Word of the Day
vigesimal
adjective
of, relating to, or based on twenty.
More about vigesimal
Vigesimal comes from Latin vīcēsimus, “twentieth.” While English and its Germanic relatives base their words for “twenty” on a combination of “two” and “ten,” Latin vīgintī is distantly related to Ancient Greek eíkosi (as in icosahedron, a twenty-sided figure) and Sanskrit viṃśatí (as in pachisi, a game in which twenty-five is the highest score). Vigesimal was first recorded in English in the 1650s.
EXAMPLE OF VIGESIMAL USED IN A SENTENCE
French now uses a vigesimal system for numbers over 60, representing 80 as “4 × 20” and 90 as “4 × 20 + 10.”
oolong
noun
a brown or amber tea grown in China and Taiwan and partially fermented before being dried.
More about oolong
Oolong is an adaptation of a Chinese word, most likely Mandarin wūlóng, which literally translates to “black dragon.” The wū element means “crow” or “black,” while lóng means “dragon.” Oolong was first recorded in English in the early 1850s.
EXAMPLE OF OOLONG USED IN A SENTENCE
The oolong let off an earthy smell as it slowly diffused throughout the cup.
oppugn
verb
to assail by criticism, argument, or action.
More about oppugn
Oppugn comes from Latin oppugnāre, “to oppose, attack,” which is based on the noun pugnus, “fist.” Pugnus is the source of numerous fighting-related words in English, including impugn and pugnacious. Oppugn was first recorded in English in the early 15th century.
EXAMPLE OF OPPUGN USED IN A SENTENCE
The neighbors oppugned the dog owner who let their dog run freely around the park for hours.