Word of the Day
papadum
noun
a light, brittle flatbread from South Asia, usually made of lentil flour and often topped with chutney or various dips or salsas.
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Why Dictionary.com chose papadum
More about papadum
- Papadum was first recorded in English in 1820–30.
- Papadum comes from the Tamil word pappaṭam.
- Papadum is also known as poppadom or papad.
EXAMPLES OF PAPADUM
- The restaurant was known for its plates of papadum accompanied by a flavorful mint salsa.
- She savored each bite of the gluten-free, lentil-based papadum, which had a pleasing crunch as she chewed it.
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Why Dictionary.com chose profligate
More about profligate
- Profligate was first recorded around 1525–35.
- Profligate comes from the Latin word prōflīgātus, meaning “broken down in character, degraded.”
- The Latin word prōflīgātus was originally a past participle of prōflīgāre, meaning “to shatter, debase, ruin.”
- An obsolete definition of profligate was “defeated.”
EXAMPLES OF PROFLIGATE
- The company’s profligate spending habits eventually led to its downfall, as it couldn’t sustain its reckless financial decisions.
- His profligate shopping spree left him with an empty bank account and a pile of credit card debt.
interlocutor
noun
a person who takes part in a conversation or dialogue.
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Why Dictionary.com chose interlocutor
More about interlocutor
- Interlocutor was first recorded in 1505–15.
- Interlocutor comes from a stem of the Latin word interloquī, meaning “to speak between.”
- The loqui part, which means “to speak,” also appears in loquacious, eloquent, and circumlocution.
EXAMPLES OF INTERLOCUTOR
- The television show featured a lively discussion between the host and an interlocutor, in which they explored various perspectives on a controversial topic.
- During the language exchange program, students are assigned interlocutors who help them practice speaking more fluently.
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