Word of the Day
pemmican
noun
dried meat pounded into a powder and mixed with fat and dried fruits
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Why Dictionary.com chose pemmican
More about pemmican
- First recorded in 1735–45.
- Originally made by some Indigenous peoples of North America.
- Borrowed from the Cree pimihkān, meaning “to make pemmican,” or literally “to make grease.”
EXAMPLES OF PEMMICAN
- Native American tribes traditionally made pemmican by mixing dried bison meat with fat and berries for long-lasting nourishment.
- The recipe for pemmican has been passed down through generations, valued for its nutritional benefits.
ethnocentric
adjective
demonstrating a belief in the inherent superiority of one’s own ethnic group or culture
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Why Dictionary.com chose ethnocentric
More about ethnocentric
- First recorded in the 1860s; combines ethno- + -centric.
- Originated as a technical term in social sciences.
EXAMPLES OF ETHNOCENTRIC
- The student’s ethnocentric views limited his understanding of global issues.
- The curriculum was revised to address its ethnocentric bias, ensuring it represented a broader range of cultural viewpoints.
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Why Dictionary.com chose guidon
More about guidon
- First recorded in 1540–50.
- Borrowed directly from French; equivalent to the Italian guid(are), “to guide” + -one, noun suffix.
EXAMPLES OF GUIDON
- The soldiers rallied around their unit’s guidon during the parade.
- The guidon fluttered wildly in the wind as the captain carried it.
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