Word of the Day
momentous
adjective
of great or far-reaching importance or consequence.
Why Dictionary.com chose momentous
Today we reveal the 2022 Word Of The Year!
More about momentous
Momentous, 鈥渙f great or far-reaching importance or consequence,鈥� is based on the noun moment and the adjective-forming suffix -ous. Moment comes from Latin 尘艒尘别苍迟耻尘, literally meaning 鈥渕otion鈥� and figuratively signifying an influential element, such as a point in time. The 尘艒- element of 尘艒尘别苍迟耻尘 comes from the verb 尘辞惫脓谤别, 鈥渢o move.鈥� 惭辞惫脓谤别 is the direct source of move, while its stem 尘艒迟- is found in motion and motor, and 尘艒- also appears in mobile. Momentous was first recorded in English circa 1650.
EXAMPLE OF MOMENTOUS USED IN A SENTENCE
Serena Williams has achieved many momentous wins in her historic career, including a record setting number of Grand Slam titles.
For another momentous word, find out what we chose as the 2022 Word Of The Year!
utilidor
noun
an insulated network of pipes and cables, used to convey water and electricity in communities situated in areas of permafrost.
More about utilidor
Utilidor, 鈥渁n insulated network that conveys water and electricity in frozen areas,鈥� is a portmanteau of utility and corridor. Utility ultimately comes from Latin 奴迟墨 (stem 奴蝉-), 鈥渢o use,鈥� which is also the source of usual, usurp, and utensil. Corridor comes from Italian corridore (also corridoio), based on correre, 鈥渢o run,鈥� from Latin currere; for more examples of currere鈥檚 descendants in English, check out the Word of the Day corsair. Utilidor聽was first recorded in English in the late 1950s.
EXAMPLE OF UTILIDOR USED IN A SENTENCE
In northern cities such as Iqaluit, Utqiagvik, and Yellowknife, utilidors provide a useful lifeline during the dark, frozen winter months.
oleoresinous
adjective
consisting of drying oils and resins that usually have been cooked.
More about oleoresinous
Oleoresinous, 鈥渃onsisting of drying oils and resins,鈥� is a compound of oleo-, 鈥渙il鈥�; resin; and -ous, a suffix roughly meaning 鈥渇ull of, consisting of.鈥� Oleo- comes by way of Latin oleum or 辞濒墨惫耻尘, 鈥渙il, olive oil,鈥� from Ancient Greek 茅濒补颈辞苍 (dialectal 茅濒补颈飞辞苍), which derives from 别濒补铆腻 (dialectal 别濒补铆飞腻), 鈥渙live.鈥� For the reason why these Ancient Greek words are inconsistent about the letter w, check out the recent Word of the Day oenology. Resin comes via Latin 谤脓蝉墨苍补 from Ancient Greek 谤丑脓迟墨苍脓, of uncertain origin. Oleoresinous was first recorded in English in the mid-1840s.
EXAMPLE OF OLEORESINOUS USED IN A SENTENCE
She distilled turmeric to create the oleoresinous varnish for the custom coatrack.