Word of the Day
endemic
[ en-dem-ik ]
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adjective
natural to or characteristic of a specific people or place; native; indigenous
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Why Dictionary.com chose endemic
More about endemic
- First recorded in 1655鈥�65.
- From New Latin 别苍诲脓尘颈肠耻蝉, equivalent to Greek 茅苍诲脓尘(os),聽鈥渄welling in a place, native,鈥� (from en-2, 鈥渨ithin, in鈥� + deme, 鈥減eople, district鈥�+ -ic, suffix forming adjectives). Compare with pandemic听补苍诲 epidemic.
EXAMPLES OF ENDEMIC
- The koala is endemic to Australia, found nowhere else in the world.
- The genetic trait is endemic to the local population, passed down through generations.
SYNONYM OF THE DAY
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Why Dictionary.com chose skedaddle
More about skedaddle
- An Americanism first used between 1860鈥�65.
- There’s debate over its origin but most sources connect it to Scots and Northern English dialects meaning “to spill, scatter.”
- The term was popularized during the American Civil War, originally spelled as skaddadle, military slang meaning “run away, flee hastily.”
EXAMPLES OF SKEDADDLE
- Let’s skedaddle before the storm comes.
- As soon as they heard the approaching sirens, the burglars skedaddled from the scene of the crime.
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Why Dictionary.com chose scrofulous
More about scrofulous
- First recorded in 1605鈥�15.
- Formed from scroful(a) + -ous.
- Here are just a few more adjectives formed from diseases or medical conditions that gained figurative (and negative) meanings: pestiferous, cancerous, bilious, hysterical, choleric, melancholic, paranoid, frenzied, morbid, apoplectic, dyspeptic.
EXAMPLES OF SCROFULOUS
- The leader’s scrofulous behavior was evident in her frequent abuses of power and disregard for ethical standards.
- The play鈥檚 antagonist was portrayed as a scrofulous character, whose corrupt actions ultimately led to his downfall.
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