bibulous [BIB-yuh-luhs]
adjective:
1. Of, pertaining to, marked by, or given to the consumption of alcoholic drink.
2. Readily absorbing fluids or moisture.
Bibulous comes from Latin bibulus, from bibere, "to drink."
gelid [JEL-id]
adjective:
Extremely cold; icy.
Gelid comes from Latin gelidus, from gelu, "frost, cold."
comity [KOM-uh-tee]
noun:
1. A state of mutual harmony, friendship, and respect, especially between or among nations or people; civility.
2. The courteous recognition by one nation of the laws and institutions of another.
3. The group of nations observing international comity.
Comity is from Latin comitas, from comis, "courteous."
multifarious [muhl-tuh-FAIR-ee-uhs]
adjective:
Having great diversity or variety; of various kinds; diversified.
Multifarious derives from Latin multifariam, "on many sides; in many places."
gnomic [NOH-mik]
adjective:
Uttering, containing, or characterized by maxims; wise and pithy.
Gnomic derives from Greek gnomikos, from gnome, "intelligence, hence an expressed example of intelligence," from gignoskein, "to know."
hermitage [HUHR-muh-tij]
noun:
1. The habitation of a hermit or group of hermits.
2. A monastery or abbey.
3. A secluded residence; a retreat; a hideaway.
4. (Capitalized) A palace in St. Petersburg, now an art museum.
Hermitage is from Old French hermitage, from heremite, "hermit," ultimately from Greek eremites, "dwelling in the desert," from eremia, "desert," from eremos, "solitary; desolate."
benefaction [BEN-uh-fak-shuhn; ben-uh-FAK-shuhn]
noun:
1. The act of conferring a benefit.
2. A benefit conferred; especially, a charitable donation.
Benefaction is from Late Latin benefactio, from Latin benefacere, "to do well, to do good to," from bene, "well" + facere, "to do."
amity [AM-uh-tee]
noun:
Friendship; friendly relations, especially between nations.
Amity comes from Old French-Medieval French amistié, amisté, ultimately from Latin amicus, "friendly, a friend," from amare, "to love."
persiflage [PUR-suh-flahzh]
noun:
Frivolous or bantering talk; a frivolous manner of treating any subject, whether serious or otherwise; light raillery.
Persiflage comes from French, from persifler, "to banter," from per-, "thoroughly" (from Latin) + siffler, "to hiss, to whistle," ultimately from Latin sibilare, "to hiss (at), to whistle."
calumny [KAL-uhm-nee]
noun:
1. False accusation of a crime or offense, intended to injure another's reputation.
2. Malicious misrepresentation; slander.
Calumny comes, via Middle French, from Latin calumnia, from calvi, "to form intrigues, to deceive." The adjective form is calumnious.
finical [FIN-ih-kuhl]
adjective:
Extremely or unduly particular in standards or taste; fastidious; finicky.
Finical is probably derived from fine.
tocsin [TOCK-sin]
noun:
1. An alarm bell, or the ringing of a bell for the purpose of alarm.
2. A warning.
Tocsin derives from Medieval French touquesain, from Old Provençal tocasenh, from tocar, "to touch, to strike, to ring a bell" + senh, "church bell," ultimately from Latin signum, "sign, signal."
discursive [dis-KUR-siv]
adjective:
1. Passing from one topic to another; ranging over a wide field; digressive; rambling.
2. Utilizing, marked by, or based on analytical reasoning -- contrasted with intuitive.
Discursive comes from Latin discurrere, "to run in different directions, to run about, to run to and fro," from dis-, "apart, in different directions" + currere, "to run."
pari passu [PAIR-ee-PASS-oo; PAIR-ih-PASS-oo]
adverb:
At an equal pace or rate.
Pari passu literally means "with equal step," from Latin pari, ablative of par, "equal" + passu, ablative of passus, "step."
unfledged [uhn-FLEJD]
adjective:
1. Lacking the feathers necessary for flight.
2. Not fully developed; immature.
Unfledged is from obsolete fledge, "capable of flying; feathered," from Middle English flegge, from Old English -flycge.
complement [KOM-pluh-muhnt]
noun:
1. Something that fills up or completes.
2. The quantity or number required to make up a whole or to make something complete.
3. One of two parts that complete a whole or mutually complete each other; a counterpart.
transitive verb:
1. To supply what is lacking; to serve as a complement to; to supplement.
Complement is from Latin complementum, from complere, "to fill up," from com- (intensive prefix) + plere, "to fill."
draconian [dray-KOHN-ee-uhn; druh-]
adjective:
1. Pertaining to Draco, a lawgiver of Athens, 621 B.C.
2. Excessively harsh; severe.
Draconian refers to a code of laws made by Draco. Their measures were so severe that they were said to be written in blood.
frangible [FRAN-juh-buhl]
adjective:
Capable of being broken; brittle; fragile; easily broken.
