51吃瓜 of the Day
More about kvetch
Kvetch is adapted from Yiddish kvetshn, meaning 鈥渢o squeeze, pinch,鈥� which is closely related to German quetschen, also meaning 鈥渢o squeeze.鈥� One possibility is that kvetch ultimately comes from Latin 辩耻补蝉蝉腻谤别 or quatere, 鈥渢o shake,鈥� which is the source of English concussion and squash. Kvetch was first recorded in English in the early 1960s.
EXAMPLE OF KVETCH USED IN A SENTENCE
The couple refused to buy an air conditioner, preferring instead to kvetch constantly about the heat in the summer.
Heiligenschein
noun
a bright ring, caused by diffraction of light rays, that appears around the shadow cast by a person鈥檚 head on wet grass.
Why the Museum of Science chose Heiligenschein
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More about Heiligenschein
Heiligenschein (plural Heiligenscheine) is from German, in which it means 鈥渉alo鈥� or, literally, 鈥渟aint鈥檚 shine.鈥� Heiligen- is a form of Heiliger, 鈥渟aint,鈥� which is related to English hallow and Halloween. Schein means the same thing as its English relative shine. Heiligenschein was first recorded in English in the early 1910s.
EXAMPLE OF HEILIGENSCHEIN USED IN A SENTENCE
The skydivers saw Heiligenscheine around their shadows as they landed in the dewy field.
proceleusmatic
adjective
inciting, animating, or inspiring.
Why Dictionary.com chose proceleusmatic
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More about proceleusmatic
Proceleusmatic comes from Ancient Greek 辫谤辞办别濒别耻蝉尘补迟颈办贸蝉, the name of a unit of rhythm. The keleusma- part means 鈥渟ummons,鈥� comes from 办别濒别煤别颈苍, 鈥渢o rouse to action, command,鈥� and is the source of Spanish saloma, a rhythmic work song. Proceleusmatic was first recorded in English at the turn of the 18th century.
EXAMPLE OF PROCELEUSMATIC USED IN A SENTENCE
The proceleusmatic song motivated the rowers to push hard and in unison during their long practice.