watchword
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watchword
- /ˈwɒt͡ʃwɜː(ɹ)d/
Where it comes from
From Middle English wacche word, wacchworde, morphologically as watch (“guard, sentinel, sentry”) + word.
noun watchwords
- A word used as a motto, as expressive of a principle, belief, or rule of action; a rallying cry. "How this perpetual gaiety," exclaimed Louis, "jars upon the ear! Good Heaven! is farewell to be said so gladly? I sometimes start when I think upon the hollowness of all that surrounds me. I often wish my eye had the power of searching the inmost depths of the bosoms whose watchword is my name."
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A prearranged reply to the challenge of a sentry or a guard; a password or signal by which friends can be known from enemies.
a Watchword sufficient for him that is wiſe
Similar: passphrase, password, underword
Translations
Every language
noun word used as expressive of a principle
| Español | lema, consigna |
|---|---|
| Français | mot d'ordre |
| Deutsch | Motto, Schlagwort, Parole |
| Ελληνικά | σύνθημα sýnthima |
| Русский | ло́зунг lózung, клич klič |
| עברית | אִמְרַת כָּנָף imrát kanáf |
noun a prearranged reply to the challenge of a sentry or a guard
| Español | contraseña, santo y seña |
|---|---|
| Français | mot d'ordre |
| Deutsch | Losung, Parole, Kennwort |
| Ελληνικά | σύνθημα sýnthima |
| Русский | паро́ль parólʹ, о́тзыв ótzyv, о́тклик ótklik |
Talk about this word "watchword." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/watchword. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. watchword. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/watchword "watchword." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/watchword.Cite this
@misc{watchword_2026,
title = {watchword},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/watchword},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
