Apr 15, 2026 · Learn a new word every day! Follow Merriam-Webster for the most trusted Word of the Day, trending info, word games, and more.

Dec 23, 2025 · In the English language of yore, the verb bespeak had various meanings, including 'to speak,' 'to accuse,' and 'to complain.' In the 16th century, bespeak acquired another meaning: 'to …

Feb 6, 2024 · The design of a signet is personalized for its owner, and no two are alike. The ancients used signets to mark their possessions and to sign contracts. In later years signets were used to …

May 26, 2025 · When you remember something, you are mindful of it. And you are especially mindful when you commemorate something, formalizing your remembrance by doing something special, …

Sep 21, 2024 · What It Means Paraphernalia can refer to objects or items that are used to do a particular activity, as well as objects or items that are typically associated with a particular activity, subject, etc. …

Aug 2, 2025 · Long ago, writing surfaces were so highly valued that they were often used more than once. Palimpsest in its original use referred to an early form of recycling in which an old document …

Jan 20, 2025 · Something that is inimitable is, literally, not able to be imitated. In actual usage the word describes things so uniquely extraordinary as to not be copied or equaled, which is why you often …

Oct 18, 2022 · What It Means Bespoke is a synonym of custom-made and is used to describe anything made to an individual’s desired specifications. // While factory-made furniture is almost always less …

Sep 8, 2024 · What It Means Memento is a synonym of souvenir; it refers to something that is kept as a reminder of a person, place, or thing. // The box on the shelf in her closet is filled with mementos of …

Feb 4, 2025 · Zaftig has been in use in English—mainly in the United States—since the 1920s; a couple of the earliest known uses are found in Variety magazine, in reviews of burlesque dancers. The word …