Word of the Day
helter-skelter
adverb
in a haphazard manner; without regard for order
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Why Dictionary.com chose helter-skelter
More about helter-skelter
- First recorded in 1585–95.
- Rhyming compound, perhaps based on unattested skelt, Middle English skelten, “to hasten,” (further origin unknown); reduplication with initial h parallel to hubble-bubble, higgledy-piggledy, etc.
EXAMPLES OF HELTER-SKELTER
- The toys were left helter-skelter on the floor after the children’s playdate, creating a mess.
- The sudden downpour sent people running helter-skelter to find cover from the rain.
Kafkaesque
adjective
marked by a senseless, disorienting, often menacing complexity
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Why Dictionary.com chose Kafkaesque
More about Kafkaesque
- First recorded in 1945–50.
- Formed from Kafka (Franz Kafka) + -esque, suffix indicating style, manner, resemblance, or distinctive character.
- Aside from the -esque suffix, common words/eponyms formed in this fashion include: Homeric, Platonic, Quixotic, Freudian, Orwellian, and Machiavellian.
EXAMPLES OF KAFKAESQUE
- The movie’s Kafkaesque plot, with its dark, surreal twists and overwhelming sense of dread, left the audience unsettled.
- The endless bureaucracy and confusing paperwork at the government office felt truly Kafkaesque.
levity
noun
lack of appropriate seriousness or earnestness
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Why Dictionary.com chose levity
More about levity
- First used between 1555–65.
- From the Latin levitās, “lightness, frivolity,” equivalent to levi(s), light + –tās, -ty2.
EXAMPLES OF LEVITY
- The professor frowned upon any levity in the classroom when discussing serious topics.
- During the tense meeting, his joke brought a moment of levity that eased the atmosphere.
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