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naiveté

[ nah-eev-tey, -ee-vuh-tey ] [ nɑ ivˈteɪ, -ˌi vəˈteɪ ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

noun

the quality or state of having or showing a lack of experience or judgment; natural or artless simplicity.

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Why Dictionary.com chose naiveté

More about naiveté

  • First recorded in 1665–75 from French.
  • As the adjective naive, comes via the Old French word naif, meaning “natural, instinctive,” from Latin nātīvus “natural.”
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EXAMPLES OF NAIVETÉ

  • Despite his age, there was a certain charm in his naiveté that reminded others of simpler times.
  • As she grew older, her naiveté gave way to a more cautious and skeptical outlook on life.
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Word of the day

dragée

[ dra-zhey ] [ dræˈʒeɪ ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

noun

a sugarcoated nut or candy.

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Why Dictionary.com chose dragée

More about dragée

  • First recorded in 1850–55.
  • Comes from French, ultimately from the Greek word tragḗma, “dried fruit eaten as dessert, confection.”
  • Also related to the cooking term dredge, “to sprinkle or coat with some powdered substance, especially flour.”
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EXAMPLES OF DRAGÉE

  • The pastry chef carefully arranged the dragées on top of the cake to add a touch of elegance and sweetness.
  • Guests at the wedding reception delighted in the crunchy texture and sugary coating of the almond dragées.
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Word of the day

wistfully

[ wist-fuh-lee ] [ ˈwɪst fə li ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

adverb

in a way that is characterized by melancholy or longing; pensively.

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Why Dictionary.com chose wistfully

More about wistfully

  • First recorded in 1660–70.
  • Comes from the word wistful, with the obsolete word wist, “quiet, silent, attentive” as the stem.
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EXAMPLES OF WISTFULLY

  • The musician played a haunting melody on his violin, making the audience sway wistfully to its melancholic tune.
  • Walking through the deserted park, she smiled wistfully at the faded graffiti that reminded her of past adventures.
20240103
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