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Word of the day

vicissitude

[ vi-sis-i-tood ] [ vɪˈsɪs ɪˌtud ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

noun

a change or variation occurring in the course of something.

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Why Dictionary.com chose vicissitude

More about vicissitude

  • Often used in the plural, vicissitude was first recorded in 1560-70.
  • Vicissitude comes via Middle French from Latin vicissitūdō, “in turn.”
  • The first part of vicissitude is from the same root as vice, “in the place of,” as in vice president.
  • The middle part comes from the Latin word cessim, “giving way,” and the last part from –tūdō, which indicates state or condition, as in attitude.

EXAMPLES OF VICISSITUDE

  • Life is full of vicissitudes, with unexpected twists and turns that shape our journey.
  • The relationship went through many vicissitudes as their feelings for each other grew and evolved over time.
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Word of the day

quetzal

[ ket-sahl ] [ kɛtˈsɑl ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

noun

any of several large Central and South American birds of the trogon family, having golden-green and scarlet plumage.

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Why Dictionary.com chose quetzal

More about quetzal

  • Quetzal was first recorded in English around 1820-30.
  • Quetzal comes via Latin American Spanish from the Nahuatl word quetzalli, meaning “plumage of the quetzal bird.”
  • While now endangered, the quetzal was revered as a sacred bird by the Maya and Aztec peoples, who used the tailfeathers in ceremonial dress as symbols of freedom and wealth.
  • Today, the resplendent quetzal is the national bird of Guatemala, even featured as their monetary unit, also called the quetzal.

EXAMPLES OF QUETZAL

  • The quetzal, with its vibrant golden-green and scarlet plumage, soared gracefully through the rainforest canopy.
  • As I hiked through the dense jungle, I was fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of a glittering quetzal perched on a branch.
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Word of the day

circumlocution

[ sur-kuhm-loh-kyoo-shuhn ] [ ˌsɜr kəm loʊˈkyu ʃən ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

noun

a roundabout or indirect way of speaking.

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Why Dictionary.com chose circumlocution

More about circumlocution

  • Circumlocution was first recorded in English in 1375-1425.
  • Circumlocution comes from the Latin word circumlocūtiō, “the act of speaking around; periphrasis.”
  • Circum– is a prefix with the meaning “round about, around,” found in many Latin loanwords, like circumnavigate or circumstance.
  • Locution comes from the Latin word locūtiō, meaning “speech, style of speech,” also present in interlocutor and eloquent.

EXAMPLES OF CIRCUMLOCUTION

  • Instead of answering the simple question with a yes or no, he resorted to circumlocution, confusing everyone in the room.
  • She was known for her tendency to use circumlocution, often taking a meandering path to reach her point in the conversation.
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