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by definition

Definition of by definition

  1. :  because of what something or someone is :  according to the definition of a word that is being used to describe someone or something A volunteer by definition is not paid. A glider is by definition an aircraft with no engine.

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Time Traveler Quiz: Which Word Came First?
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Devilish Words
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Words of the Year: 1066
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We're Down With You Being—or Your Being?—a Square

Word by Word Definitions

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  1. :  an act of determining

    :  the formal proclamation of a Roman Catholic dogma

    :  a statement expressing the essential nature of something

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WORD OF THE DAY

depredate

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to plunder or ravage

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TRENDING NOW

  1. Svengali 'A person who manipulates'

  2. syzygy An obscure astronomy term goes mainstream

  3. hegemon "Something having dominant influence over others"

  4. repugnant Trump clarifies his position on racism

  5. white nationalist, white supremacist Trending in 2017

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Words at Play

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We're Down With You Being—or Your Being?—a Square

It's about (you? your?) having your say.

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Devilish Words

Don't blame a word use error on the devil.

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How 'Wonderful' Lost Its Sense of Wonder

A case of semantic bleaching

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Don't Let Reading This Be Another 'Coulda' 'Shoulda' 'Woulda'

PSA: They're three separate words.

Ask the Editors

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Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

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How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Don't get us started on 'bimonthly'

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Irregardless

It is in fact a real word (but that doesn't mean you should use it).

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Weird Plurals

One goose, two geese. One moose, two... moose. What's up with that?

Word Games

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Time Traveler Quiz: Which Word Came First?

Which word entered the English language first?

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Name More Food!

Test your knowledge of food vocabulary!

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How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?
How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

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Word Winder's CrossWinder
Word Winder's CrossWinder

A game of winding words.

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