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Word of the day

clepsydra

[ klep-si-druh ] [ ˈklɛp sɪ drə ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

noun

an ancient device for measuring time by the regulated flow of water or mercury through a small aperture

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Why Dictionary.com chose clepsydra

More about clepsydra

  • First used in English between 1640–50.
  • Latinized form of the Greek klepsýdra, from kléptein, “to steal, conceal” + hydra, “water.” Cf. kleptomania and kleptocracy.

EXAMPLES OF CLEPSYDRA

  • The clepsydra’s steady drip of water provided a reliable method for tracking time in ancient civilizations.
  • The ancient Greeks employed a clepsydra to time speeches during their legislative assemblies.
20240103
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Word of the day

endemic

[ en-dem-ik ] [ ɛnˈdɛm ɪk ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

adjective

natural to or characteristic of a specific people or place; native; indigenous

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Why Dictionary.com chose endemic

More about endemic

  • First recorded in 1655–65.
  • From New Latin endēmicus, equivalent to Greek éndēm(os), “dwelling in a place, native,” (from en-2, “within, in” + deme, “people, district”+ -ic, suffix forming adjectives). Compare with pandemic and epidemic.

EXAMPLES OF ENDEMIC

  • The koala is endemic to Australia, found nowhere else in the world.
  • The genetic trait is endemic to the local population, passed down through generations.
20240103
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Word of the day

skedaddle

[ ski-dad-l ] [ skɪˈdæd l ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

verb

to run away hurriedly; flee

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Why Dictionary.com chose skedaddle

More about skedaddle

  • An Americanism first used between 1860–65.
  • There’s debate over its origin but most sources connect it to Scots and Northern English dialects meaning “to spill, scatter.”
  • The term was popularized during the American Civil War, originally spelled as skaddadle, military slang meaning “run away, flee hastily.”

EXAMPLES OF SKEDADDLE

  • Let’s skedaddle before the storm comes.
  • As soon as they heard the approaching sirens, the burglars skedaddled from the scene of the crime.
20240103
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