Word of the Day
trafficator
[ traf-i-key-ter ]
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noun
a blinker or turn signal on a vehicle
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Why Dictionary.com chose trafficator
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- First recorded in 1930鈥�40.
- Combines traffic + (indic)ator.
- Originally used in British English; now common in Nigerian English.
EXAMPLES OF TRAFFICATOR
- Their left trafficator kept blinking long after the car had turned.
- As part of the transformation, the old trafficators were swapped for programmable LED strips.
proscribe
[ proh-skrahyb ]
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verb
to denounce, condemn, or prohibit something
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Why Dictionary.com chose proscribe
More about proscribe
- First recorded in Middle English (1150鈥�1475), defined as “to announce the name of a condemned person.”
- From Latin 辫谤艒蝉肠谤墨产别谤别, meaning “to publish, confiscate, or outlaw;” combines 辫谤辞-鹿 + scribe, meaning “to write.”
EXAMPLES OF PROSCRIBE
- The new law will officially proscribe the use of facial recognition software in public spaces.
- Some teachers still proscribe ending a sentence with a preposition, which is a rule I was never comfortable with.
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Why Dictionary.com chose griseous
More about griseous
- First recorded in 1810鈥�20.
- From Latin 驳谤墨蝉别耻蝉; combines the Germanic root *驳谤墨蝉, meaning “gray,” + -ous.
- From the same root as the French word gris, meaning “gray.”
EXAMPLES OF GRISEOUS聽
- She looked up, her griseous eyes catching the light like old silver.
- The afternoon’s rain gave the historic cobblestone street a griseous glow.
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