Word of the Day
doppelgänger
noun
a ghostly double or counterpart of a living person.
learn about the english language
Why Dictionary.com chose doppelgänger
More about doppelgänger
- First recorded in English between 1850–55.
- Directly from German: doppel, double + Gänger, “walker” (from Gang, “motion, way” + -er1; cf. gang1 ).
EXAMPLES OF DOPPELGÄNGER
- The actress was surprised when her fans mistook a lookalike for her doppelgänger.
- Historical records revealed that a doppelgänger of the king was used as a decoy during times of war.
metonymy
noun
referring to something by one of its attributes or a by a related word.
learn about the english language
Why Dictionary.com chose metonymy
foudroyant
adjective
sudden and overwhelming in effect; stunning; dazzling.
learn about the english language
Why Dictionary.com chose foudroyant
More about foudroyant
- First recorded in English between 1830–40.
- From French foudroyer, “to strike with lightning,” derivative of foudre, “lightning.”
EXAMPLES OF FOUDROYANT
- The foudroyant storm lit up the whole sky.
- The opera began with a foudroyant overture, setting the stage for the emotional and powerful performance that followed.
Word of the Day Calendar