Word of the Day

Word of the day

bai

[ bahy ] [ baɪ ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

noun

a yellow mist occurring during the spring and fall, caused by dust from the interior of China.

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What is the origin of bai?

Bai is a loanword from Japanese and was exported from Middle Chinese to multiple languages of East Asia. In this way, bai is related to Mandarin mái and Cantonese maai, both meaning “fog” or “dust storm.” Bai was first recorded in English in the mid 1910s.

EXAMPLE OF BAI USED IN A SENTENCE

As the bai drifted over the countryside, the sun began to pale, and a thin coating of dust gathered in the treetops.

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Word of the day

chryselephantine

[ kris-el-uh-fan-tin ] [ ˌkrɪs ɛl əˈfæn tɪn ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

adjective

made of or overlaid with gold and ivory, as certain objects made in ancient Greece.

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What is the origin of chryselephantine?

Chryselephantine is based on Ancient Greek chrȳsós, “gold,” and eléphās, “elephant.” Because of its similarity to Biblical Hebrew kharúts, “gold,” chrȳsós may have been borrowed from a Semitic language such as Phoenician. Eléphās may also be of Semitic origin. Chryselephantine was first recorded in English in the 1820s.

EXAMPLE OF CHRYSELEPHANTINE USED IN A SENTENCE

The chryselephantine statue of Athena glistened in the sunlight streaming through the temple.

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Word of the day

pervicacious

[ pur-vi-key-shuhs ] [ ˌpɜr vɪˈkeɪ ʃəs ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

adjective

extremely willful; obstinate; stubborn.

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What is the origin of pervicacious?

Pervicacious comes from Latin pervicāx, meaning “stubborn, willful” or, more literally, “tending to conquer completely.” The -vic- element derives from the verb vincere, “to conquer,” which is the source of invincible and victory. The -āx part appears as -acious in many English adjectives, such as audacious and loquacious. Pervicacious was first recorded in English circa 1630.

EXAMPLE OF PERVICACIOUS USED IN A SENTENCE

When the dog walker wanted to change direction, the pervicacious Yorkie dug her nails into the ground and glared.

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