Word of the Day
logophile
noun
a lover of words.
Why Dictionary.com chose logophile
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More about logophile
Logophile is a compound of logo-, meaning “word, speech,” and -phile, meaning “lover of.” Logo- comes from Ancient Greek lógos, which has a variety of senses, including “word, saying,” “speech, discourse,” and “proportion, ratio.” The form -phile can also be found in the Words of the Day ailurophile and bibliophile. Logophile was first recorded in English in the late 1950s.
EXAMPLE OF LOGOPHILE USED IN A SENTENCE
While most students were dreading the standardized test, a few plucky logophiles were excited to learn the words that would likely appear in the reading section.
paronomasia
noun
the use of a word in different senses or the use of words similar in sound to achieve a specific effect, as humor or a dual meaning; punning.
Why Dictionary.com chose paronomasia
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More about paronomasia
Paronomasia means “a play on words” in Ancient Greek and comes from the verb paronomázein, “to make a slight name-change.” The ónoma element means, “name,” and its common variant, ónyma, appears in English words such as homonym and synonym. Paronomasia was first recorded in English in the 1570s.
EXAMPLE OF PARONOMASIA USED IN A SENTENCE
The paronomasia in the line “I am too much in the sun” (also heard as “son”) implies Hamlet’s continued mourning of his father.
More about cosher
Cosher is of unclear origin. Some linguists connect it to the term cocker, “to pamper,” also of uncertain origin. Others, however, link cosher to Irish Gaelic cóisir, meaning “feast.” Either way, cosher is not related to kosher, from Hebrew kāshēr, “right, fit,” in the context of dietary laws. Cosher was first recorded in English in the early 1860s.
EXAMPLE OF COSHER USED IN A SENTENCE
They coshered and spoiled the cat, and he started acting like the king of the house.