Word of the Day
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Why Dictionary.com chose nibling
More about nibling
- Nibling was coined by U.S. linguist Samuel E. Martin in 1951.
- It was formed by replacing the s in sibling with the n from niece and nephew.
- Nibling is especially used in the plural or as a gender-neutral term.
EXAMPLES OF NIBLING
- My niblings are coming to visit us next week, and we are taking them to a water park.
- During the family reunion, I enjoyed playing with my nibling and teaching them some new jokes.
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Why Dictionary.com chose beguile
More about beguile
- Beguile can also mean “to mislead through trickery or flattery.”
- Beguile contains the word guile, which can mean “cleverness,” “craftiness,” or “deceptiveness.”
- It was first recorded in English in 1175–1225.
EXAMPLES OF BEGUILE
- The magician’s ability to beguile the audience with her illusions was impressive.
- He used his charming personality to beguile his way into the exclusive party.
amorphous
adjective
lacking definite form; having no specific shape.
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Why Dictionary.com chose amorphous
More about amorphous
- Amorphous was first recorded in 1725–35.
- Amorphous is from the Greek word meaning “shapeless.”
- Amorphous has figurative uses but is also used more literally in mineralogy, chemistry, and biology.
EXAMPLES OF AMORPHOUS
- The amorphous cloud of happiness lingered above us, spreading a joyous mood throughout the room.
- The amorphous mass of clay was hard to mold into a recognizable shape, frustrating the artist’s efforts.
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