Frangible ultimately derives from Latin frangere, "to break."
cacophony [kuh-KAH-fuh-nee]
noun:
1. Harsh or discordant sound; dissonance.
2. The use of harsh or discordant sounds in literary composition.
Cacophony comes from Greek kakophonia, from kakophonos, from kakos, "bad" + phone, "sound." The adjective form is cacophonous. The opposite of cacophony is euphony.
dishabille [dis-uh-BEEL]
noun:
1. The state of being carelessly or partially dressed.
2. Casual or lounging attire.
3. An intentionally careless or casual manner.
Dishabille comes from French déshabiller, "to undress," from dés-, "dis-" + habiller, "to clothe, to dress."
artifice [AR-tuh-fis]
noun:
1. Cleverness or skill; ingenuity; inventiveness.
2. An ingenious or artful device or expedient.
3. An artful trick or stratagem.
4. Trickery; craftiness; insincere or deceptive behavior.
Artifice comes from artificium, from artifex, artific-, "artificer, craftsman," from Latin ars, art-, "art" + facere, "to make." It is related to artificial.
perspicacity [pur-spuh-KAS-uh-tee]
noun:
Clearness of understanding or insight; penetration, discernment.
Perspicacity comes from Latin perspicax, perspicac-, "sharp-sighted," from perspicere, "to look through," from per, "through" + specere, "to look."
rapprochement [rap-rosh-MAWN]
noun:
The establishment or state of cordial relations.
Rapprochement comes from the French, from rapprocher, "to bring nearer," from Middle French, from re- + approcher, "to approach," from Old French aprochier, from Late Latin appropire, from Latin ad- + propius, "nearer," comparative of prope, "near."
mendicant [MEN-dih-kunt]
noun:
1. A beggar; especially, one who makes a business of begging.
2. A member of an order of friars forbidden to acquire landed property and required to be supported by alms.
adjective:
1. Practicing beggary; begging; living on alms; as, mendicant friars.
Mendicant derives from Latin mendicare, "to beg," from mendicus, "beggar."
surly [SUR-lee]
adjective:
1. Ill-humored; churlish in manner or mood; sullen and gruff.
2. Menacing or threatening in appearance, as of weather conditions; ominous.
Surly is from Middle English sirly, "lordly," from sir, "lord," which eventually came to mean "arrogant or haughty," whence the more negative modern sense.
deracinate [dee-RAS-uh-nayt]
transitive verb:
1. To pluck up by the roots; to uproot.
2. To displace from one's native or accustomed environment.
Deracinate comes from Middle French desraciner, from des-, "from" (from Latin de-) + racine, "root" (from Late Latin radicina, from Latin radix, radic-). The noun form is deracination.
tarradiddle [tair-uh-DID-uhl]
noun:
1. A petty falsehood; a fib.
2. Pretentious nonsense.
Tarradiddle is of unknown origin.
profuse [pruh-FYOOS; proh-]
adjective:
1. Pouring forth with fullness or exuberance; giving or given liberally and abundantly; extravagant.
2. Exhibiting great abundance; plentiful; copious; bountiful.
Profuse comes from Latin profusus, past participle of profundere, "to pour forth," from pro-, "forth" + fundere, "to pour."
vicissitude [vih-SIS-ih-tood; -tyood]
noun:
1. Regular change or succession from one thing to another; alternation; mutual succession; interchange.
2. Irregular change; revolution; mutation.
3. A change in condition or fortune; an instance of mutability in life or nature (especially successive alternation from one condition to another).
Vicissitude comes from Latin vicissitudo, from vicissim, in turn, probably from vices, changes.
cavalcade [kav-uhl-KAYD; KAV-uhl-kayd]
noun:
1. A procession of riders or horse-drawn carriages.
2. Any procession.
3. A sequence; a series.
Cavalcade derives from Old Italian cavalcata, from cavalcare, "to go on horseback," from Late Latin caballicare, from Latin caballus, "horse."
chichi [SHEE-shee]
adjective:
Affectedly trendy.
From the French word that literally means "curl of false hair"; used figuratively in the phrases faire des chichis, "to have affected manners, to make a fuss"; and gens à chichis, "affected, snobbish people." Sometimes spelled "chi-chi."
malapropos [mal-ap-ruh-POH]
adjective:
1. Unseasonable; unsuitable; inappropriate.
adverb:
1. In an inappropriate or inopportune manner; unseasonably.
Malapropos comes from French mal à propos, "badly to the purpose."
hirsute [HUR-soot; HIR-soot; hur-SOOT; hir-SOOT]
adjective:
Covered with hair; set with bristles; shaggy; hairy.
