Word of the Day
ad nauseam
adverb
to a sickening or disgusting degree.
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Why Dictionary.com chose ad nauseam
More about ad nauseam
- First recorded around 1565.
- Comes from Latin.
- Means literally, “to seasickness.”
EXAMPLES OF AD NAUSEAM
- The catchy commercial jingle played on the tv ad nauseam, getting stuck in everyone’s head.
- The company’s logo was plastered ad nauseam on every surface in the city.
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Why Dictionary.com chose spondulicks
More about spondulicks
- An Americanism dating back to 1855–60.
- Of uncertain origin.
- Sometimes spelled spondulix.
EXAMPLES OF SPONDULICKS
- The young entrepreneur was determined to turn her innovative idea into spondulicks for her growing business.
- In the old Western movies, bandits would often demand a hefty sum of spondulicks in exchange for hostages.
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Why Dictionary.com chose capriole
More about capriole
- First recorded around 1570–80.
- Comes from Middle French via the Italian word capriola, which is the noun derivative of capriolare, “to leap, caper.”
- Capriolare derived from the Latin word capreolus, equivalent to capre(a), “roe deer.”
EXAMPLES OF CAPRIOLE
- Watching the young deer execute a playful capriole in the meadow brought a smile to my face.
- The acrobat soared through the air with a graceful capriole before landing flawlessly on the platform.
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