51吃瓜 of the Day
libretto
[ li-bret-oh ]
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noun
the words of an opera or other musical compositions
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Why Dictionary.com chose libretto
More about libretto
- First recorded in 1735鈥�45.
- From Italian libretto, combining libro, meaning “book” related to library, + -etto, meaning “little.”
- Historically, opera goers could purchase a small booklet, or libretto, containing the lyrics to follow along with the performance.
EXAMPLES OF LIBRETTO
- The provocative libretto led to a drawn-out scandal for the opera’s creators.
- The libretto contained references to both myth and contemporary events that added layers of meaning to the performance.
SYNONYM OF THE DAY
Double your word knowledge with the Synonym of the Day!
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Why Dictionary.com chose dight
More about dight
- From Old English (450鈥�1150) dihtan, meaning “to compose or arrange.” Now considered archaic.
- Possibly from the Proto-Germanic 诲墨办补苍膮, meaning “to create,” which may be influenced by聽the Latin 诲颈肠迟腻谤别, meaning “to dictate or order.”
EXAMPLES OF DIGHT
- The warm weather calls for one to dight themselves in cool, light fabrics.
- For their coworker’s birthday, they decided to dight her desk with colorful flowers.
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Why Dictionary.com chose fenny
More about fenny
- From Old English (450鈥�1150) fennig.
- Combines 蹿别苍鹿, meaning “a boggy land or marsh,” + -测虏.
- Related to the rare regional word vinew, meaning “mold or moldiness.”
EXAMPLES OF FENNY
- Her footsteps left dark imprints in the fenny soil, each one filling with water.
- The horse hesitated before stepping onto the fenny path, sensing the unstable ground beneath its hooves.
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