📚 October 16 – Dictionary Day: Let’s Get Weird with Words! 🧐🔤
Break out your best sesquipedalian vocabulary, friends—it’s Dictionary Day, the lexical celebration you didn’t know you needed. Every year on October 16, we honor the birthday of Noah Webster, the guy who basically invented American English. (Yes, that Webster. Of Merriam-Webster fame. You're welcome for "color" instead of "colour.")
So if you've ever nerded out over a new word, argued over whether “irregardless” is a real word (spoiler: it is, but we’re side-eyeing it), or used a word-of-the-day app unironically—you, my friend, are in the right place.
Affiliate Disclosure
Just so you know, this post may contain affiliate links. That means if you click through and buy something, I might earn a tiny commission—enough to keep the lights on and maybe snag a celebratory cupcake. It doesn’t cost you anything extra, pinky promise.
🧠 A Little History & Etymology (Naturally)
Noah Webster was born on October 16, 1758, and is basically the Beyoncé of American dictionaries.
His first dictionary was published in 1806, but it was his 1828 dictionary that truly left its mark.
He believed language could shape national identity—and he was not about those British spellings. Hence: “honor” instead of “honour” and “theater” instead of “theatre.” 🇺🇸
Fun fact: He learned 26 languages just to properly research word origins. Who does that?! Noah. Noah does that.
💡10+ Delightfully Nerdy Ways to Celebrate Dictionary Day
Adopt a Word 🐣
Find a deliciously obscure word (like quomodocunquize – to make money by any means possible) and make it your catchphrase for the day. Bonus points if you use it in a sentence and confuse your barista.Have a Word-Off Challenge 🗣️
Grab a buddy and go head-to-head with ridiculous vocabulary. Think spelling bee meets rap battle. First one to break into laughter loses.Word-of-the-Hour Alarm ⏰
Set an hourly alarm with a new word to learn and use. Yes, your coworkers will be annoyed. No, you should not stop.Create a “New Word” Dictionary 🧪
Shakespeare invented words. So can you. Start a mini journal of made-up-but-should-be-real words (e.g., snaccident – eating an entire family-size bag of chips by mistake).Host a Punderful Game Night 🎲
Play word-based games like Bananagrams, Codenames, Scrabble, or the always chaotic Mad Libs. The more ridiculous, the better.Read a Dictionary Page Before Bed 📖💤
Sound boring? It's surprisingly soothing. Plus, you’ll be armed with words like zugzwang and defenestration for tomorrow’s awkward small talk.Write a Short Story Using 10 Unusual Words ✍️
Make it dramatic. Make it weird. Make it involve a pangolin named Greg who has a vendetta.Correct Someone’s Grammar...But Gently 🤓
Do it with love. Maybe. Or just silently judge and keep the peace. Either way, you celebrated.Change Your Phone’s Dictionary Language 📱🌍
Want a linguistic adventure? Switch to UK English, Canadian French, or even Pirate Speak (yes, it exists). Just don’t forget how to switch it back.Share Your Favorite Word on Social Media 📣
Bonus points for words that sound made-up but are real (bloviate, flibbertigibbet, gobbledygook). Add a fun definition and challenge your friends to use it.Bake Alphabet Cookies 🍪
Because cookies make everything better. Spell something cheeky. Eat your words. Literally.
Dictionary Day Dinner Theme - “A Lexical Feast: Where Every Bite is a Definition.”
🍝 Main Dish: Sesquipedalian Spaghetti with Verbose Veggie Ragù
A mouthful in name and flavor.
Ingredients
12 oz spaghetti (or bucatini, because it sounds fancier)
2 tbsp olive oil
1 shallot, minced (because “shallot” is a more erudite onion)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 small eggplant, diced
1 zucchini, diced
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 tbsp tomato paste
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
Salt and pepper to taste
Fresh basil and Parmesan to finish
Instructions
Boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain and reserve a bit of the pasta water.
Meanwhile, heat oil in a skillet. Sauté shallot and garlic until fragrant.
Add eggplant, zucchini, and bell pepper. Cook until soft.
Stir in cherry tomatoes, tomato paste, and paprika. Simmer until saucy.
