Word of the Day - 05/29/26
parlance
/'pɑrləns/(n.): the "idiom" or style of language used by a group
In common parlance, 'literally' is often used as an intensifier, even when the statement is not meant to be taken factually.
Word Origin
The word 'parlance' comes from Late Middle English, deriving from Old French 'parlance', which means 'speaking'. This Old French term itself stems from the verb 'parler', meaning 'to speak'. 'Parler' traces its roots back to Vulgar Latin 'parabolare', which meant 'to speak', originating from the Latin word 'parabola', referring to 'comparison' or 'allegory', and later 'speech' in Late Latin. The word can be broken down into 'parler' (to speak) and the suffix '-ance', which forms nouns of action or state.
Words with a similar origin include 'parley' (from Old French 'parlee', past participle of 'parler'), 'parliament' (from Old French 'parlement', from 'parler'), 'parlor' (from Old French 'parloir', from 'parler'), and 'palaver' (from Portuguese 'palavra' 'word, speech', ultimately from Latin 'parabola'). 'Parable' also shares a direct root with Latin 'parabola'.