Friday word: Dulcet

[med_cat]

Dulcet, adj.:

1. : sweet to the taste




2. : pleasing to the ear <dulcet tones>




3. : generally pleasing or agreeable <a dulcet smile>

dul·cet·ly adverb

Examples:

1. the dulcet tones of her voice




2. <although she flashed a dulcet smile, she was secretly seething with resentment>
   
   
   Etymology:
   

   Middle English doucet, from Anglo-French, from duz, douz sweet, from Latin dulcis; perhaps akin to Greek glykys sweet

   
   First Known Use: 14th century

   Did You Know?

   Dulcet has many linguistic ancestors, including the Latin dulcis, Anglo-French douz, and Middle English "doucet," all meaning "sweet." The dulcet "dulcis" has contributed many other sweet terms to English as well. Among these are the musical direction "dolce" ("to be played sweetly, softly"), "dulciana" (a pipe organ stop), "dolcian" (a small bassoon-like instrument used in the 16th and 17th centuries), and "dulcimer" (an American folk instrument). On a similar note, the word dulcify means "to make sweet," and the adjective "doux," derived from "douz," is used in wine circles to describe champagne that is sweet.