Word of the Day
eyewinker
noun
anything that enters or irritates the eye and causes blinking.
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Why Dictionary.com chose eyewinker
More about eyewinker
- First recorded between 1800–10.
- Formed from eyewink, “a blink of an eye,”+ –er1, a suffix used in forming nouns designating things from some special characteristic.
- Originally meaning “eyelash,” eyewinker refers anything else that is small enough to get in the eye and irritate it.
EXAMPLES OF EYEWINKER
- After a gust of wind, she felt an eyewinker causing her to blink repeatedly.
- Despite his efforts to shield his eyes, a dusty eyewinker still found its way in.
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Why Dictionary.com chose dumbledore
More about dumbledore
- First recorded in English between 1785–90.
- From dumble-, an imitative, combining form (like bumble-, humble-, drumble-) + dore, a variant spelling of dor1, “a buzzing insect.”
EXAMPLES OF DUMBLEDORE
- The dumbledore buzzed happily among the flowers, collecting nectar.
- As spring arrived, the garden came alive with the hum of dumbledores.
interdigitate
verb
to interlock, as or like the fingers of both hands.
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Why Dictionary.com chose interdigitate
More about interdigitate
- First recorded in English between 1840–50.
- Formed from the Latin inter-, “between, among” + digitate, “like a digit or finger.”
EXAMPLES OF INTERDIGITATE
- The roots of the two plants interdigitate, forming a strong and interconnected network.
- The gears in the clock interdigitate perfectly, ensuring accurate timekeeping.
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