This week’s theme
Misleading words

This week’s words
pronation
militate
instar
diaeresis
funambulism

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A.Word.A.Day

PRONUNCIATION:

(noun: IN-star, verb: in-STAR)

MEANING:

noun: A stage in the life of an insect between two molts, prior to reaching maturity.
verb tr.: To make a star or decorate using stars.

ETYMOLOGY:

For noun: From Latin instar (image, form). Earliest documented use: 1895.
For verb: From in- (in, into) + star, from Old English steorra (star). Earliest documented use: 1592.

USAGE:

“So they forced one of their own through all the instars they needed to make her a queen.”
Seanan McGuire; Calculated Risks; Astra; 2021.

See more usage examples of instar in Vocabulary.com’s dictionary.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: