roots meaning "equal" and "to weigh," building a miniature set of scales right into the word. Remember to stay levelheaded, and you'll make it through today just fine.
a coded message
B-H-O-G-D-Q. It looks like nonsense, but deduce a secret rule, and you'll reveal a word that's all about hidden meanings. A cipher is a type of code that obscures a message. This word comes from the Arabic sifr, meaning "zero," which eventually landed in English with its cryptic sense. Ready to sleuth your way through the day?
of or relating to a guardian or guardianship
Tutelary relates to a guardian or guardianship. The word stems from a Latin word meaning "guardian or keeper." Think of it as a fancy way to talk about the people who guide you along life's path.
with a quick succession of beats or taps
Pitapat refers to the quick succession of beats or taps. It's a classic case of onomatopoeia — words that sound like what they describe. Whether it's raindrops or a rapid heartbeat, this word skips right along.
