Word of the Day
diatribe
noun
a bitter, sharply abusive denunciation, attack, or criticism
learn about the english language
Why Dictionary.com chose diatribe
More about diatribe
- First used in English between 1575–85.
- From the Greek diatribḗ, “pastime, study, discourse;” derivative of diatríbein, literally “thoroughly rub or wear away (time).”
- The connection between the meaning of the Greek roots to the present-day definition is that a diatribe is so angry, long, and often full of “hot air” that it leaves listeners exhausted and thinking, “What a waste of time…”
EXAMPLES OF DIATRIBE
- The film critic’s review was more of a diatribe than an analysis, focusing on everything she disliked about the movie.
- During the debate, he launched into a diatribe against the new policies, highlighting their flaws in an aggressive manner.
rubberneck
verb
to look about or stare with great curiosity
learn about the english language
Why Dictionary.com chose rubberneck
More about rubberneck
- An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900.
- See rubber1 + neck. The idea being that the neck turns or twists back like rubber to continue watching something of interest unfold.
EXAMPLES OF RUBBERNECK
- I tried not to rubberneck at the commotion in the restaurant but found it difficult to resist.
- The highway traffic was caused by drivers slowing down to rubberneck at the accident.
zarzuela
noun
a Spanish opera having spoken dialogue and often a satirically treated, topical theme
learn about the english language
Why Dictionary.com chose zarzuela
More about zarzuela
- First used in English between 1885–90.
- From Spanish, after La Zarzeula, a palace near Madrid where the first performance took place (1629).
EXAMPLES OF ZARZUELA
- My favorite part of the zarzuela was the comedic interaction between the characters.
- The local arts festival included a zarzuela to showcase the rich cultural heritage of Spain.
Word of the Day Calendar