gambol
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What is the definition and pronunciation of the word “gambol”?
It's the word of the day podcast for july eighth. Today's word is gamble, spelled G-A-M-B-O-L. Gamble is a verb. It means to run or jump in a lively way.
How is “gambol” used in modern media and literature?
It's used as a synonym of the word frolic. Here's the word used in a sentence from the New York Times. There's also charming footage of a couple gambling in Central Park that might be some of the first scenes Warhol ever shot. They're so lighthearted and playful, they're more in the spirit of his jaunty commercial drawings from the nineteen fifties than of the deadpan pop art he was just then perfecting.
What is the historical origin of “gambol” and its French predecessor?
In Middle French, the noun gombade referred to the frisky spring of a jumping horse. In the early 1500s, its influence leapt into English twice, lending a playful bounce to both noun and verb forms of the word gamble, spelled G-A-M-B-O-L. The noun means a skipping or leaping about in play. Neither English word is restricted to horses, but rather can be used of any frolicsome creature.
Why is the verb form of “gambol” preferred for describing playful activity?
The more common of the two, the verb, suggests levity and spontaneity, and it tends to be used especially of the lively activity of children or animals engaged in active play. With your word of the day, I'm Peter Sokolowski. Visit MarionWebster dot com today for definitions, wordplay, and trending word lookups.
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Chapters
4 chapters
1
What is the definition and pronunciation of the word “gambol”?
0:06–0:21
2
How is “gambol” used in modern media and literature?
0:21–0:49
3
What is the historical origin of “gambol” and its French predecessor?
0:49–1:19
4
Why is the verb form of “gambol” preferred for describing playful activity?
1:19–1:44