Toss pasta with sauce, adding a splash of pasta water to meld it.
Sprinkle with basil and cheese. Use the word “unctuous” at least once while serving.
🥗 Side: The “Thesaurus” Salad
A synonym salad for flavor, color, and a touch of pretension.
Ingredients
Mixed baby greens (verdant foliage)
Diced pear (succulent, sweet)
Gorgonzola crumbles (pungent, punchy)
Candied walnuts (crunchy, saccharine)
Dried cranberries (tart, chewy)
Champagne vinaigrette (effervescent dressing of sophistication)
Toss together and serve while reading your favorite dictionary entry aloud. Might we suggest: efflorescence?
🍸 Drink: Logophile’s Libation – Ginger Pear Fizz
Because “beverage” is just too pedestrian.
Mocktail or Cocktail
1/2 cup pear nectar
1 tbsp ginger syrup
1 tbsp lemon juice
Sparkling water or prosecco
Optional: 1 oz vodka or gin
Serve over ice with a sprig of rosemary and a lemon twist. Garnish with a quote from Merriam-Webster’s word of the day.
🍰 Dessert: Lexeme Layer Cake with Polyglot Pudding Cream
A dessert so refined, you’ll need a glossary.
🧁 Components:
1. Cake Layer (the “Syntax Sponge”)
Use slices of pound cake, sponge cake, or ladyfingers
Optional: brush with a little espresso or vanilla syrup (infuse it with elocution)
2. Pudding Cream (the “Polyglot Pudding”)
1 package vanilla pudding (or make your own if you’re feeling sesquipedalian)
Fold in 1/2 cup whipped cream
Add 1 tsp orange blossom water or almond extract—make it linguistically floral
3. Lexical Layer (optional but encouraged for alliteration)
Crushed biscotti or amaretti cookies
A drizzle of dark chocolate ganache
Fresh berries (raspberries or blackberries for punctuation)
📝 Assembly:
In clear glasses or a trifle dish:
Layer cake, pudding cream, then cookie/ganache/berries.
Repeat until you reach the top—aim for at least 3 “clauses” per dessert.
Chill for 1 hour minimum (this is your proofing period).
Top with a dollop of whipped cream and a chocolate “&” symbol or edible gold leaf (because nothing says verboselike gilding your dessert).
🕯 Bonus Touches:
Use Scrabble tiles as place cards.
Make guests guess the meaning of obscure culinary words before eating. (e.g., mirepoix, roux, quenelle)
Wear a monocle. Or just speak in iambic pentameter.
🍎 Elementary (Grades K–5): 🎩 "Adopt-a-Word Day!"
Let students adopt a unique or underused word, give it some TLC, and introduce it to the class with flair!
🎯 Objective:
Boost vocabulary and oral language skills by building personal connections with new, fun words.
📋 Materials:
Mini adoption certificates
Word bank (pre-made list of quirky or rare-but-kid-friendly words)
Index cards or small posters
Markers/crayons
Optional: A small stuffed animal or puppet to be the "Word Fairy" 🧚♀️ who delivers the words!
🧠 Prep (10–15 mins max!):
Create a list of fun, age-appropriate words (e.g., “brouhaha,” “muddle,” “zany,” “hullabaloo,” “snicker,” etc.).
Print out or prepare adoption certificates (you can handwrite if you're short on time!).
Place words in envelopes or a basket for students to "draw" from.
🪄 Steps:
Adoption Ceremony 🎓: Have students draw a word from the basket and receive an official “Word Adoption Certificate.” Cue the pomp and circumstance!
Get to Know Your Word 📖: Students fill out a “Word Profile” on a small poster or index card:
What part of speech is your word?
What does it mean?
Use it in a silly sentence.
Draw a picture that shows it in action.
Word Parade 🎤: Let students introduce their word to the class like it’s their pet:
“Hi! This is Kerfuffle. She’s a noun who causes a little trouble in quiet places. Yesterday she made our library LOUD!”
Classroom Word Wall ✨: Create a temporary “Word Adoption Wall” where all student posters live for the week.
