Word of the Day
withershins
[ with-er-shinz ]
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adverb
in a direction contrary to the natural one; counterclockwise
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Why Dictionary.com chose withershins
More about withershins
- First recorded in 1505鈥�15; primarily Scottish.
- From the Middle Low German widdershinnes; combined from Old High German widar, meaning “opposite,” + sinnes, meaning “of the course or way.”
EXAMPLES OF WITHERSHINS
- The ferris wheel began to turn withershins, surprising the riders.
- Superstition held that circling the grave withershins could summon spirits.
SYNONYM OF THE DAY
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doctrinaire
[ dok-truh-nair ]
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adjective
dogmatic about others' acceptance of one's ideas
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Why Dictionary.com chose doctrinaire
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- First recorded in 1810鈥�20 as a noun to refer to a member of a specific French political party.
- Combines doctrine + the suffix -aire, meaning “someone characterized by or occupied with.”
EXAMPLES OF DOCTRINAIRE
- The doctrinaire editor prioritized rigid requirements over the writer’s creativity.
- The doctrinaire tone of the lecture discouraged open discussion from the students.
evergreen
[ ev-er-green ]
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adjective
retaining its relevance, popularity
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Why Dictionary.com chose evergreen
More about evergreen
- First recorded in 1545鈥�55 to describe the foliage of plants.
- 颁辞尘产颈苍别蝉听ever听+听驳谤别别苍鹿.
- Replaced the Old English聽蝉颈苍驳谤脓苍别, meaning “eternal green.”
EXAMPLES OF EVERGREEN
- The band’s evergreen songs continue to resonate with fans across generations.
- Her evergreen tips on finance have made her the go-to expert on major news stations.
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