Word of the Day
zarzuela
noun
a Spanish opera having spoken dialogue and often a satirically treated, topical theme
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Why Dictionary.com chose zarzuela
More about zarzuela
- First used in English between 1885–90.
- From Spanish, after La Zarzeula, a palace near Madrid where the first performance took place (1629).
EXAMPLES OF ZARZUELA
- My favorite part of the zarzuela was the comedic interaction between the characters.
- The local arts festival included a zarzuela to showcase the rich cultural heritage of Spain.
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Why Dictionary.com chose lethargic
More about lethargic
- First recorded between 1350–1400.
- From the Latin lēthargicus, from the Greek lēthargikós.
- Replaced the Middle English litargik, which came from the Medieval Latin litargicus (see lethargy, -ic).
- Ultimately rooted in Greek words meaning “forgetfulness” and “idle.”
EXAMPLES OF LETHARGIC
- The hot weather made everyone lethargic, so we decided to postpone the hike.
- A heavy meal at lunch left me feeling lethargic and unmotivated to continue writing my novel.
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Why Dictionary.com chose bumfuzzle
More about bumfuzzle
- While its origin is uncertain, it is an Americanism dating back to least the 1870s.
- Thought to be formed from a combination of the Scottish bombaze, “to confuse,” (see bamboozle) + fuzzle, “to confuse,” (perhaps a blend of fuddle and fuzzy) or just as an alternate spelling of bamboozle.
EXAMPLES OF BUMFUZZLE
- The complex instructions on the new gadget were enough to bumfuzzle even the most tech-savvy person.
- The chef’s unconventional dish managed to bumfuzzle the judges, who couldn’t identify its ingredients.
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