Hirsute comes from Latin hirsutus, "covered with hair, rough, shaggy, prickly."
incongruous [in-KONG-groo-us]
adjective:
1. Lacking in harmony, compatibility, or appropriateness.
2. Inconsistent with reason, logic, or common sense.
Incongruous comes from Latin incongruus, from in-, "not" + congruus, "agreeing, fit, suitable," from congruere, "to run together, to come together, to meet."
kvetch [KVECH]
adjective:
1. To complain habitually.
noun:
1. A complaint.
2. A habitual complainer.
Kvetch comes from Yiddish kvetshn, "to squeeze, to complain," from Middle High German quetzen, quetschen, "to squeeze."
foundling [FOWND-ling]
noun:
A deserted or abandoned infant; a child found without a parent or caretaker.
Foundling comes from Old English foundling, fundling, from finden, "to find" + the suffix -ling.
Mandate can refer to:
- Mandate (international law), an obligation handed down by an inter-governmental body
- Mandate (criminal law), an official or authoritative command; an order or injunction
- Mandate (politics), the power granted by an electorate
- League of Nations mandates, quasi-colonial territories established under Article 22 of the Covenant of the League of Nations, 28 June 1919
- Mandate (theology), to some Christians, an order from God
- a mandate is the formal notice of decision from an appeals court
- Mandate (trade union), the trade union in Ireland
- Mandate magazine, a gay pornographic magazine published since the 1970s
- Mandate of Heaven, a traditional Chinese concept of legitimacy used to support the rule of the kings of the Shang Dynasty and later the Emperors of China
Etymology:
Middle French & Latin; Middle French mandat, from Latin mandatum, from neuter of mandatus, past participle of mandare to entrust, enjoin, probably irregular from manus hand + -dere to put — more at manual, do
1: an authoritative command; especially : a formal order from a superior court or official to an inferior one2: an authorization to act given to a representative <accepted the mandate of the people>3 a
recumbent [rih-KUM-bunt]
adjective:
1. Reclining; lying down.
2. Resting; inactive; idle.
Recumbent comes from the present participle of Latin recumbere, "lie back, to recline," from re-, "back" + -cumbere "to lie."
somniferous [som-NIF-uhr-uhs]
adjective:
Causing or inducing sleep.
Somniferous comes from Latin somnifer, "sleep-bringing," from somnus, "sleep" + ferre, "to bring."
postprandial [post-PRAN-dee-uhl]
adjective:
Happening or done after a meal.
Postprandial is from post- + prandial, from Latin prandium, "a late breakfast or lunch."
deipnosophist [dyp-NOS-uh-fist]
noun:
Someone who is skilled in table talk.
Deipnosophist comes from the title of a work written by the Greek Athenaeus in about 228 AD, Deipnosophistai, in which a number of wise men sit at a dinner table and discuss a wide range of topics. It is derived from deipnon, "dinner" + sophistas, "a clever or wise man."
wiseacre [WY-zay-kuhr]
noun:
One who pretends to knowledge or cleverness; a would-be wise person; a smart aleck.
Wiseacre comes from Middle Dutch wijssegger, "a soothsayer," from Old High German wissago, alteration of wizago, "a prophet."
extirpate [EK-stur-payt]
transitive verb:
1. To pull up by the stem or root.
2. To destroy completely.
3. To remove by surgery.
Extirpate derives from Latin ex(s)tirpare, "to tear up by the root, hence to root out, to extirpate," from ex-, "from" + stirps, "the stalk or stem or a tree or other plant, with the roots."
gallimaufry [gal-uh-MAW-free]
noun:
A medley; a hodgepodge.
Gallimaufry, originally meaning "a hash of various kinds of meats," comes from French galimafrée, from Old French, from galer, "to rejoice, to make merry" (source of English gala) + mafrer, "to eat much," from Medieval Dutch maffelen, "to open one's mouth wide."
comport [kum-PORT]
transitive verb:
1. To conduct or behave (oneself) in a particular manner.
intransitive verb:
1. To be fitting; to accord; to agree -- usually followed by 'with'.
Comport comes from Medieval French comporter, "to conduct," from Latin comportare, "to carry, to bring together," from com-, "with, together" + portare, "to carry."
restive [RES-tiv]
adjective:
1. Impatient under restriction, delay, coercion, or opposition; resisting control.
2. Unwilling to go on; obstinate in refusing to move forward; stubborn.
Restive comes from Medieval French restif, from rester, "to remain," ultimately from Latin restare, "to stand back, to remain behind," from re-, "back" + stare, "to stand."
aggrandize [uh-GRAN-dyz; AG-ruhn-dyz]
transitive verb:
1. To make great or greater; to enlarge; to increase.
2. To make great or greater in power, rank, reputation, or wealth; -- applied to persons, countries, etc.
3. To make appear great or greater; to exalt.
Aggrandize comes from French agrandir, from Old French, from a-, "to" (from Latin ad-) + grandir, "to grow larger," from Latin grandire, from grandis, "large."
hector [HEK-tur]
noun:
1. A bully.
transitive verb:
1. To intimidate or harass in a blustering way; to bully.
intransitive verb:
1. To play the bully; to bluster.
Hector derives from Greek Hektor, in Greek mythology the chief Trojan warrior and the eldest son of Priam, King of Troy.
flaneur [flah-NUR]
noun:
One who strolls about aimlessly; a lounger; a loafer.
