- Today's Word
Gigglesnort
[GIG-uhl-snort]
Definition
- (noun/verb) A sudden, uncontrollable burst of laughter that results in an involuntary snorting sound. As a verb, it means to laugh in this manner, combining a giggle and a snort.
Example
When her friend told the ridiculous joke, Sarah couldn’t help but gigglesnort, causing the whole group to erupt in even more laughter.
Fun Fact
While “gigglesnort” isn’t found in standard dictionaries, it’s a prime example of a linguistic blend or portmanteau – a word created by combining parts of two existing words. In this case, “giggle” and “snort” are merged to describe a specific type of laughter. This word formation process is common in informal language and often results in vivid, expressive terms that capture complex ideas or actions in a single word. “Gigglesnort” effectively conveys both the sound and the slightly embarrassing nature of this type of laughter, demonstrating how creative word combinations can fill lexical gaps in describing human experiences.
(noun) A person who believes that the pursuit of pleasure and sensory enjoyment is the highest good and chief aim of life
A self-proclaimed hedonist, she planned her entire sabbatical around exceptional food, warm weather, and long afternoons with nothing to do.
Hedonist derives from the Greek hedone, meaning “pleasure” or “delight,” from hedys (“sweet”). The philosophical school of Hedonism was formally developed in ancient Greece — most notably by Epicurus, who argued that pleasure, properly understood, was the foundation of a good life. The word entered English in the 19th century as both a philosophical term and a descriptor for those who live purely for sensory gratification.