Word of the Day
spancel
noun
a rope used to prevent an animal from straying
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Why Dictionary.com chose spancel
More about spancel
- Recorded in 1600–10.
- From the low German spannen, “to stretch.” See span².
EXAMPLES OF SPANCEL
- The farmer secured the cow with a spancel to keep it from wandering into the neighbor’s field.
- In the pastures, the spancel allowed the animals to graze without running off.
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Why Dictionary.com chose canoodle
More about canoodle
- Recorded in 1855–60; perhaps formed by combining caress + noodle².
- Meaning “political manipulation” in earlier uses via Southern U.S. newspapers.
EXAMPLES OF CANOODLE
- The happy couple canoodled in the coffee shop despite glances from other customers about their public show of affection.
- I saw them canoodling on the park bench, wrapped in each other’s embrace.
incandescent
adjective
intensely bright; brilliant
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Why Dictionary.com chose incandescent
More about incandescent
- First recorded in 1785–95, combining the prefix in-¹ + candescent, meaning “glowing.”
- Borrowed directly from French and ultimately from the Latin incandescere, meaning “to become warm, glow.”
EXAMPLES OF INCANDESCENT
- The bride admired the incandescent sparkle of her diamond ring in the sunlight.
- The incandescent flames of the campfire flickered in the night as the campers roasted marshmallows.
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