Flaneur comes from French, from flâner, "to saunter; to stroll; to lounge about."
perfervid [puhr-FUR-vid]
adjective:
Ardent; impassioned; marked by exaggerated or overwrought emotion.
Perfervid is from Latin per-, "through, thoroughly" + fervidus, "boiling," from fervere, "to boil."
gesticulate [juh-STIK-yuh-layt]
intransitive verb:
1. To make gestures or motions, especially while speaking or instead of speaking.
transitive verb:
1. To indicate or express by gestures.
Gesticulate is from Latin gesticulatus, past participle of gesticulari, "to gesticulate," from gesticulus, diminutive of gestus, "gesture, action."
mercurial [mur-KYUR-ee-uhl]
adjective:
1. [Often capitalized] Of or pertaining to the god Mercury.
2. [Often capitalized] Of or pertaining to the planet Mercury.
3. Having the qualities of shrewdness, eloquence, or thievishness attributed to the god Mercury.
4. Changeable in temperament or mood; temperamental; volatile.
5. Of, pertaining to, or containing mercury.
6. Caused by the use of mercury.
Mercurial comes from Latin Mercurius, "Mercury," the Roman god of commerce and messenger of the gods.
deleterious [del-uh-TIR-ee-us]
adjective:
Harmful; destructive; pernicious.
Deleterious is derived from Greek deleterios, from deleisthai, "to hurt, to damage."
polyglot [POL-ee-glot]
adjective:
1. Containing or made up of several languages.
2. Writing, speaking, or versed in many languages.
noun:
1. One who speaks several languages.
Polyglot derives from Greek polyglottos, from poly-, "many" + glotta, "tongue, language."
s. I never knew a word like that existed. I'll have to remember that one.
Meaning; fat buttocked.
There is no pronouciation in my dictionary, but I believe it's pronounced, stee-a-top-ee-gus.
This had to be my departed Mother's most favourite word in the English language, (apart from the word 'No' when I was growing up of course! lol), she actually bought a dictionary once, just because it had this word in it! (I still have it
)ameliorate [uh-MEEL-yuh-rayt]
transitive verb:
1. To make better; to improve.
intransitive verb:
1. To grow better.
Ameliorate is derived from Latin ad + meliorare, "to make better," from melior, "better."
I'm glad to see people are actually reading this thread. If you find a word you would like to share, please feel free to add it here.
fealty [FEE-uhl-tee]
noun:
1. Fidelity to one's lord; the feudal obligation by which the tenant or vassal was bound to be faithful to his lord.
2. The oath by which this obligation was assumed.
3. Fidelity; allegiance; faithfulness.
Fealty comes from Old French fealté, from Latin fidelitas, "fidelity," from fidelis, "faithful," from fides, "faith," from fidere, "to trust."
Lesser known meaning:
That huge pile of sale yarn and left over bits that accumulates in the closet to mountain heights leaving the closet useless for nearly anything else.
woolgathering [WOOL-gath-(uh)-ring]
noun:
Indulgence in idle daydreaming.
Woolgathering derives from the literal sense, "gathering fragments of wool."
This post was modified from its original form on 05 Nov, 5:59
sciolism [SY-uh-liz-uhm]
noun:
Superficial knowledge; a superficial show of learning.
Sciolism comes from Late Latin sciolus, "a smatterer," from diminutive of Latin scius, "knowing," from scire, "to know." One who has only superficial knowledge is a sciolist.
myrmidon [MUR-muh-don; -duhn]
noun:
1. (Capitalized) A member of a warlike Thessalian people who followed Achilles on the expedition against Troy.
2. A loyal follower, especially one who executes orders without question, protest, or pity.
Myrmidon derives from Greek Myrmidones, a warlike people of ancient Thessaly.
forcible [FOR-suh-buhl]
adjective:
1. Using force against opposition or resistance; effected or accomplished by force; as, "forcible entry or abduction."
2. Characterized by force, efficiency, or energy; powerful.
Forcible ultimately derives from Latin fortis, "strong."
ensorcell [en-SOR-suhl]
transitive verb:
To enchant; to bewitch.
