acronym

<font size="-1" face="arial, helvetica"> <p> <strong> <font color="#000066">Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 16, 2023 is:</font> </strong> </p> <p> <strong>acronym</strong> &#149; \AK-ruh-nim\&nbsp; &#149; <em>noun</em><br /> <p>An acronym is a word formed from the first letter or letters of each one of the words in a phrase.</p> <p>// They came up with the perfect <em>acronym</em>, WORDS, as a name for their spelling team by using the first letters of each of their names: William, Owen, Rosie, Diana, and Sam.</p> <p><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acronym">See the entry ></a></p> </p> <p> <strong>Examples:</strong><br /> <p>"Despite the innate human capacity to wander—particularly when bolstered by walking sticks—things will still go wrong. Here are a few of the most common ailments pilgrims will face. Sprained ankles: Follow the RICE <em>acronym</em> to reduce swelling and support healing. Rest: Stop all activity and try not to put any weight on the ankle. Ice: Apply an ice pack—or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a thin towel—for up to 20 minutes every two to three hours for about two days. Compression: Wrap a bandage around the injury or wear a compression sock to support it. Elevate: Keep it raised as much as possible." — James Jeffrey, <em>CNN</em>, 31 Aug. 2023</p> </p> <p> <strong>Did you know?</strong><br /> <p>The word <em>acronym</em> fuses together two combining forms: <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acr-"><em>acr-</em></a> ("beginning") and <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/-onym"><em>-onym</em></a> ("name" or "word"), both of which trace back to Greek. You may recognize <em>-onym</em> in other familiar (and older) English words, such as <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pseudonym"><em>pseudonym</em></a> and <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/synonym"><em>synonym</em></a>. When <em>acronym</em> first entered English in the mid-20th ce