51吃瓜 of the Day
retrospection
[ re-truh-spek-shuhn ]
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noun
the action, process, or faculty of looking back on things past.
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Why Dictionary.com chose retrospection
More about retrospection
- Retrospection was first recorded in 1625鈥�35.
- Retrospection was formed from the suffix –ion, denoting action or condition, and the word retrospect, “contemplation of the past.”
- Retrospect was probably formed from the prefix retro-, meaning “backward,” and the word (pro)spect from the Latin word 辫谤艒蝉辫别肠迟耻蝉, 鈥渙utlook, view.鈥�
- The last piece of the puzzle,聽spect-, comes from the Latin word specere, meaning “to look.”
EXAMPLES OF RETROSPECTION
- The elderly man smiled as he leafed through his photo album, indulging in moments of retrospection, reliving his youth and reflecting on a life well-lived.
- After a year of travel, she looked out the plane window in retrospection, reminiscing about the places she had visited and the memories she had made.
SYNONYM OF THE DAY
Double your word knowledge with the Synonym of the Day!
machinations
[ mak-uh-ney-shuhnz ]
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noun
crafty schemes; plots; intrigues.
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Why Dictionary.com chose machinations
More about machinations
- Machinations was first recorded around 1375鈥�1425.
- Machinations comes from the late Middle English word machinacion, from the Latin stem 尘腻肠丑颈苍腻迟颈艒苍-.
- The verb form, machinate, entered English over a century later from the Latin word 尘腻肠丑颈苍腻谤墨, 鈥渢o invent, contrive, devise artfully,鈥� and is related to the more common word machine, “a mechanical apparatus or contrivance.”
EXAMPLES OF MACHINATIONS
- The mastermind behind the political machinations orchestrated a complex web of deceit to manipulate public opinion.
- Through cunning machinations and hidden alliances, the spy infiltrated the enemy ranks and gathered vital intelligence.
phantasmagoria
[ fan-taz-muh-gohr-ee-uh ]
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noun
a shifting series of phantasms, illusions, or deceptive appearances, as in a dream or as created by the imagination.
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Why Dictionary.com chose phantasmagoria
More about phantasmagoria
- Phantasmagoria was first recorded in 1795鈥�1805.
- Phantasmagoria comes from the French word fantasmagorie, a compound word based on fantasme, “phantasm.”
- Phantasm, the first element, ultimately comes from the Greek word 辫丑谩苍迟补蝉尘补, 鈥渋mage, vision.鈥�
- The second element of phantasmagoria perhaps represents the Greek word 补驳辞谤谩, “assembly, gathering.”
EXAMPLES OF PHANTASMAGORIA
- The magician’s show was filled with a phantasmagoria of tricks and illusions, leaving the audience in awe and disbelief.
- As she entered the abandoned house, a phantasmagoria of eerie shadows and ghostly figures danced before her eyes.
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