Ensorcell comes from Middle French ensorceler, alteration of Old French ensorcerer, from en-, intensive prefix + sorcier, "sorcerer."
valetudinarian [val-uh-too-din-AIR-ee-un; -tyoo-]
noun:
1. A weak or sickly person, especially one morbidly concerned with his or her health.
adjective:
1. Sickly; weak; infirm.
2. Morbidly concerned with one's health.
Valetudinarian derives from Latin valetudinarius, "sickly; an invalid," from valetudo, "state of health (good or ill)," from valere, "to be strong or well."
truckle TRUHK-uhl
intransitive verb:
To yield or bend obsequiously to the will of another; to act in a subservient manner.
Truckle is from truckle in truckle bed (a low bed on wheels that may be pushed under another bed; also called a trundle bed), in reference to the fact that the truckle bed on which the pupil slept was rolled under the large bed of the master. The ultimate source of the word is Greek trokhos, "a wheel."
palindrome PAL-in-drohm
noun:
A word, phrase, sentence, or verse that reads the same backward or forward.
Palindrome comes from Greek palindromos, literally "running back (again)," from palin, "back, again" + dromos, "running."
slake SLAYK
transitive verb:
1. To satisfy; to quench; to extinguish; as, to slake thirst.
2. To cause to lessen; to make less active or intense; to moderate; as, slaking his anger.
3. To cause (as lime) to heat and crumble by treatment with water.
intransitive verb:
1. To become slaked; to crumble or disintegrate, as lime
Slake comes from Middle English slaken, "to become or render slack," hence "to abate," from Old English slacian, from slæc, "slack."
physiognomy fiz-ee-OG-nuh-mee; -ON-uh-mee
noun:
1. The art of discovering temperament and other characteristic qualities of the mind from the outward appearance, especially by the features of the face.
2. The face or facial features, especially when regarded as indicating character.
3. The general appearance or aspect of a thing.
Physiognomy comes from Greek physiognomonia, from physiognomon, "judging character by the features," from physis, "nature, physique, appearance" + gnomon, "one who knows, hence an examiner, a judge," from gignoskein, "to know."
maladroit mal-uh-DROYT
adjective:
Lacking adroitness; clumsy; awkward; unskillful; inept.
Maladroit comes from French, from mal-, "badly" + adroit, from à droit, "properly," from à, "to" (from Latin ad) + droit, "right," from Latin directus, "straight, direct," past participle of dirigere, "to lead or guide."
paroxysm PAIR-uhk-siz-uhm
noun:
1. (Medicine) A sudden attack, intensification, or recurrence of a disease.
2. Any sudden and violent emotion or action; an outburst; a fit.
Paroxysm is from Greek paroxusmos, from paroxunein, "to irritate, provoke or excite (literally to sharpen excessively)," from para-, "beyond" + oxunein, "to sharpen, to provoke."
precipice PRES-uh-pis, noun:
1. A very steep, perpendicular, or overhanging place; a cliff.
2. The brink of a hazardous situation.
proselytize
[PROS-uh-luh-tyz]
intransitive verb:
1. To induce someone to convert to one's religious faith.
2. To induce someone to join one's institution, cause, or political party.
transitive verb:
1. To convert to some religion, system, opinion, or the like.
Proselytize is formed from proselyte, "a new convert, especially a convert to some religion or religious sect, or to some particular opinion, system, or party," from Greek proselutos, "a proselyte, a newcomer," from pros, "toward" + elutos, from eluthon, "I came."
fulminate
[FUL-muh-nayt]
intransitive verb:
1. To issue or utter verbal attacks or censures authoritatively or menacingly.
2. To explode; to detonate.
transitive verb:
1. To utter or send out with denunciations or censures.
2. To cause to explode.
Fulminate comes from Latin fulminare, "to strike with lightning," from fulmen, fulmin-, "a thunderbolt."
quiescent
[kwy-ES-uhnt; kwee-]
adjective:
Being in a state of repose; at rest; still; inactive.
Quiescent derives from the present participle of Latin quiescere, to rest, from quies, rest.
leitmotif
[LYT-moh-teef]
noun:
1. In music drama, a marked melodic phrase or short passage which always accompanies the reappearance of a certain person, situation, abstract idea, or allusion in the course of the play; a sort of musical label.
2. A dominant and recurring theme.
Leitmotif (also spelled leitmotiv) is from German Leitmotiv, "leading motif," from leiten, "to lead" (from Old High German leitan) + Motiv, "motif," from the French. It is especially associated with the operas of German composer Richard Wagner.
sanctum
[SANK-tum]
noun;
plural sanctums or sancta::
1. A sacred place.
2. A place of retreat where one is free from intrusion.
Sanctum comes from the Latin, meaning "holy, sacred, or inviolable."
palliate
[PAL-ee-ayt]
transitive verb:
1. To reduce in violence (said of diseases, etc.); to lessen or abate.
2. To cover by excuses and apologies; to extenuate.
3. To reduce in severity; to make less intense.
Palliate derives from Late Latin palliatus, past participle of palliare, "to cloak, to conceal," from Latin pallium, "cloak."
epicene
[EP-uh-seen]
adjective:
1. Having the characteristics of both sexes.
2. Effeminate; unmasculine.
3. Sexless; neuter.
4. (Linguistics) Having but one form of the noun for both the male and the female.
noun:
1. A person or thing that is epicene.
2. (Linguistics) An epicene word.
