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existential question
To be or not to be, that is the question—the existential question. An existential question is a deep, philosophical question concerning the nature of of someone or something's existence. "What is the meaning of life?"… -
existential threat
An existential threat is a threat to something’s very existence—when the continued being of something is at stake or in danger. It is used to describe threats to actual living things as well to nonliving… -
Why “Existential” Was Dictionary.com’s 2019 Word Of The Year
From existential threats to existential choices “I’m trash!” was the insistent cry of Forky, the googly-eyed spork whose struggle to be a toy was at the heart of the summer blockbuster Toy Story 4. Forky’s plight was entertaining, yes, but it also resonated with a deeper sentiment—and word—that defined so much of 2019. We know what you must be thinking: Forky? The dictionary? 2019? Well, …
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climate crisis
Climate crisis is a term used to show a greater sense of emergency and urgency about climate change. That is, the climate isn't just changing—it's causing a crisis and, if humans don't do something about… -
Dictionary.com’s Fifth Grade Homework Help Cheat Sheet
Fifth grade is typically the final year of grade school, which means the lessons get cranked up a notch in preparation for middle school and beyond. Teachers ask students to delve deeper into subject matter, stretch their skills, and show more independence. The work is challenging but intriguing as they explore new concepts and develop their opinions about them. Fifth grade is also the year …
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Pyrocene
The Pyrocene is a proposed geological epoch characterized by humans' use of fire, especially how the burning fossil fuels impacts Earth. -
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How Authors Named Their Famous Characters
What’s in a name? A lot, apparently! It’s no secret that writers agonize over what to name their characters. It’s for good reason: a name can make or break how audiences remember a character. It has the potential to be truly iconic. Many authors can’t even begin to write until they’ve given each and every person in their book a name. So how does one …
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Are The Spells In Harry Potter Real Words?
There are dozens of spells that are used by the characters in Harry Potter’s fictional world of wizardry. But are any of them real words? What language are the spells in Harry Potter? The names of many of the spells are indeed derived from other languages, especially Latin. However, for the most part, they aren’t proper words. Author J.K. Rowling created words that resemble other …
