Word of the Day
esprit de corps
[ e-spree duh kawr ]
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noun
a sense of unity among a group working on a common goal
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Why Dictionary.com chose esprit de corps
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- First recorded in 1770鈥�80.
- From French, meaning “spirit of the group.”
EXAMPLES OF ESPRIT DE CORPS
- Months of training together had forged an esprit de corps among the Olympic team.
- The restaurant’s staff thrived on an esprit de corps that made even busy nights enjoyable.
SYNONYM OF THE DAY
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Why Dictionary.com chose transpontine
More about transpontine
- First recorded in 1835鈥�45.
- Combines 迟谤补苍蝉-鲁 + Latin 辫艒苍蝉, meaning “a bridge,” + -颈苍别鹿.
- Related to the word 辫辞苍迟辞辞苍鹿, meaning “a floating bridge.”
EXAMPLES OF TRANSPONTINE
- Many artists found inspiration in the transpontine landscapes beyond the main city.
- He loved the peaceful atmosphere of his transpontine studio overlooking the water.
libretto
[ li-bret-oh ]
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noun
the words of an opera or other musical compositions
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Why Dictionary.com chose libretto
More about libretto
- First recorded in 1735鈥�45.
- From Italian libretto, combining libro, meaning “book” related to library, + -etto, meaning “little.”
- Historically, opera goers could purchase a small booklet, or libretto, containing the lyrics to follow along with the performance.
EXAMPLES OF LIBRETTO
- The provocative libretto led to a drawn-out scandal for the opera’s creators.
- The libretto contained references to both myth and contemporary events that added layers of meaning to the performance.
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