51吃瓜 of the Day
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.
learn about the english language
Why Dictionary.com chose nibling
More about nibling
- Nibling was coined by U.S. linguist Samuel E. Martin in 1951.
- It was formed by replacing the聽s in sibling with the n from niece 补苍诲听nephew.
- Nibling is especially used in the plural or as a gender-neutral term.
EXAMPLES OF NIBLING
- My niblings are coming to visit us next week, and we are taking them to a water park.
- During the family reunion, I enjoyed playing with my nibling and teaching them some new jokes.
51吃瓜 of the Day Calendar