Skip to main content

question mark: Word of the day for September 24, 2020

question mark , n :
(typography) The punctuation mark "?", used at the end of a sentence to indicate a question. (figurative, informal) A state of doubt or uncertainty. (figurative, informal) An enigmatic, inscrutable, or mysterious person or thing; an enigma, a riddle. Polygonia interrogationis, a North American nymphalid butterfly with a silver mark on the underside of its hindwing resembling a question mark (sense 1). Today is National Punctuation Day in the United States, a celebration established by Jeff Rubin in 2004 to promote the correct use of punctuation.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

oligolecty: Word of the day for June 21, 2021

oligolecty , n : (entomology) The preference of an insect pollinator (chiefly a bee) for pollinating only a few plant species. Today in 2021 is the start of Insect Week in the United Kingdom, which is organized every two years by the Royal Entomological Society to highlight the importance of insects.

heterodont: Word of the day for May 9, 2021

heterodont , adj : (zootomy) Having teeth of different types (like most mammals). (zootomy) Of the hinge teeth of bivalves: having two to three wedge-shaped cardinal teeth set in the centre near the umbones, generally also with elongated lateral teeth on the anterior and posterior margins. heterodont n (zoology) A heterodont animal. A snake of the genus Heterodon which is native to North America.

acute: Word of the day for October 9, 2018

acute , adj : Brief, quick, short. High or shrill. Intense, sensitive, sharp. Urgent. (botany) With the sides meeting directly to form an acute angle (at an apex or base). (geometry) Of an angle: less than 90 degrees. (geometry) Of a triangle: having all three interior angles measuring less than 90 degrees. (linguistics, chiefly historical) Of an accent or tone: generally higher than others. (medicine) Of an abnormal condition of recent or sudden onset, in contrast to delayed onset; this sense does not imply severity, unlike the common usage. (medicine) Of a short-lived condition, in contrast to a chronic condition; this sense also does not imply severity. (orthography) After a letter of the alphabet: having an acute accent.