Word of the Day
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Why Dictionary.com chose stilted
More about stilted
- First recorded in 1610鈥�20 meaning “artificially supported with crutches or stilts.”
- Combines stilt + -别诲鲁.
EXAMPLES OF STILTED
- The author’s attempt at poetic language felt stilted, detracting from the story’s flow.
- The diplomat’s stilted manners made the casual dinner feel more like a formal ceremony.
SYNONYM OF THE DAY
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counterpoise
[ koun-ter-poiz ]
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verb
to balance by an opposing weight; counteract by an opposing force
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Why Dictionary.com chose counterpoise
More about counterpoise
- First recorded between 1375鈥�1425 as a noun meaning “a counterbalancing weight.”
- Combines 肠辞耻苍迟别谤-鈦� + 辫辞颈蝉别鹿, related to the Latin pendere, meaning “to weigh.”
EXAMPLES OF COUNTERPOISE
- The cool breeze from the lake will often counterpoise the heat of a summer afternoon.
- The seesaw remained steady, perfectly counterpoised by the weight of the two children.
entelechy
[ en-tel-uh-kee ]
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noun
a realization or actuality as opposed to a potentiality
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Why Dictionary.com chose entelechy
More about entelechy
- First recorded in 1595鈥�1605.
- From the Greek 别苍迟别濒茅肠丑别颈补, a word coined by Aristotle.
- Combines 别苍-鲁, meaning “in,” + Greek 迟茅濒辞蝉, meaning “goal,” + Greek 茅肠丑别颈补, meaning “to have.”
EXAMPLES OF ENTELECHY
- The community center was the entelechy of decades of fundraising and planning.
- The entelechy of art is about bringing imagination to life through creation.
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