Word of the Day
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Why Dictionary.com chose fjord
More about fjord
- First recorded in 1670–75.
- From Norwegian fiord; from Proto-Indo-European *pértu-, meaning “a passage.”
- Related to ford¹.
EXAMPLES OF FJORD
- The cruise ship slowly navigated the winding fjord, offering passengers breathtaking views.
- Strong tides surged through the narrow entrance of the fjord, creating swirling eddies.
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Why Dictionary.com chose recreant
More about recreant
- First recorded between 1300–50.
- Combines re-⁷, meaning “backward,” + the Latin word crēdere, meaning “to believe” and related to creed.
EXAMPLES OF RECREANT
- The recreant captain abandoned his sinking ship before the crew even realized the danger.
- If survival is at stake, even a recreant heart finds courage.
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Why Dictionary.com chose humbug
More about humbug
- First recorded in 1730–40.
- Of obscure origin; possibly from an obsolete use of hum, meaning “hoax.”
- The word was criticized as a meaningless fad during its early usage.
EXAMPLES OF HUMBUG
- The email claimed I won a prize, but I knew they were trying to humbug me.
- The startup humbugged customers with flashy marketing and no real product.
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