plaudit
Meaning
an expression of praise or approval, especially one given by an audience in the form of applause.
enthusiastic praise or commendation.
Structure
Usage
the actor bowed deeply, moved by the thunderous plaudits from the crowd.
her groundbreaking research earned her the plaudits of the entire scientific community.
the critic's plaudits were printed prominently in the advertisement for the new film.
Etymology
the word 'plaudit' originates from the latin verb plaudere, meaning 'to clap, to strike'. this verb gave rise to the latin past participle plausus, which evolved into the noun plausus meaning 'applause'. the direct ancestor of the english word is the latin third-person singular perfect indicative form plaudit, meaning 'he/she applauds', which was used in the theatrical cry "plaudite!" instructing the audience to applaud. entering english in the 17th century, the term shifted from a command for action to signify the expression of approval itself, moving from the literal act of clapping to a more abstract sense of commendation.
Analysis
plaud (from latin plaudere, meaning 'to clap, to strike, to applaud'); it (a noun-forming suffix from latin -itus, indicating an action or its result).