Word of the Day
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Why Dictionary.com chose skedaddle
More about skedaddle
- An Americanism first used between 1860–65.
- There’s debate over its origin but most sources connect it to Scots and Northern English dialects meaning “to spill, scatter.”
- The term was popularized during the American Civil War, originally spelled as skaddadle, military slang meaning “run away, flee hastily.”
EXAMPLES OF SKEDADDLE
- Let’s skedaddle before the storm comes.
- As soon as they heard the approaching sirens, the burglars skedaddled from the scene of the crime.
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Why Dictionary.com chose scrofulous
More about scrofulous
- First recorded in 1605–15.
- Formed from scroful(a) + -ous.
- Here are just a few more adjectives formed from diseases or medical conditions that gained figurative (and negative) meanings: pestiferous, cancerous, bilious, hysterical, choleric, melancholic, paranoid, frenzied, morbid, apoplectic, dyspeptic.
EXAMPLES OF SCROFULOUS
- The leader’s scrofulous behavior was evident in her frequent abuses of power and disregard for ethical standards.
- The play’s antagonist was portrayed as a scrofulous character, whose corrupt actions ultimately led to his downfall.
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Why Dictionary.com chose exculpate
More about exculpate
- First recorded in 1650–60.
- From Latin exculpātus, “freed from blame,” equivalent to ex-1, “without” + culpātus, “blamed,” past participle of culpāre; see culpable.
EXAMPLES OF EXCULPATE
- The new evidence served to exculpate the defendant from all charges.
- The lawyer worked tirelessly to exculpate his client and prove her innocence.
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