delectation

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 23, 2024 is:

delectation • \dee-lek-TAY-shun\ • noun

Delectation is a formal word for a feeling of delight or enjoyment. It can also be used to refer to the source of such feelings.

// The resort staff left a sampling of fine chocolate in our room for our delectation.

// For lovers of art and architecture, Paris offers visitors a peerless abundance of delectations.

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Examples:

“Accept and appreciate the preferences of others. If you want to be a ‘good’ wine snob, work on ‘tasting through someone else's mouth.’ Who knows, you may have an epiphanic moment and discover a whole new lane of delectation—maybe you will find something you like that you did not expect to like.” — Gus Clemens, The Lubbock (Texas) Avalanche-Journal, 9 Oct. 2024

Did you know?

Pleasure, delight, and enjoyment are all synonyms for the agreeable emotion that comes with the possession or expectation of something good or greatly desired. Why, then, use delectation, that not-so-familiar synonym? Because, as with most synonym groups, each word has its own subtle distinctions. More than all the others, delectation carries a whiff of beyond-the-usual amusement, indulgence, or deliciousness. If a treat is offered to you for your delectation, it is likely something worth taking time to savor. Just as delight and pleasure can refer not only to an emotion but also to the object or experience responsible for it (as in “her new song is an absolute delight” and “it’s been a pleasure”), so can delectation. A tropical resort, for example, may offer vacationers an array of delectations—from poolside lounging to fancy cocktails.