Word of the Day
wanderlust
noun
a strong, innate desire to rove or travel about.
Why Nitya Chivukula from Dictionary.com chose wanderlust
Nitya Chivukula, Senior Finance Manager, chose wanderlust as a gift for you. Find out why!
More about wanderlust
- Wanderlust was first recorded in English in 1850–55.
- Wanderlust comes from German, from the words wander(n), which means “to wander,” and Lust, which means “desire.”
- Wander, “to ramble without a definite purpose or objective,” and lust, “a passionate or overmastering desire or craving,” both entered English before 900.
EXAMPLES OF WANDERLUST
- Every time he flipped through his feed, his wanderlust grew stronger as he saw breathtaking photos of exotic destinations.
- Despite having a comfortable life with a stable job, she couldn’t ignore the persistent call of wanderlust that urged her to sell everything and hit the road.
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grandfamily
noun
a family in which one or more children live with and are raised by their grandparent or grandparents.
Why Michelle Hamilton from Dictionary.com chose grandfamily
Michelle Hamilton, Chief of Staff, chose grandfamily as a gift for you. Find out why!
More about grandfamily
- Grandfamily was first recorded around 1960–65.
- Grandfamily was formed from a combination of grand-, meaning “one generation more remote” and family “a basic social unit.”
- Other words that begin with grand- include grandparent, grandmother, grandfather, and grandfluencer, “an older person who’s known for being influential due to having a large social media following, especially one who seems at least old enough to be a grandparent.”
EXAMPLES OF GRANDFAMILY
- Living in a close-knit grandfamily has its challenges, but it also brings immeasurable love and support.
- The community organized a picnic to celebrate the unique bonds of grandfamilies, those between grandparents and their grandchildren.
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serendipity
noun
accidental discovery.
Why Claire Rausser from Dictionary.com chose serendipity
Claire Rausser, User Researcher, chose serendipity as a gift for you. Find out why!
More about serendipity
- Serendipity was coined in English by Horace Walpole in 1754 in a translation from Italian of the Persian fairy tale The Three Princes of Serendip.
- Serendipity comes from the word Serendip, which is the Classical Persian name for the country of Sri Lanka.
- Serendipity was used by Walpole to refer to an ability possessed by the heroes of the fairy tale to use both accidental discovery and wisdom to figure out the nature of a lost camel.
EXAMPLES OF SERENDIPITY
- During my travels through Europe, it was sheer serendipity to meet an old friend from college in a bustling café in Paris.
- Exploring the antique store turned into pure serendipity when he stumbled upon a hidden compartment in an old desk that contained a stack of rare coins.
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