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.
of or relating to parrots
A bright addition to your bird vocabulary, psittacine relates to parrots. You probably won't hear this word around town because it's mostly used in scientific and veterinary circles. Then again, don't be surprised if a particularly clever parrot repeats psittacine back to you!
to cheat or swindle
To hornswoggle is to cheat or swindle, often in a humorous or exaggerated way. This lively Americanism from the 1800s is just as fun to say as it is to catch in action. Don't fall for it!
a fingerprint
A dactylogram is a fingerprint — your personal, swirly signature. The term combines Greek words for "finger" and "writing." It's scientific, unique, and a surefire way to leave your mark.
likely to change
Fickle describes someone or something that's prone to change — whether it's mood, mind, or loyalty. The word traces back to Old English and still captures that sense of unpredictability. You could say it's reliably unreliable.
to wink
To nictate means "to wink," hailing from Latin. Yes, there's a technical term for that tiny, routine motion. So next time someone bats their lashes, you'll know they're nictating.
