Word of the Day
semaphore
noun
a system of signaling, especially a system by which a special flag is held in each hand and various positions of the arms indicate specific letters, numbers, etc.
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Why Dictionary.com chose semaphore
More about semaphore
- Semaphore was first recorded in 1810–20.
- Semaphore comes from the French word sémaphore, from the Greek word sêma, “sign,” and –phore, from the Greek form –phoros, “bearing.”
- Other words ending in –phore include ionophore, “a substance capable of transmitting ions through cell membranes,” and aerophore, “a portable device filled with compressed air.”
EXAMPLES OF SEMAPHORE
- With a well-coordinated semaphore display, the scout effectively transmitted vital information to the rest of the team.
- Using semaphore, the sailor signaled the approaching ship by holding her arms in precise positions, forming letters and numbers.
copacetic
adjective
fine; completely satisfactory; OK.
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Why Dictionary.com chose copacetic
More about copacetic
- Copacetic is an Americanism that was first attested in Irving Bacheller’s 1919 book about Abraham Lincoln, A Man for the Ages.
- Copacetic is also spelled copasetic and is of obscure origin.
- Proposed languages of origin include Chinook, Italian, Louisiana French, and Hebrew, but none of the origin stories are particularly convincing.
- Copacetic further entered the public consciousness through the Prohibition-era song “At the New Jump Steady Ball,” whose lyrics include the line “Copasetic was the password for one and all, at the new jump steady ball.”
EXAMPLES OF COPACETIC
- The dinner party was a success, with delicious food, great company, and a copacetic atmosphere.
- Despite some initial concerns, the project’s progress has been copacetic and is moving forward smoothly.
zeitgeber
noun
an environmental cue, as the length of daylight or the degree of temperature, that helps to regulate the cycles of an organism's biological clock.
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Why Dictionary.com chose zeitgeber
More about zeitgeber
- Zeitgeber was first recorded in English in 1970–75.
- Zeitgeber comes from German, in which it was coined by J. Aschoff in 1954.
- Zeitgeber means literally, “time-giver,” on the model of the German word Taktgeber, “electronic synchronization device, timer, metronome.”
EXAMPLES OF ZEITGEBER
- In the absence of external zeitgebers, such as clocks or natural light, some individuals may struggle to maintain regular sleep patterns.
- The sunrise served as a powerful zeitgeber for the birds, signaling the start of their daily singing rituals.
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