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Word of the Day

Word of the day

dernier cri

[ dern-yey kree ] [ ˈdɛrn yeɪ ˈkri ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

noun

the latest fashion; last word.

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Why Dictionary.com chose dernier cri

More about dernier cri

  • Dernier cri entered English around 1895–1900.
  • Dernier cri comes from French and means literally, “last cry.”
  • You may recognize cri from cri de coeur, another borrowing from French that means “outcry” or literally, “cry of the heart.”

EXAMPLES OF DERNIER CRI

  • Her outfit at the party was the dernier cri, catching everyone’s attention with its cutting-edge design.
  • The restaurant’s menu boasted a selection of dishes that were not only delicious but also were the dernier cri in culinary innovation.
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Word of the day

ad hockery

[ ad hok-uh-ree ] [ æd ˈhɒk ə ri ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

noun

reliance on temporary solutions rather than on consistent, long-term plans.

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Why Dictionary.com chose ad hockery

More about ad hockery

  • Ad hockery was first recorded between 1890–1900.
  • Ad hockery comes from the adjective and adverb ad hoc, “for the special purpose or end presently under consideration.”
  • Ad hoc entered English from the Latin phrase meaning “for this” around 1550–60 when the expression was quickly being adopted into legal and judicial writings.

EXAMPLES OF AD HOCKERY

  • The computer programmer’s inclination toward ad hockery often resulted in quick fixes that failed to address the underlying issues at hand.
  • The company’s ad hockery in managing its budget ultimately led to financial instability and a lack of sustainable growth.
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Word of the day

nigh

[ nahy ] [ naɪ ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

adverb

near in space, time, or relation.

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Why Dictionary.com chose nigh

More about nigh

  • Nigh was first recorded before 900.
  • Nigh comes from the Old English word nēah, also spelled nēh.
  • Nigh shares an origin with its synonym near, also first recorded before 900.
  • Nigh, however, has significantly dropped in frequency since the 1890s and is considered archaic or poetic.

EXAMPLES OF NIGH

  • With each passing day, the end of the week draws nigh and the weekend approaches.
  • As the storm grew nigh, the sound of thunder grew louder.
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