Word of the Day
paronomasia
noun
the use of a word in different senses or the use of words similar in sound to achieve a specific effect, as humor or a dual meaning; punning.
Why Dictionary.com chose paronomasia
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More about paronomasia
Paronomasia means “a play on words” in Ancient Greek and comes from the verb paronomázein, “to make a slight name-change.” The ónoma element means, “name,” and its common variant, ónyma, appears in English words such as homonym and synonym. Paronomasia was first recorded in English in the 1570s.
EXAMPLE OF PARONOMASIA USED IN A SENTENCE
The paronomasia in the line “I am too much in the sun” (also heard as “son”) implies Hamlet’s continued mourning of his father.
More about cosher
Cosher is of unclear origin. Some linguists connect it to the term cocker, “to pamper,” also of uncertain origin. Others, however, link cosher to Irish Gaelic cóisir, meaning “feast.” Either way, cosher is not related to kosher, from Hebrew kāshēr, “right, fit,” in the context of dietary laws. Cosher was first recorded in English in the early 1860s.
EXAMPLE OF COSHER USED IN A SENTENCE
They coshered and spoiled the cat, and he started acting like the king of the house.
nickelodeon
noun
an early movie theater where a film or a variety show could be seen, usually for the admission price of a nickel.
More about nickelodeon
Nickelodeon is based on nickel and either melodeon, a small reed organ, or Odeon, a small roofed theater of ancient Greece. Nickel comes from German Kupfernickel, referring to the mineral nickeline but literally meaning “copper demon,” after nickeline’s resemblance to copper. Nickelodeon was first recorded in English in the late 1880s.
EXAMPLE OF NICKELODEON USED IN A SENTENCE
The old nickelodeon had been converted into a film museum with bright posters covering the once-drab walls.