Epicene derives from Latin epicoenus, from Greek epikoinos, "common to," from epi-, "upon" + koinos, "common."
lumpen
[LUHM-puhn; LUM-puhn]
adjective;
plural lumpen, also lumpens:
1. Of or relating to dispossessed and displaced individuals, especially those who have lost social status.
2. Common; vulgar.
noun:
1. A member of the underclass, especially the lowest social stratum.
Lumpen is from German Lumpenproletariat, "degraded stratum of the proletariat," from Lump, "a contemptible person" (from Lumpen, "rags") + Proletariat, "proletariat," from French.
incipient
[in-SIP-ee-uhnt]
adjective:
Beginning to exist or appear.
Incipient is derived from Latin incipere, "to undertake, to begin" (literally "to take in"), from in-, "in" + capere, "to take." It is related to inception, "beginning, commencement."
perfunctory
[pur-FUNGK-tuh-ree]
adjective:
1. Done merely to carry out a duty; performed mechanically or routinely.
2. Lacking interest, care, or enthusiasm; indifferent.
Perfunctory derives from Late Latin perfunctorius, from Latin perfungi, to perform fully, to get done with, from per-, through + fungi, to perform.
discomfit
[dis-KUHM-fit; dis-kuhm-FIT]
transitive verb:
1. To make uneasy or perplexed, or to put into a state of embarrassment; to disconcert; to upset.
2. To thwart; to frustrate the plans of.
3. (Archaic). To defeat in battle.
Discomfit comes from Old French desconfit, past participle of desconfire, from Latin dis- + conficere, "to make ready, to prepare, to bring about," from com- + facere, "to make."
biddable
[BID-uh-buhl]
adjective:
1. Easily led or commanded; obedient.
2. Capable of being bid.
Biddable is from bid, which partly comes from Middle English bidden, "to ask, to command," from Old English biddan; and partly from Middle English beden, "to offer, to proclaim," from Old English beodan.
omnipresent
[om-nuh-PREZ-uhnt]
adjective:
Present in all places at the same time; ubiquitous.
Omnipresent is from Medieval Latin omnipresens, from Latin omni-, "all" + praesens, present participle of praeesse, "to be before, to be present," from prae-, "before" + esse, "to be."
disconsolate
[dis-KON-suh-lut]
adjective:
1. Being beyond consolation; deeply dejected and dispirited; hopelessly sad; filled with grief; as, "a bereaved and disconsolate parent."
2. Inspiring dejection; saddening; cheerless; as, "the disconsolate darkness of the winter nights."
Disconsolate comes from Medieval Latin disconsolatus, from Latin dis- + consolatus, past participle of consolari, "to console," from com-, intensive prefix + solari, "to comfort, to soothe, to relieve."
chortle
[CHOR-tl]
transitive and intransitive verb:
1. To utter, or express with, a snorting, exultant laugh or chuckle.
noun:
1. A snorting, exultant laugh or chuckle.
Chortle a combination of chuckle and snort. It was coined by Lewis Carroll (Charles L. Dodgson), in Through the Looking-Glass, published in 1872.
fecund
[FEE-kuhnd; FEK-uhnd]
adjective:
1. Capable of producing offspring or vegetation; fruitful; prolific.
2. Intellectually productive or inventive.
Fecund comes from Latin fecundus, "fruitful, prolific." The noun form is fecundity.
fiat
[FEE-uht; -at; -aht; FY-uht; -at]
noun:
1. An arbitrary or authoritative command or order.
2. Formal or official authorization or sanction.
Fiat derives from Latin fiat, "let it be done," from fieri, "to be done."
redolent
[RED-uh-luhnt]
adjective:
1. Having or exuding fragrance; scented; aromatic.
2. Full of fragrance; odorous; smelling (usually used with 'of' or 'with').
3. Serving to bring to mind; evocative; suggestive; reminiscent (usually used with 'of' or 'with').
Redolent derives from Latin redolens, -entis, present participle of redolere, "to emit a scent, to diffuse an odor," from red-, re- + olere, "to exhale an odor."
delectation
[dee-lek-TAY-shun]
noun:
Great pleasure; delight, enjoyment.
