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Why Dictionary.com chose librate
More about librate
- First recorded in 1615鈥�25.
- From the Latin 濒墨产谤补, meaning “a scale or balance.”
EXAMPLES OF LIBRATE
- Even while sleeping, some birds can librate on branches or wires, thanks to a tendon-locking mechanism in their feet.
- The sculpture seemed to librate on its narrow base, making museum visitors anxious about it falling over.
tarantella
[ tar-uhn-tel-uh ]
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noun
a rapid, whirling southern Italian dance
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Why Dictionary.com chose tarantella
More about tarantella
- First recorded in 1775鈥�85.
- From Taranto, the name of a city in southern Italy; the tarantula spider also gets its name from this city.
EXAMPLES OF TARANTELLA
- A burst of applause followed their spirited rendition of the tarantella.
- The tarantella was more than just a dance; it was family tradition.
xanthic
[ zan-thik ]
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adjective
of or relating to a yellow or yellowish color
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Why Dictionary.com chose xanthic
More about xanthic
- First recorded in 1810鈥�20.
- From Greek 虫补苍迟丑贸蝉, meaning “yellow or golden.”
EXAMPLES OF XANTHIC
- A xanthic haze hung in the afternoon sky just before the storm rolled in.
- The textbook’s margins had become xanthic with age and repeated use.
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