Word of the Day
boilerplate
noun
the detailed standard wording of a contract or warranty.
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Why Dictionary.com chose boilerplate
More about boilerplate
- Boilerplate, also spelled boiler plate, was first recorded in 1855–60.
- Boilerplate is a combination of boiler, “a vessel for boiling and heating,” and plate, “a flat or curved sheet of metal.”
- Boilerplate was originally used to refer to the plates made for boilers.
- The use of boilerplate to refer to reusable text is likely based on the fact that the first boilerplate text was stamped into the metal to be used in the printing press.
- Now boilerplates are used in all kinds of documents for all kinds of industries, most notably journalism and computer programming.
EXAMPLES OF BOILERPLATE
- The warranty for the product had a section that was all boilerplate, outlining its limitations and exclusions.
- The company’s terms and conditions included a boilerplate clause that protected their intellectual property rights.
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Why Dictionary.com chose en masse
More about en masse
- En masse was borrowed into English from French around 1795–1805.
- En masse in French means “in a body,” literally “in a mass.”
- The English word mass comes from the Latin word massa, meaning “mass,” which came from the Greek word mâza, “barley cake.”
- Mâza is related to the Greek verb mássein, “to knead.”
EXAMPLES OF EN MASSE
- After the game ended, fans left the stadium en masse, discussing their favorite plays and memorable moments.
- The birds took flight from their nests en masse, filling the sky with a mesmerizing display of synchronized movement.
kenspeckle
adjective
conspicuous; easily seen or recognized.
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Why Dictionary.com chose kenspeckle
More about kenspeckle
- Kenspeckle was first recorded around 1705–15.
- Kenspeckle features in Scottish and Northern English and derives from kenspeck, which is of Scandinavian origin.
- Norwegian has a similar word, kjennespak, “quick at recognizing,” literally, “know-clever.”
- The English word ken, “knowledge, understanding, or cognizance; mental perception,” is also related.
EXAMPLES OF KENSPECKLE
- The kenspeckle neon sign outside the store attracted customers from afar.
- Her kenspeckle sense of style made her stand out in a crowd.
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