Word of the Day
Word of the day
paregmenon
noun
the juxtaposition of words that have a common root
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Why Dictionary.com chose paregmenon
More about paregmenon
- First recorded in 1670–80.
- From Greek parēgménon, meaning “has been led aside or changed.”
EXAMPLES OF PAREGMENON
- The title of the Jane Austen book Sense and Sensibility is an example of paregmenon.
- His speech relied on paregmenon to drive the point home, repeating “fighting fights” and “building buildings” to emphasize the weight of his words.
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Why Dictionary.com chose allay
More about allay
- From Old English (450–1150) ālecgan, meaning “to put down.”
- The spelling -ll- was influenced by the word allege, which was sometimes spelled similarly to allay in Middle English (1150–1475).
EXAMPLES OF ALLAY
- A quick apology helped allay the tension between them.
- Mulch will allay soil erosion in heavy rains.
shamrock
noun
a type of clover, used as a symbol of Ireland
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Why Dictionary.com chose shamrock
More about shamrock
- First recorded in 1565–75.
- From Irish seamróg, the diminutive form of seamair, meaning “clover.”
EXAMPLES OF SHAMROCK
- She found a tiny shamrock growing between the cobblestones.
- The bakery’s signature Saint Patrick’s Day cake featured shamrocks made of frosting.
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