Word of the Day
bonanza
noun
a source of great and sudden wealth or luck; a spectacular windfall.
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Why Dictionary.com chose bonanza
More about bonanza
- Bonanza is an Americanism that was first recorded in 1835–45.
- Bonanza comes from Spanish and literally means, “smooth sea.”
- Bonanza is a nasalized variant of the Medieval Latin word bonacia, made up of the Latin words bon(us), meaning “good,” and (mal)acia, meaning “calm sea,” which came from the Greek word malakía, “softness.”
EXAMPLES OF BONANZA
- Finding a hidden treasure chest in the attic was an unexpected bonanza for the family, transforming their financial situation in an instant.
- The tech startup struck a bonanza when it received a generous investment from a major venture capitalist, propelling its business to new heights.
felicific
adjective
causing or tending to cause happiness.
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Why Dictionary.com chose felicific
More about felicific
- Felicific was first recorded in 1860–65.
- Felicific comes from the Latin stem of fēlīx, which means “happy.”
- Other related words include felicitous, “apt or appropriate,” felicitate, “to congratulate,” and felicity, “the state of being happy.”
EXAMPLES OF FELICIFIC
- The felicific news of their well-deserved promotion brought a smile to their face.
- Taking a walk in nature can have a felicific impact on one’s mood.
bespoke
adjective
made to individual order; custom-made.
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Why Dictionary.com chose bespoke
More about bespoke
- Bespoke was first recorded in the sense highlighted here in 1745–55.
- Bespoke comes from the past tense for bespeak, “to ask for in advance.”
- The verb bespeak was first recorded much earlier, before 900. It comes from the Old English word besprecan.
EXAMPLES OF BESPOKE
- As a luxury brand, they offer bespoke travel experiences that are designed according to each client’s unique preferences and desires.
- The interior of the mansion was adorned with exquisite bespoke furniture, handcrafted with meticulous attention to detail.
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