Word of the Day
scrupulous
[ skroo-pyuh-luhs ]
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adjective
having moral or ethical standards
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Why Dictionary.com chose scrupulous
More about scrupulous
- First recorded between 1400鈥�50.
- Combines scruple, meaning “a moral or ethical standard,” + -ous.
- From the Latin scrupulus, originally meaning “a sharp piece of stone” but later “a worry or doubt.”
EXAMPLES OF SCRUPULOUS
- His scrupulous commitment to fair wages earned his company a loyal workforce.
- Even under pressure, the judge remained scrupulous in upholding the law.
SYNONYM OF THE DAY
Double your word knowledge with the Synonym of the Day!
earthshine
[ urth-shahyn ]
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noun
a faint glow on the dark part of the moon during a crescent phase, caused by sunlight reflecting off the earth
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Why Dictionary.com chose earthshine
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- First recorded in 1825鈥�35.
- Combines earth + 蝉丑颈苍别鹿; after moonshine.
- Possibly influenced by the earlier German word with the same meaning, Erdschein, which has cognate elements.
EXAMPLES OF EARTHSHINE聽
- Through the telescope, the soft earthshine made the entire lunar surface faintly visible.
- Leonardo da Vinci was one of the first to correctly explain the phenomenon of earthshine.
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Why Dictionary.com chose warren
More about warren
- First recorded between 1350鈥�1400.
- From Old French guarenne, meaning “an enclosed area for breeding game animals for hunting.”
EXAMPLES OF WARREN聽
- A rabbit bolted from the underbrush and vanished into the safety of its warren.
- The fox waited patiently outside the warren, hoping for an easy meal.
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