Word of the Day
phantasmagoria
noun
a shifting series of phantasms, illusions, or deceptive appearances, as in a dream or as created by the imagination.
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Why Dictionary.com chose phantasmagoria
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More about phantasmagoria
- Phantasmagoria was first recorded in 1795–1805.
- Phantasmagoria comes from the French word fantasmagorie, a compound word based on fantasme, “phantasm.”
- Phantasm, the first element, ultimately comes from the Greek word phántasma, “image, vision.”
- The second element of phantasmagoria perhaps represents the Greek word agorá, “assembly, gathering.”
EXAMPLES OF PHANTASMAGORIA
- The magician’s show was filled with a phantasmagoria of tricks and illusions, leaving the audience in awe and disbelief.
- As she entered the abandoned house, a phantasmagoria of eerie shadows and ghostly figures danced before her eyes.
crepuscular
adjective
of, relating to, or resembling twilight; dim; indistinct.
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Why Dictionary.com chose crepuscular
More about crepuscular
- Crepuscular was first recorded in 1660–70.
- Crepuscular comes from the noun crepuscule, “twilight; dusk.”
- Crepuscule was first recorded around 1350–1400 from the Latin word crepuscul(um), which is similar to creper, “obscure.”
EXAMPLES OF CREPUSCULAR
- During the crepuscular times of day, the sky takes on a mesmerizing blend of colors.
- The early morning mist added to the crepuscular atmosphere as we hiked through the craggy landscape.
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Why Dictionary.com chose haimish
More about haimish
- Haimish was first recorded in 1925–30.
- Haimish comes from the Yiddish word heymish, which comes from the Old High German word heimisc, “pertaining to the home.”
- The word home comes from before the 900s from the Old English word hām, which is also related to the German word for home, Heim.
EXAMPLES OF HAIMISH
- The small café down the street had a haimish atmosphere that made me feel instantly at ease as soon as I walked through the door.
- With its quaint decorations and homemade dishes, the charming restaurant created a haimish dining experience that reminded me of my grandmother’s cooking.
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