Word of the Day
ennoble
verb
to elevate in degree, excellence, or respect; dignify.
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Why Dictionary.com chose ennoble
More about ennoble
- First recorded around 1425–75.
- Comes via the late Middle English word ennobelen from the Old French ennoblir.
- The related word noble, “distinguished,” comes from Latin adjective (g)nōbilis “notable, of high rank,” equivalent to the root of the Latin verb (g)nōscere, “to get to know, find out.”
EXAMPLES OF ENNOBLE
- Through their charitable work, the organization seeks to ennoble the lives of those less fortunate in society.
- We hope that the Word of the Day has ennobled vocabulary learning.
backronym
noun
an existing word turned into an acronym by creating an apt phrase whose initial letters match the word, as to help remember it or offer a theory of its origin.
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Why Dictionary.com chose backronym
More about backronym
- First recorded in 1980–85.
- Formed from the word back “toward the rear” and (ac)ronym, “a word formed from the initial letters or groups of letters of words in a set phrase and pronounced as a separate word.”
EXAMPLES OF BACKRONYM
- Some people believe the word news stands for “notable events, weather, and sports,” but that’s not accurate; it’s a backronym.
- My neighbor insists that SOS means “Save Our Ship” and wouldn’t believe that people made up that backronym years after SOS was first used.
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Why Dictionary.com chose ablution
More about ablution
- First recorded around 1350–1400.
- Comes via Middle English from the Latin stem of ablūtiō, related to abluere (from which comes abluent, “serving to cleanse”).
- Often used in the plural, ablutions.
EXAMPLES OF ABLUTION
- As part of his daily routine, he would perform the ablution with reverence and mindfulness, appreciating the ritual’s significance.
- The sound of running water during ablution brought a sense of calm and tranquility to her morning routine.
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