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.
darling or dear
Mavourneen is an Irish term of endearment meaning "darling or dear," and it's been whispered in love songs and poetry for centuries. A little old-fashioned? Maybe. But romance never goes out of style!
having many branches
Ramose describes something with many branches, whether it’s coral, a tree, or even an idea. Rooted in Latin, this word is perfect for describing things that keep growing in every direction!
to move unsteadily
If you get seasick, your stomach will wamble — a lovely old word for moving unsteadily. Dating back to Middle English, it captures that wobbly, churning feeling, whether from rough seas or too much pie.
having moral or ethical standards
To be scrupulous means "to act with strong moral or ethical principles," ensuring every choice reflects what's right. The word comes from Latin, where it originally referred to a sharp stone. Think of scrupulous as an uncomfortable pebble in your shoe — always reminding you it's there.
a faint glow on the dark part of the moon during a crescent phase, caused by sunlight reflecting off the earth
Earthshine is a faint glow on the dark part of the moon during a crescent phase, caused by sunlight reflecting off our planet. The word was first recorded in the 1800s and shows us that even in the dark, light can still shine through!
