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Word of the Day

Word of the day

wistfully

[ wist-fuh-lee ] [ ˈwɪst fə li ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

adverb

in a way that is characterized by melancholy or longing; pensively.

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Why Dictionary.com chose wistfully

More about wistfully

  • First recorded in 1660–70.
  • Comes from the word wistful, with the obsolete word wist, “quiet, silent, attentive” as the stem.
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EXAMPLES OF WISTFULLY

  • The musician played a haunting melody on his violin, making the audience sway wistfully to its melancholic tune.
  • Walking through the deserted park, she smiled wistfully at the faded graffiti that reminded her of past adventures.
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Word of the day

synchronicity

[ sing-kruh-nis-i-tee ] [ ˌsɪŋ krəˈnɪs ɪ ti ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

noun

an apparently meaningful coincidence in time of two or more similar or identical events that are causally unrelated.

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Why Dictionary.com chose synchronicity

More about synchronicity

  • In the highlighted sense, first recorded in 1950–55 in the psychological theory of Carl G. Jung.
  • Comes from synchronous, originally from the Greek word sýnchronos, meaning “together in time.”
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EXAMPLES OF SYNCHRONICITY

  • Experiencing synchronicity in their thoughts and actions, the duo felt a deep connection despite only having met recently.
  • When they both showed up wearing matching outfits without prior planning, it was a hilarious example of synchronicity in action.
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Word of the day

biblioklept

[ bib-lee-uh-klept ] [ ˈbɪb li əˌklɛpt ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

noun

a person who steals books.

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Why Dictionary.com chose biblioklept

More about biblioklept

  • First recorded in 1880–85.
  • Formed from the Greek stem biblio-, “book,” and the Greek word kléptēs, “thief.”
  • Related is the term kleptomania, “an irresistible impulse to steal.”
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EXAMPLES OF BIBLIOKLEPT

  • Often forgetting to return library books, he admitted to being a bit of an unintentional biblioklept.
  • The shop owner understood the desire for books and offered a shelf of free used books to help satiate those occasional biblioklepts.
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