🥳 Bonus:
Give students “Word Whisperer” badges to wear when they use their word in real life throughout the week!
🧠 Secondary (Grades 6–12): 🕵️♀️ "The Great Dictionary Detectives: A Lexical Mystery"
Students become word sleuths solving strange language mysteries—from made-up meanings to etymological puzzles.
🎯 Objective:
Develop research, critical thinking, and vocabulary skills by investigating the origin, usage, and context of unfamiliar or misunderstood words.
📋 Materials:
Internet access or printed dictionaries/thesauruses
“Word Case Files”
Pre-selected list of “mystery” words
Envelopes/folders for mystery delivery
Optional: Magnifying glasses, trench coats, detective music playlist 🕵️♂️🔍
🧠 Prep:
Select a list of unusual, challenging, or misused words (e.g., “nonplussed,” “limerence,” “defenestrate,” “collywobbles,” “discombobulate”).
Create “Word Case Files” including:
A mysterious definition (could be slightly wrong)
A red herring sentence
Clues: part of speech, word root origin hints, synonyms/antonyms
Print and place each case in an envelope.
🪄 Steps:
Mission Briefing 🎙️:
“Detectives, you’ve been called to investigate a serious lexical crime. A word has been misunderstood, misused, or gone missing. Your job? Uncover the truth.”Case Solving 🔍:
In pairs or small teams, students open their Word Case File and:Research the correct meaning
Track down the word’s origin and root
Identify the misleading clues
Use it in a new, correctly written sentence
Report to HQ 📡:
Teams present their findings to the class as if solving a case. Bonus points for dramatic delivery and use of props!Post-Case Reflection 💬:
Discuss how understanding word origins and context helps avoid misuse and strengthens communication.
🥳 Bonus:
Create a “Word Crime Files” bulletin board with student reports and top sleuth awards (Best Use of Etymology, Funniest Sentence, etc.).
🧠 Quirky in the Workplace
🎩 Define That Hat! – The Ridiculous Word & Headgear Challenge
How it works:
Everyone draws a weird, obscure, or made-up word from a hat.
(Think: “bumbershoot,” “snollygoster,” or “glorp” – yes, it can be nonsense.)Your mission?
Wear something on your head that “defines” the word—either literally, metaphorically, or just chaotically.
Then, give a short (1-minute) dramatic presentation explaining why your hat is the perfect embodiment of your word. Bonus points for unhinged logic and PowerPoint usage.
🧢 Example:
Word: “Bloviate” (v., to speak pompously)
Hat: A giant megaphone covered in glitter and feathers
Explanation: “This hat refuses to listen, interrupts everyone, and quotes itself in the third person.”
🏆 Prize:
A golden dictionary (read: a thrift-store book spray-painted gold), and the esteemed title of Word Nerd Supreme.
Tagline for the day:
“Dictionary Day: Celebrating the only time it’s acceptable to say ‘lexicographical’ in a staff meeting.”
🎬 Movie Pick: The Professor and the Madman (2019)
Why it fits:
This film perfectly embodies the spirit of Dictionary Day. It tells the true story behind the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary, focusing on two unlikely collaborators: Professor James Murray and Dr. W.C. Minor, a convicted murderer and brilliant contributor. It’s a moving, intellectual film about the obsession with words, the structure of language, and the cost of knowledge.
📺 TV Episode Pick: The West Wing – Season 2, Episode 5: “And It's Surely to Their Credit”
Why it fits:
This episode features Sam Seaborn passionately defending language and precision in communication. He critiques poorly written memos, debates the power of rhetoric, and emphasizes clarity in political speech—an ideal episode for fans of well-crafted language and the value of choosing words carefully.
✨ Final Thought
Whether you’re a full-blown logophile or just like saying “antidisestablishmentarianism” for funsies, Dictionary Day is a quirky little excuse to get curious, creative, and maybe just a smidge pretentious—in the best way possible.
📚 Hashtags for the Word Nerds
#DictionaryDay #WordNerd #NoahWebster #CelebrateWords #LexicalLove #WordOfTheDay #LanguageLover #WeirdWords #EatYourWords #SpellingChamp
