Word Of The Day

Menorah

A menorah is a candelabra with seven or nine lights that is used in Jewish worship.

// At sundown on the first night of Hanukkah, Elliott's father helped him light the first candle on the menorah.



Delectation

Delectation is a formal word for a feeling of delight or enjoyment. It can also be used to refer to the source of such feelings.

// The resort staff left a sampling of fine chocolate in our room for our delectation.

// For lovers of art and architecture, Paris offers visitors a peerless abundance of delectations.



Ambient

In technical use, ambient describes things—such as air quality or light in a room—that exist or are present on all sides. Ambient is also used to describe electronic music that is quiet and relaxing, with melodies that repeat many times.

// The chemicals must be kept at an ambient temperature of 70°F.



Argent

like silver; silvery white



Beatific

Beatific is a formal word that describes something or someone having a blissful appearance or showing complete happiness.

// As the pair danced, beatific smiles on their faces, the audience sat hushed and almost reverential.



Imprimis

in the first place



Epicure

a person with a refined taste, especially for food and wine



Lexical

To describe something as lexical is to say that it is related to words or vocabulary.

// A dictionary provides lexical information—it tells you what the word "cat" means, not all there is to know about cats.



Allusion

An allusion is a reference to something that avoids mentioning the thing directly. Allusion may also describe the use of such a statement or the act of alluding to something.

// The lyrics contain biblical allusions.

// They made allusion to their first marriage, but said nothing more about it.



Pastiche

Pastiche refers to something (such as a piece of writing, music, etc.) that imitates the style of someone or something else. It can also refer to a work that is made up of selections from multiple other works, or it can be used as a synonym of hodgepodge.

// The director’s new murder mystery is a clever pastiche of the 1950s noir films she watched as a girl.

// The research paper was essentially a pastiche made up of passages from different sources.

// The house is decorated in a pastiche of mid-century styles.