Master English one word at a time. World of Words provides a daily English word with its precise meaning, pronunciation, and practical usage examples to help you build a powerful vocabulary.
You may have seen a maneki-neko perched near the entrance of a restaurant or shop, with one little paw raised. This statuette of a cat is traditionally displayed to attract good fortune, and its name comes from Japanese words meaning "beckoning cat." The next time you spot a maneki-neko, consider it a friendly invitation to good luck!
Example: She placed a ceramic maneki-neko near the register to beckon good fortune into her store.
These famous writers were responsible for coining many interesting words in the English language. Find out which writers' inventions found a permanent home in the dictionary.
When something continues without an end in sight, you can describe it as happening ad infinitum. Whether it's a song on repeat or the same breakfast each morning, this adverb captures the feeling of repetition. You might say that ad infinitum is a useful way to describe the merry-go-round of life's little moments and routines.
Example: They debated the controversial rule changes ad infinitum, never reaching a final decision.
For National Authors Day, we're looking at writers who have earned two of the most prestigious literary prizes: the Nobel Prize in Literature and the Pulitzer Prize.
