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.
an underground aqueduct
A qanat is a gently sloping underground channel used to transport water from a source to the surface, especially in arid regions. The word comes from Arabic and describes an ancient engineering marvel still in use in parts of the Middle East and North Africa. Qanats show how a clever solution can endure for millennia.
The ancient city-state relied on a qanat to bring water from the mountains to their arid fields.
intended for or understood by a chosen few
Esoteric describes something understood by only a select few with specialized knowledge — think obscure philosophies, niche references, or even inside jokes. It comes from a Greek word meaning "inner circle," reflecting the kind of ideas that stay hidden away from the outside world. If this word feels like a secret handshake, you're in the right circle.
The monastery preserved centuries-old esoteric rituals.
rural; rustic
Agrestic describes things that are rural or rustic in feel, whether charming or a bit rough around the edges. Like its linguistic cousin "agriculture," it traces back to the Latin word for "field." Whether you're dreaming of rolling pastures or just dodging city traffic, a bit of agrestic living might be just the escape you need.
The agrestic charm of the countryside was a welcome change from city life.
to eat quickly and voraciously
Snarf is an informal verb meaning "to eat or drink something quickly." Its exact origins are uncertain, but American English speakers have been eating it up since the mid-20th century. If you find yourself snarfing ice cream after a long day at work, try not to inhale it all at once!
After soccer practice, the kids would snarf down slices of pizza before heading home.
sham, spurious, or counterfeit
Pinchbeck describes something that looks valuable or impressive but is actually cheap or downright fake. The word comes from a real person: Christopher Pinchbeck, an 18th-century watchmaker who created a copper-zinc alloy to mimic gold. But pinchbeck or not, if that bracelet you found at the thrift store makes you feel good, that's all that matters!
She wore a pinchbeck brooch that gleamed like real gold in the candlelight.
