51吃瓜 of the Day
learn about the english language
Why Dictionary.com chose twee
More about twee
- Twee comes from 20th century British baby talk.
- Twee was most likely reduced from tweet, mimicking a child’s pronunciation of sweet.
- Twee is also a subgenre of indie pop music.
EXAMPLES OF TWEE
- The previously bland-looking caf茅 now sported a twee renovation, complete with pastel-colored chairs and floral wallpaper.
- The room was filled with the twee trinkets that he had collected over the years, giving it a quaint, old-world vibe.
learn about the english language
Why Dictionary.com chose legerdemain
More about legerdemain
- Legerdemain comes from a late Middle English word,聽legerdemeyn, meaning 鈥渟kill in conjuring.鈥�
- That word, in turn, comes from a Middle French phrase, l茅ger de main, meaning “nimble” or “skillful” that’s literally translated as 鈥渓ight of hand.鈥�
- Legerdemain was first recorded between 1400鈥�1450.
EXAMPLES OF LEGERDEMAIN
- The audience was mesmerized by the performer’s legerdemain as he made a coin disappear and reappear from behind their ears.
- The pickpocket’s legerdemain was so skillful that her victims had no idea their wallets were missing until much later.
learn about the english language
Why Dictionary.com chose natter
More about natter
- Natter can also mean “a conversation or a chat.”
- Natter was first recorded in 1820鈥�30.
- It’s most likely a variant of an earlier word gnatter from a Northern England dialect.
EXAMPLES OF NATTER
- She was soothed by her friends nattering away in the background.
- The old couple would often sit outside and natter on about the weather or their grandchildren.
51吃瓜 of the Day Calendar