Pronounced: abs-TEN-shus, adj
Notes: This word was a near thing (whether or not to use it)
Yesterday’s word
The word cachinnate is “to laugh loudly or immoderately”
First usage
Our word came into English in the early 1800s
Background / Comments
Our word came from the Latin verb cachinnare (to laugh loudly); it is thought that the word was an imitation of a loud laugh. Similar words are the Old English ceahhetan, the Old High German word kachazzen, and the Greek word kachazein.
Richard's Vocabulary Word-of-the-Day 