DULCINEA

TileHead’s Word of the Day for 15 February 2012

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DULCINEA  (n. pl. -S)

Definition(s):

1. (n.) a sweetheart; a ladylove or mistress

Useful information for game players:

• Front hooks: (none)
• Back hooks: -S
• Anagrams: (none)
• Longer extensions: (none)
• Wraparounds: (none)
• Other Spellings: (none)
• Related Forms: (none)

Epilogue:
A Spanish derivative of the Latin dulce (“sweet”), this word comes from the name of Quixote’s sweetheart in Miguel de Cervantes’ famous novel Don Quixote (c. 1615).  The character is further immortalized in a memorable song from the Broadway production Man of la Mancha:

Thou hast always been with me,
Though we have been always apart.
Dulcinea... Dulcinea...
I see heaven when I see thee, Dulcinea,
And thy name is like a prayer
An angel whispers... Dulcinea... Dulcinea!

 The Latin dulce also figures in a number of other “sweet” words, including DULCET, DULCIFY, DULCIANA, DULCIMER, DULCIMORE, and EDULCORATE.


This week’s theme:
Love is all you need

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