Word of the Day Archive
Wednesday June 23, 2004
delectation \dee-lek-TAY-shun\
, noun:
Great pleasure; delight, enjoyment.
Even after the buffet had evolved into the more functional sideboard in the 18th century, lavish arrangements of silver and porcelain continued to be laid out for the delectation of guests at large dinners.
-- Pilar Viladas, "That's Entertaining!", New York Times, March 24, 2002
At other times she'll get so worked up by some pet poeticism that she forgets she's not writing just for her own delectation.
-- David Klinghoffer, "Black madonna", National Review, February 9, 1998
Delectation derives from Latin delectatio, from the past participle of delectare, "to please."
Dictionary.com Entry and Pronunciation for delectation
