Word of the Day

: August 4, 2020

aficionado

noun uh-fish-ee-uh-NAH-doh

What It Means

: a person who likes, knows about, and appreciates a usually fervently pursued interest or activity : devotee

aficionado in Context

Mickey's brother, an aficionado of jazz, was a regular at the downtown clubs and often bought new records on the day they were released.

"But assessing the investment value of a vintage watch or a vintage car—a popular pastime among aficionados—can be a tricky business. Supply, or lack of it, often dictates which models appreciate, and which lose value." — Stephen Williams, The New York Times, 18 June 2020

Did You Know?

The affection an aficionado has for their favorite subject isn't merely emotional—it's also etymological. Back in the early 1800s, English borrowed aficionado from the past participle of the Spanish verb aficionar, which means "to inspire affection." That verb comes from the Spanish noun afición, meaning "affection." Both Spanish words trace to the Latin affectiō (which is also an ancestor of the English word affection). Affectiō, in turn, is from afficere ("to influence") and gave English speakers the noun and verb affect.