Word of the Day
transmogrify
verb
to change in appearance or form, especially strangely or grotesquely; transform.
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Why Dictionary.com chose transmogrify
More about transmogrify
- Transmogrify entered English around 1650–60.
- Earlier, transmogrify was also written transmigrify or transmography.
- Transmogrify is apparently a pseudo-Latinism, which is a word formed from or imitative of Latin.
EXAMPLES OF TRANSMOGRIFY
- The old, rusty car magically transmogrified into a sleek, futuristic vehicle at the touch of a button, leaving bystanders in awe.
- The caterpillar underwent a remarkable transformation as it transmogrified into a vibrant butterfly, spreading its colorful wings for the first time.
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Why Dictionary.com chose jollify
More about jollify
- Jollify was first recorded in 1815–25.
- Jollify comes from the word jolly, “in good spirits; lively; merry,” which entered English in 1275–1325.
- Jolly comes from the Middle English word joli, probably originally from the Old Norse word jōl, from which we get Yule.
- Yule entered English before 900 and means “Christmas day” or “Christmastide” (a word for the period from Christmas Eve to related feast days in early January).
EXAMPLES OF JOLLIFY
- The comedian’s hilarious performance jollified the audience, filling the room with laughter and joy.
- The cheerful decorations and lively music jollify the atmosphere at the holiday party.
perspicuity
noun
clearness or lucidity, as of a statement.
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Why Dictionary.com chose perspicuity
More about perspicuity
- Perspicuity comes from the Latin word perspicuitās, “transparency; clarity,” and dates back to 1470–80.
- A related word, perspicacity, meaning “keen vision” and later “keenness of mental perception and understanding,” entered English in 1540–50 from the Late Latin word perspicācitās, “sharpness of sight,” which also gave us the adjective perspicacious.
- Also related, perspicuous, “clearly expressed or presented,” came from the Latin word perspicuus, which means “transparent, clearly visible,” and entered English around 1570-80.
EXAMPLES OF PERSPICUITY
- The author’s use of simple language enhanced the perspicuity of her argument, making it accessible to readers of all backgrounds.
- The lawyer presented their case with remarkable perspicuity, leaving no room for doubt in the minds of the jury.
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