Word of the Day
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Why Dictionary.com chose skullduggery
More about skullduggery
- Skullduggery can also refer to an instance of dishonest behavior.
- Skullduggery is an Americanism dating back to 1865–70.
- It’s a variant of sculduddery, a Scots word meaning “obscenity.”
EXAMPLES OF SKULLDUGGERY
- The politician was caught engaging in skullduggery to gain an unfair advantage over her opponent in the election.
- The company’s CEO was fired after it was discovered he had been involved in skullduggery to cover up the company’s financial losses.
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Why Dictionary.com chose twee
More about twee
- Twee comes from 20th century British baby talk.
- Twee was most likely reduced from tweet, mimicking a child’s pronunciation of sweet.
- Twee is also a subgenre of indie pop music.
EXAMPLES OF TWEE
- The previously bland-looking café now sported a twee renovation, complete with pastel-colored chairs and floral wallpaper.
- The room was filled with the twee trinkets that he had collected over the years, giving it a quaint, old-world vibe.
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Why Dictionary.com chose legerdemain
More about legerdemain
- Legerdemain comes from a late Middle English word, legerdemeyn, meaning “skill in conjuring.”
- That word, in turn, comes from a Middle French phrase, léger de main, meaning “nimble” or “skillful” that’s literally translated as “light of hand.”
- Legerdemain was first recorded between 1400–1450.
EXAMPLES OF LEGERDEMAIN
- The audience was mesmerized by the performer’s legerdemain as he made a coin disappear and reappear from behind their ears.
- The pickpocket’s legerdemain was so skillful that her victims had no idea their wallets were missing until much later.
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