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.
books produced before 1501, in the early days of printing
Incunabula are books printed before 1501, offering a rare glimpse into the dawn of printing. The word is derived from the Latin word for "cradle," evoking the birth of the printing press. These treasures remind us of the painstaking craft behind each page and serve as a window into the past, centuries before e-readers. It's no wonder incunabula continue to captivate people today!
The library housed a rare collection of incunabula, including several Bibles printed in the 15th century.
bad handwriting; poor penmanship
Cacography is bad handwriting or poor penmanship. It comes from Greek words meaning "bad" and "writing," and its opposite is the beautiful, artsy "calligraphy." From messy scribbles to chicken-scratch notes, cacography keeps us humble about our writing skills.
His cacography made it difficult to read his handwritten notes.
unfavorable or unfortunate
Untoward describes something unfavorable or unfortunate. In earlier English, toward could mean "agreeable," and its opposite untoward stepped in when things didn't turn out so well. Whether it's bad weather or an awkward moment, keep your eyes peeled and you'll (fingers crossed!) dodge the untoward.
The sudden, untoward turn of events left everyone feeling uneasy.
a gadget; dingus; thingamajig
A doohickey is a gadget, thingamajig, or whatchamacallit — that handy little object whose name escapes you in the moment. Informal and playful, it's a word for the tools and trinkets that keep life running. Next time you can't remember the name for that handy gadget in your junk drawer, just call it a doohickey.
Please hand me that doohickey; I need to fix this machine.
a miniature tree or shrub grown in a container and shaped through pruning
A bonsai is a miniature tree or shrub grown in a container and shaped through pruning. The word is a borrowing from Japanese, meaning a "potted plant." With patience and skill, a bonsai can be a true work of art!
The delicate bonsai was the centerpiece of the garden.
