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.
toward what place; in what direction
Whitherward is an old-school way to ask, "Where to now?" This handy adverb translates to "toward what place or in what direction." Before falling out of favor, it was popular for centuries, hitching the question of "whither" to the directional suffix "-ward." Next time your map app freezes up, just go whitherward the road leads and buckle up for a surprise!
a stage or period of greatest strength or success
Heyday refers to a period of greatest strength, success, or popularity. Language historians aren't certain how the term acquired its modern meaning, but early English writers recorded excited cries of "hey day!" (as well as "hoighdagh!" and "heyda!") long before the word came to describe a high point. It's ideal to use in times when the stars align and everything is going your way.
changing in luster or color
Chatoyant describes something changing in color or luster, almost like a cat's eye. In fact, the chat in chatoyant is the French word for "cat," lending the word an inherently feline feel. Even simple things can be mesmerizing when their chatoyant glimmer begins to shine through.
a house or apartment for part-time or temporary use
A pied-à-terre is a dwelling kept for occasional stays in town rather than full-time living. The French phrase literally means "foot on the ground," hinting at a place where you can land without hauling your whole life along. And it's a bit more comfortable than couch-surfing!
to move restlessly or aimlessly from one place to another
To gad means "to move restlessly or aimlessly from one place to another," chasing curiosity over obligation. The word was first recorded in the 1400s, proof that the impulse is nothing new. Next time you get an itch to explore, just grab your keys and gad about!
