Word of the Day
Word of the day
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Why Dictionary.com chose anon
More about anon
- First recorded before 1000.
- From the Old English on āne, meaning “in one (course),” i.e., straightaway.
EXAMPLES OF ANON
- The car is packed, so we’ll leave for the trip anon.
- The play begins anon, so we should take our seats.
spancel
noun
a rope used to prevent an animal from straying
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Why Dictionary.com chose spancel
More about spancel
- Recorded in 1600–10.
- From the low German spannen, “to stretch.” See span².
EXAMPLES OF SPANCEL
- The farmer secured the cow with a spancel to keep it from wandering into the neighbor’s field.
- In the pastures, the spancel allowed the animals to graze without running off.
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Why Dictionary.com chose canoodle
More about canoodle
- Recorded in 1855–60; perhaps formed by combining caress + noodle².
- Meaning “political manipulation” in earlier uses via Southern U.S. newspapers.
EXAMPLES OF CANOODLE
- The happy couple canoodled in the coffee shop despite glances from other customers about their public show of affection.
- I saw them canoodling on the park bench, wrapped in each other’s embrace.
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