The Word of the Day for August 23 is:
hallmark • \HAWL-mark\ • noun 1 : a mark or device placed or stamped on an article of trade to indicate origin, purity, or genuineness *2 : a distinguishing characteristic, trait, or feature
Example sentence:Even when he was in Little League, it was clear that Dave had all the hallmarks of a great baseball player.
Did you know?Centuries ago, King Edward I of England decreed that gold and silver had to be tested and approved by master craftsmen before being sold. Later, London artisans were required to bring finished metal goods to Goldsmith's Hall to be checked, and if those items met the quality standards of the craft-masters there, they would be marked with a special stamp of approval. (The process is much the same today.) At first, people used "hallmark" to name that mark of excellence from Goldsmith's Hall, but over the years the word came to refer to any mark guaranteeing purity or genuineness, and eventually to name any sign of outstanding talent, creativity, or excellence.
*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.