Bissextile (noun)
bi-secs-tile
The leap year.
First recorded in 1585–95 and from the word bissextus, which refers to February 29th. Bissextus means literally “the second sixth,” so called because the 6th day before the first day of March in the ancient Roman calendar appeared a second time once every leap year.
Example sentences
“The extra day in a bissextile helps keep the calendar in sync with the solar year.”
Appellative (adj) a-pel-a-tiv designative; descriptive. First recorded around 1375–1425 and comes via late Middle English from the Late Latin word appellātīvus. (more…)
Complot (noun) (verb) kom-plot a plot or conspiracy./ To plot together and conspire. C16: from Old French, of unknown origin (more…)
Irenic (adj) ahy-ren-ik tending to promote peace or reconciliation; peaceful or conciliatory. First recorded in 1860–65 and comes from the Greek word eirēnikós, equivalent to eirḗn(ē), “peace.” (more…)
Cacophony (noun) ku-kof-uh-nee harsh or unpleasant discordance of sound; dissonance. First recorded in 1650–60; from New Latin cacophonia, from Greek kakophōnía; equivalent to caco- + -phony (more…)
Abrade (verb) a-brayd to wear off or down by scraping or rubbing. 1670–80; Latin abrādere, equivalent to ab- ab- + rādere to scrape (more…)
Skiplagging (noun) skip-lag-ing the practice of purchasing an air ticket for a flight with a layover at one’s true destination, getting off at the layover point, and skipping the last…
Gambol (verb) gam-buhl to skip about, as in dancing or playing; frolic. (West Mids) (UK) (noun/verb) a somersault/ to do a somersault. First recorded around 1495–1505. Earlier forms included gambold,…
Collaborative (adj) kol-ab-or-at-iv characterized or accomplished by collaboration (working together) (more…)
Tutelage (noun) toot-lij instruction; teaching; guidance. First recorded around 1595–1605 and comes from the Latin word tūtēl(a), “guardianship,” which derived from the Latin verb tuērī, “to watch.” (more…)