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.
having or abounding with stars
Stelliferous describes something abounding with stars, like a night sky sparkling with celestial lights. Astronomers dub our current cosmic epoch the Stelliferous Era, the long stretch when stars generate most of the universe's energy. On a clear night, step outside and enjoy the stelliferous scene overhead!
a gadget or device
Doodad is a lighthearted word for any small gadget or gizmo. It popped into American English in the early 1900s, arriving alongside playfully vague synonyms like "doohickey" and "whatchamacallit." The next time that mystery adapter resurfaces, just call it a doodad, stick it in a drawer, and forget about it for a few more years!
to show or feel great joy
To jubilate means "to show or feel great joy." Think of cheering, singing, or otherwise letting happiness burst forth. Although the noun jubilation is more common than its verb counterpart in modern times, jubilate joyously rang through hymns and victory songs for centuries. When good news lands today, don't hesitate to unleash your joy!
tending to clear from a charge of fault or guilt
Exculpatory is a way to describe evidence that clears a person of blame or guilt. American lawyers carefully comb through all relevant document collections before a trial, because under U.S. law, prosecutors must hand over any potentially exculpatory evidence to the defense. The next time facts swing in your favor just like you knew they would, marvel at how a single exculpatory discovery can close a case.
to cause to become dim or indistinct
To dislimn means "to become dim or indistinct," fading away like it was never there. Built from the prefix "dis-" plus the old verb "limn," meaning "to paint or sketch," it has long described pictures, outlines, and even memories slowly disappearing. Now you have a fitting word for when the latest chalk masterpiece on the driveway fades away in a summer storm.
