Terpsichorean - plus, have you taken our newest weekly quiz?

[Merriam-Webster]( WORD OF THE DAY [December 16, 2017](#none) terpsichorean [Audio pronunciation]( adjective | terp-sih-kuh-REE-un Definition : of or relating to dancing Scroll down for more about terpsichorean WORD GAMES AND QUIZZES: WEEKLY CHALLENGE [Star Wars Words Quiz]( Is the Force strong in you? [PLAY NOW]( Nailed this quiz? We have plenty more to try! [TAKE ME THERE [>]]( Plus: [SEE WHAT LOOKUPS ARE TRENDING NOW! [>]]( Did You Know? In Greek and Roman mythology, [Terpsichore]( was one of the nine muses, those graceful sister-goddesses who presided over learning and the arts. Terpsichore was the patron of dance and choral song (and later lyric poetry), and in artistic representations she is often shown dancing and holding a lyre. Her name, which earned an enduring place in English through the adjective terpsichorean, literally means "dance-enjoying," from terpsis, meaning "enjoyment," and choros, meaning "dance." Choros is also the source of [choreography]( and [chorus]( (in Athenian drama, choruses consisted of dancers as well as singers). The only other word we know that incorporates terpsis is terpodion, an obsolete term for a piano-like musical instrument that was invented around 1816 but never really caught on. Examples of TERPSICHOREAN "Cronkhite's exuberant dances look great but let the kids act like kids, and don't demand terpsichorean polish beyond the cast's abilities." — Marty Clear, The Bradenton Herald, 13 Jan. 2017 "The musical theater specialists at Signature Theatre will test their terpsichorean mettle with the toe-tappin' 'Crazy for You,' the show that clinched Susan Stroman's reputation as a gleeful and inventive choreographer...." — Nelson Pressley, The Washington Post, 8 Sept. 2017 Word Family Quiz What word derived from Greek choros refers to an old round dance with singing or to a song of joy? [VIEW THE ANSWER [>]]( WORD OF THE YEAR 2017 Feminism + 9 more Read why feminism is our Word of the Year, plus dotard, syzygy, gaffe, and 6 more top words! [SEE THE FULL LIST [>]]( MORE WORD FUN: [WORD GAMES [>]]( [TRENDING NOW [>]]( [WORDS AT PLAY [>]]( FOLLOW US: [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [YouTube]( [Instagram]( [Pinterest]( SHARE: [Facebook][Facebook]( [Twitter][Twitter]( [View this email in a web browser]( You are receiving this email because you opted in to receive the Merriam-Webster Word of the Day. [Unsubscribe from Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day]( [Manage your subscription settings]( Merriam-Webster, Inc. 47 Federal Street P.O. Box 281 Springfield, MA 01102 [www.merriam-webster.com](