Word of the Day

  Dorodango     dôrō’dän,ɡō Noun A Japanese art form in which earth and water are molded to create a delicate shiny sphere resembling a billiard ball. Example Sentences “The gallery exhibit featured dorodango and other Japanese-inspired art techniques.” “The students will be able to choose between dorodango and papier-mâché for their final projects.” “I’ve taken up practicing dorodango as a way to meditate while keeping my hands occupied.” Word Origin Japanese, 1990s Why this word? Dorodango is an art and meditation practice in which mud and water are combined into a sphere and polished to a glossy finish. This incredibly delicate procedure comes from an ancient Japanese tradition, but the word “dorodango” (referring to both the skill and the spheres themselves) resurfaced in the 1990s through the research of Professor Fumio Kayo of the Kyoto University of Education. He was studying experimentation and play in childhood development, and the shiny dirt balls served as...

  Coruscation      ˈkôrəˌskāt Noun A flash or sparkle of light. Example Sentences “The disco ball shot a shimmering coruscation around the dance floor when the spotlight hit it.” “I want a light fixture in the front entrance to give off more of a coruscation than a gentle glow.” “The dancer was blinded by the coruscation of the spotlight.” Word Origin Latin, early 18th century Why this word? The Latin verb “coruscare,” meaning “to vibrate or glitter,” is the origin of this word. “Coruscation” is a noun for the occurrence of a flash of light, while “coruscate” is a verb meaning “to emit flashes of light.” “Coruscation” was initially used in the 15th century to refer to flashes of light gleaming off the sea in the moonlight. You can use it today for any kind of sparkle, from a flickering candle to glittering diamonds to a sequined jacket.

Ailurophile      īˈlo͝orəˌfīl   Noun A cat lover. Example Sentences “She must be an ailurophile after fostering cats for 15 years.” “Even though I only have dogs, I’m an ailurophile at heart.” “I would be an ailurophile if I didn’t have such terrible cat allergies.” Word Origin Greek, early 20th century Why this word? If you would like to indicate your identity based on your love for something, you can follow this pattern: Use its Greek or Latin name + the suffix “-phile.” Some examples include “ailurophile” (cat lover), “bibliophile” (book lover), and “Anglophile” (a lover of England and English culture).