Delectation derives from Latin delectatio, from the past participle of delectare, "to please."
insuperable
[in-SOO-pur-uh-bul]
adjective:
Incapable of being passed over, surmounted, or overcome; insurmountable; as, "insuperable difficulties."
Insuperable comes from Latin insuperabilis, from in-, "not" + superare, "to go above or over, to surmount," from super, "above, over."
furtive
[FUR-tiv]
adjective:
1. Done by stealth; surreptitious; secret; as, a furtive look.
2. Expressive of stealth; sly; shifty; sneaky.
3. Stolen; obtained by stealth.
4. Given to stealing; thievish; pilfering.
Furtive is from Latin furtivus, from furtum, "theft," from fur, "thief."
bombast
[BOM-bast]
noun:
Pompous or pretentious speech or writing.
Bombast comes from Medieval French bombace, "cotton, hance padding," from Late Latin bombax, "cotton."
flagitious
[fluh-JISH-uhs]
adjective:
1. Disgracefully or shamefully criminal; grossly wicked; scandalous; -- said of acts, crimes, etc.
2. Guilty of enormous crimes; corrupt; profligate; -- said of persons.
3. Characterized by enormous crimes or scandalous vices; as, "flagitious times."
Flagitious comes from Latin flagitiosus, from flagitium, "a shameful or disgraceful act," originally, "a burning desire, heat of passion," from flagitare, "to demand earnestly or hotly," connected with flagrare, "to blaze, to burn."
penchant
[PEN-chunt]
noun:
Inclination; decided taste; a strong liking.
Penchant comes from the present participle of French pencher, "to incline, to bend," from (assumed) Late Latin pendicare, "to lean," from Latin pendere, "to weigh."
vitiate
[VISH-ee-ayt]
transitive verb:
1. To make faulty or imperfect; to render defective; to impair; as, "exaggeration vitiates a style of writing."
2. To corrupt morally; to debase.
3. To render ineffective; as, "fraud vitiates a contract."
Vitiate comes from Latin vitiare, from vitium, fault. It is related to vice (a moral failing or fault), which comes from vitium via French.
doughty
[DOW-tee]
adjective:
Marked by fearless resolution; valiant; brave.
Doughty comes from Old English dohtig, "brave, valiant, fit."
acrimony
[AK-ruh-moh-nee]
noun:
Bitter, harsh, or biting sharpness, as of language, disposition, or manners.
Acrimony is from Latin acrimonia, from acer, "sharp."
denouement
[day-noo-MAWN]
noun:
1. The final resolution of the main complication of a literary or dramatic work.
2. The outcome of a complex sequence of events.
Denouement is from French, from Old French denoer, "to untie," from Latin de- + nodare, "to tie in a knot," from nodus, "a knot."
celerity
[suh-LAIR-uh-tee]
noun:
Rapidity of motion or action; quickness; swiftness.
Celerity is from Latin celeritas, from celer, "swift." It is related to accelerate.
pastiche
[pas-TEESH; pahs-]
noun:
1. A work of art that imitates the style of some previous work.
2. A musical, literary, or artistic composition consisting of selections from various works.
3. A hodgepodge; an incongruous combination of different styles and ingredients.
Pastiche comes from Italian pasticcio, "a paste," hence "a hodgepodge, literary or musical," ultimately from Latin pasta, "paste."
sapid
[SAP-id]
adjective:
1. Having taste or flavor, especially having a strong pleasant flavor.
2. Agreeable to the mind; to one's liking.
Sapid comes from Latin sapidus, "savory," from sapere, "to taste."
redound
[rih-DOWND]
intransitive verb:
1. To have a consequence or effect.
2. To return; to rebound; to reflect.
3. To become added or transferred; to accrue.
Redound, originally "to be in excess or to overflow," derives from Latin redundare, "to overflow, to be in abundance or excess," from re- + unda, "wave."
pantheon
[PAN-thee-on; -uhn]
noun:
1. A temple dedicated to all the gods; especially (capitalized), the building so called at Rome.
2. The collective gods of a people; as, a goddess of the Greek pantheon.
3. A public building commemorating and dedicated to the famous dead of a nation.
4. A group of highly esteemed persons.
Pantheon comes from Greek pantheion, "temple of all the gods," from pan-, "all" + theos, "god."
termagant
[TUR-muh-guhnt]
noun:
1. A scolding, nagging, bad-tempered woman; a shrew.
adjective:
1. Overbearing; shrewish; scolding.
Termagant comes from Middle English Termagaunt, alteration of Tervagant, from Old French. Termagant was an imaginary Muslim deity represented in medieval morality plays as extremely violent and turbulent. By the sixteenth century, termagant was used for a boisterous, brawling, turbulent person of either sex, but eventually it came to refer only to women.
