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.
gladly; willingly
Lief means "gladly or willingly," as in you'd as lief curl up with a book on your day off. The adverb traces back to an Old English word meaning "dear, valued, beloved, or pleasant." So go ahead and add a little old-world charm to your modern-day chat!
causing or tending to cause sleep
Soporific describes anything so soothing (or boring) that it sends you drifting off to dreamland. English speakers nabbed it from the Latin word for "sleep" in the 1600s, and it's been yawning its way through the language ever since. Ever had a lecture that doubled as a lullaby? That's soporific!
a small, rocky island
A skerry is a small, rocky islet that barely peeks above the waves. Nautical charts around Scotland and Scandinavia are dotted with these potential hazards, some visible only at low tide. Keep your eyes peeled for a jagged skerry!
to laugh loudly
Guffaw means "to laugh loudly." It's the kind of belly laugh that has no restraints and echoes through a room. The word can be used both as a noun and verb and was likely coined to echo the very sound of that booming laugh. With such joyful origins, it's no surprise that people often say laughter — especially a good guffaw — is the best medicine!
a secret dungeon with an opening only in the ceiling
An oubliette is a hidden dungeon reached only through a trapdoor — a place where jailers once locked people away to be forgotten. In fact, the word comes from the French word for "forgetting," a grim clue to a prisoner's prospects. Keep the word handy next time you take a castle tour in Europe.
