Word of the Day
disingenuous
adjective
lacking in frankness, candor, or sincerity
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Why Dictionary.com chose disingenuous
More about disingenuous
- First recorded in 1645–55; see dis-1 + ingenuous.
- Note the spelling between ingenuous and ingenious, a commonly confused pair sharing the same Latin root meaning “inborn quality; innate ability.”
EXAMPLES OF DISINGENUOUS
- It was disingenuous of the gym teacher to claim that the exercises were easy, knowing they were challenging for most of the students.
- My disingenuous smile didn’t fool anyone; everyone knew I was still upset about the situation.
squeegee
noun
an implement for removing water from surfaces
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Why Dictionary.com chose squeegee
More about squeegee
- First recorded in 1835–45.
- Originally a nautical term; of obscure origin but possibly derived from and related to the English words squeege, “to press, squeeze,” and squilgee, a nautical term for an implement resembling a hoe.
EXAMPLES OF SQUEEGEE
- After washing the windows, she used a squeegee to remove the excess water for a streak-free shine.
- The caretaker quickly wiped the floor with a squeegee to prevent anyone from slipping on the wet surface.
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Why Dictionary.com chose nidificate
More about nidificate
- Now in rare usage, first recorded in English between 1810–20; used without an object.
- From Latin nīdificātus, past participle of nīdificāre, “to build a nest.” See nidify + -ate1.
EXAMPLES OF NIDIFICATE
- The bird chirped to herself: “I need to nidificate,” and started gathering twigs.
- During the early months of the year, many birdwatchers visit the park to see the various species nidificate.
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