Word of the Day
grandfamily
noun
a family in which one or more children live with and are raised by their grandparent or grandparents.
Why Michelle Hamilton from Dictionary.com chose grandfamily
Michelle Hamilton, Chief of Staff, chose grandfamily as a gift for you. Find out why!
More about grandfamily
- Grandfamily was first recorded around 1960–65.
- Grandfamily was formed from a combination of grand-, meaning “one generation more remote” and family “a basic social unit.”
- Other words that begin with grand- include grandparent, grandmother, grandfather, and grandfluencer, “an older person who’s known for being influential due to having a large social media following, especially one who seems at least old enough to be a grandparent.”
EXAMPLES OF GRANDFAMILY
- Living in a close-knit grandfamily has its challenges, but it also brings immeasurable love and support.
- The community organized a picnic to celebrate the unique bonds of grandfamilies, those between grandparents and their grandchildren.
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serendipity
noun
accidental discovery.
Why Claire Rausser from Dictionary.com chose serendipity
Claire Rausser, User Researcher, chose serendipity as a gift for you. Find out why!
More about serendipity
- Serendipity was coined in English by Horace Walpole in 1754 in a translation from Italian of the Persian fairy tale The Three Princes of Serendip.
- Serendipity comes from the word Serendip, which is the Classical Persian name for the country of Sri Lanka.
- Serendipity was used by Walpole to refer to an ability possessed by the heroes of the fairy tale to use both accidental discovery and wisdom to figure out the nature of a lost camel.
EXAMPLES OF SERENDIPITY
- During my travels through Europe, it was sheer serendipity to meet an old friend from college in a bustling café in Paris.
- Exploring the antique store turned into pure serendipity when he stumbled upon a hidden compartment in an old desk that contained a stack of rare coins.
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zeitgeist
noun
the spirit of the time.
Why Noël Spurgeon from Dictionary.com chose zeitgeist
Noël Spurgeon, UX Researcher, chose zeitgeist as a gift for you. Find out why!
More about zeitgeist
- Zeitgeist was first recorded in English in 1840–50.
- Zeitgeist comes from the German word Zeitgeist.
- Zeit means “time, age, epoch” and Geist means “spirit, mind, intellect.”
EXAMPLES OF ZEITGEIST
- The music of that era perfectly embodied the zeitgeist, expressing the collective emotions and aspirations of a generation.
- The zeitgeist of excess and extravagance was reflected in the fashion trends of the 1980s.
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