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@MerriamWebster

Word of the Day, facts and observations on language, lookup trends, and wordplay from the editors at Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

Springfield, MA
Merriam-Webster.com
Joined December 2009
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  1. Pinned Tweet
    Sep 22

    This week on Word Matters: - the deal with 'possum' and 'opossum' - a deep dive on 'staycation' - an examination of the portmanteau and its place in new word development

    Word Matters - Podcast Episode 57 - 'Possum' or 'Opossum'? - Plus, 'staycation' and other leisure-related portmanteaus
    7 replies 24 retweets 133 likes
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  2. 5 hours ago

    This week's : 'torpid'

    3 replies 12 retweets 119 likes
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  3. 10 hours ago

    'Tis the season.

    1 reply 34 retweets 139 likes
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  4. 10 hours ago

    Join us for this fun chat on October 5!

    Join us on Oct 5 as editor Ammon Shea leads a panel featuring , , and more discussing words that have moved them. Register for the free, virtual and event.
    1 reply 8 retweets 34 likes
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  5. 13 hours ago

    Good morning! Today's is 'chastise'

    Word of the Day September 23 2021 - chastise - verb - chass-TYZE - to criticize harshly - background image: illustration of figures being blown away by megaphone
    6 replies 78 retweets 252 likes
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  6. Sep 22

    Happy first day, no matter what you call it! 🍂🎃

    14 replies 121 retweets 442 likes
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  7. Sep 22

    Good morning! Today's is 'inchoate'

    Word of the Day September 21 2021 - inchoate - adjective - in-KOH-ut - imperfectly formed or formulated - background image: unevenly shaped carrots
    8 replies 126 retweets 473 likes
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  8. Sep 21

    'Climatic': 🌤 relating to the prevailing weather conditions of a place 'Climactic': 🏔 relating to the point of highest dramatic tension

    8 replies 51 retweets 181 likes
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  9. Sep 21

    This week's : Anaphora: repetition of a word or expression at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, sentences, or verses What are your favorite examples from song lyrics?

    27 replies 23 retweets 142 likes
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  10. Sep 21

    Good morning! Today's is 'flehmen'

    Word of the Day September 21 2021 - flehmen - noun - FLAY-mun - inhaling with mouth open and lip curled - background image: horse with curled lip
    16 replies 109 retweets 414 likes
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  11. Sep 20

    In honor of tonight's harvest moon, Carl Sandburg's poem:

    6 replies 329 retweets 982 likes
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  12. Sep 20

    "You can’t say “a few sand” or “I need many water,” for example. A French person would say “I need to get my hairs cut,” which might sound funny but is logical. English grammar is not determined by logic."

    16 replies 54 retweets 282 likes
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  13. Sep 20

    MARTINI "Ideas about the origin of the name of the drink itself are a bit shaky (or stirred); it may come from a coincidental combination of the California town of Martinez and the vermouth brand Martini and Rossi."

    2 replies 14 retweets 131 likes
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  14. Sep 20

    An hiding in plain sight: ENEMY [Anglo-French 'enemi,' from Latin 'inimīcus' ("unfriendly, hostile") from 'in-' ("not") + 'amicus' ("friend")] So, an 'enemy' is literally a "not-friend." The same Latin root gives us 'inimical.'

    3 replies 25 retweets 132 likes
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  15. Sep 20

    Good morning! Today's is 'collude'

    Word of the Day September 20 2021 - collude - verb - kuh-LOOD - to conspire or plot - background image: two shadowy figures meeting
    11 replies 104 retweets 363 likes
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  16. Sep 19

    Good morning! Today's is 'lucid'

    Word of the Day September 19 2021 - lucid - adjective - LOO-sid - very clear and understandable - background image: squeegee wiping away suds on lens
    10 replies 124 retweets 520 likes
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  17. Retweeted
    Sep 15

    This week on Word Matters: listener questions! Such as - what makes a compound word worthy of dictionary entry? and - is there one correct way to spell 'yay'?

    Word Matters - Podcast Episode 56 - How We Approach Compound Words - Answering questions from listeners like you
    6 replies 21 retweets 97 likes
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  18. Sep 18

    Good morning! Today's is 'vignette'

    Word of the Day September 18 2021 - vignette - noun - vin-YET - a short literary sketch or movie scene - background image: overexposed film
    4 replies 95 retweets 384 likes
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  19. Sep 17

    recall bully lexicon & more words from the week:

    1 reply 18 retweets 84 likes
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  20. Sep 17

    Here's ours: "Harriet Lee's gingerbread is not comfort food." — Helen Oyeyemi, Gingerbread, 2019

    48 replies 4 retweets 192 likes
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