Word of the Day
cacophony
noun
harsh discordance of sound; dissonance.
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Why Dictionary.com chose cacophony
More about cacophony
- First recorded in 1650–60.
- Comes via New Latin cacophonia from Greek kakophōnía, which contains caco– “bad” + –phony “sound.”
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EXAMPLES OF CACOPHONY
- As the orchestra tuned their instruments, a cacophony of mismatched sounds filled the concert hall.
- The classroom erupted into a cacophony of laughter and chatter after the bell rang for recess.
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Why Dictionary.com chose duende
More about duende
- In the sense of “a goblin or spirit,” first recorded in 1685–95.
- In the highlighted sense, first recorded in 1955–60.
- Comes from Spanish and is shortened from duen de (casa), “master of (the house)” with duen a variant of dueño, meaning “lord; owner” from Latin dominus “to control.”
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EXAMPLES OF DUENDE
- The flamenco dancer captivated the audience with their mesmerizing duende.
- The old bookstore had an enchanting duende that made visitors feel like they were stepping into another world.
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Why Dictionary.com chose prink
More about prink
- First recorded in 1570–80.
- May be related to prank, in the sense of “to dress or adorn in an ostentatious manner.”
- Prank came from the Dutch word pronken, meaning “to show off, strut.”
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EXAMPLES OF PRINK
- After hours of prinking in front of the mirror, he was finally ready for the party.
- The costume designer helped the actor prink in elaborate period attire for the play.
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