credulous
[KREJ-uh-lus]
adjective:
1. Ready or inclined to believe on slight or uncertain evidence.
2. Based on or proceeding from a disposition to believe too readily.
Credulous derives from Latin credulus, "believing easily," from credere, "to believe."
supplant
[suh-PLANT]
transitive verb:
1. To take the place of (another), especially through intrigue or underhanded tactics; as, a rival supplants another.
2. To take the place of and serve as a substitute for.
Supplant derives from Latin supplantare, "to put one's foot under another, to throw down a person by tripping up his heels," from sub-, "under" + plantare, "to stamp the ground with the foot," from planta, "the sole of the foot."
putsch
[pooch]
–noun a plotted revolt or attempt to overthrow a government, esp. one that depends upon suddenness and speed.
rivulet
[RIV-yuh-lut]
noun:
A small stream or brook; a streamlet
Rivulet is from Italian rivoletto, diminutive of rivolo, from Latin rivulus, diminutive of rivus, "a brook, a stream."
abecedarian
[ay-bee-see-DAIR-ee-uhn]
noun:
1. One who is learning the alphabet; hence, a beginner.
2. One engaged in teaching the alphabet.
adjective:
1. Pertaining to the letters of the alphabet.
2. Arranged alphabetically.
3. Rudimentary; elementary.
Abecedarian derives from Latin abecedarius, from the first four letters of the alphabet.
toper
[TOH-puhr]
noun:
One who drinks frequently or to excess
Toper is formed from the verb tope, "to drink," originally an interjection used in proposing a toast, from French tope!, "agreed!" from toper, "to cover a stake in playing at dice, to accept an offer, to agree."
deign
[DAYN]
intransitive verb
1. To think worthy; to condescend -- followed by an infinitive.
2. To condescend to give or bestow; to stoop to furnish; to grant.
Deign comes from Old French deignier, "to regard as worthy," from Latin dignari, from dignus, "worthy." It is related to dignity, "the quality or state of being worthy."
presentiment
[prih-ZEN-tuh-muhnt]
noun:
A sense that something will or is about to happen; a premonition.
Presentiment derives from Latin praesentire, "to feel beforehand," from prae-, "before" + sentire, "to feel."
empyrean
em-py-REE-uhn; -PEER-ee-
noun:
1. The highest heaven, in ancient belief usually thought to be a realm of pure fire or light.
2. Heaven; paradise.
3. The heavens; the sky.
adjective:
1. Of or pertaining to the empyrean of ancient belief.
Rusticate
[ruhs-ti-keyt]
To go into or reside in the country; to ruralize.
To require or compel to reside in the country; to banish or send away temporarily; to impose rustication on.
Behoove v.
(bi hoov)
to be necessary or proper for, as for moral or ethical considerations
to be worthwhile, as for personal profit or advantage
to be needful, proper or due.
Undulation
[uhn-juh-ley-shuhn]
a waving motion or vibration
Quotidian
[kwoh-tid-ee-uhn]
daily usual or customary; everyday ordinary; commonplace, something recurring daily.
Pinto
[pin-toh]
Lit., painted; hence, piebald; mottled; pied.
Any pied animal; esp., a pied or "painted" horse.
lamina
[lam-uh-nuh]
a thin plate, scale, or layer
Claustrum
[klaw-struh m]
A thin lamina of gray matter in each cerebral hemisphere of the brain of man.
Avarice
[av-er-is]
An excessive or inordinate desire of gain; greediness after wealth; covetousness; cupidity.
An inordinate desire for some supposed good.
Sublunary
[suhb-loo-ner-ee]
Situated beneath the moon; hence, of or pertaining to this world; terrestrial; earthly.
Thaumaturgy
[thaw-muh-tur-jee]
The act or art of performing something wonderful; magic; legerdemain.
Malleable
[mal-ee-uh-buhl]
Capable of being extended or shaped by beating with a hammer, or by the pressure of rollers; -- applied to metals.
Opus
[oh-puhs]
A work; a musical composition.
one of the compositions of a composer, usually numbered according to the order of publication.
Paucity
[paw-si-tee]
Fewness; smallness of number; scarcity.
Smallnes of quantity; exiguity; insufficiency; as, paucity of blood.
Fiat
[fee-aht]
An authoritative command or order to do something; an effectual decree.
A warrant of a judge for certain processes.
An authority for certain proceedings given by the Lord Chancellor's signature.
Luxuriant
[luhg-zhoor-ee-uh,nt]
adjective
Exuberant in growth; rank; excessive; very abundant; as, a luxuriant growth of grass; luxuriant foliage.
Excessively florid or elaborate.
Marked by or displaying luxury
Ethnology [eth-nol-uh-jee]
(Greek ethnos: people)
The science which treats of the division of mankind into races, their origin, distribution, and relations, and the peculiarities which characterize them.
