Words this month:
28 February 2013
equivocate
[ih-kwiv-uh-keyt]
verb (used without object), e·quiv·o·cat·ed, e·quiv·o·cat·ing.
– to use ambiguous or unclear expressions, usually to avoid commitment or in order to mislead; prevaricate or hedge: When asked directly for his position on disarmament, the candidate only equivocated.
Origin:
1375–1425; late Middle English < Medieval Latin aequivocātus, past participle of aequivocāre; see equivocal, -ate1
Related forms
e·quiv·o·cat·ing·ly, adverb
e·quiv·o·ca·tor, noun
non·e·quiv·o·cat·ing, adjective
out·e·quiv·o·cate, verb (used with object), out·e·quiv·o·cat·ed, out·e·quiv·o·cat·ing.
un·e·quiv·o·cat·ing, adjective
Synonyms
evade, stall, dodge.
27 February 2013
prevaricate
[pri-var-i-keyt]
verb (used without object), pre·var·i·cat·ed, pre·var·i·cat·ing.
– to speak falsely or misleadingly; deliberately misstate or create an incorrect impression; lie.
Origin:
1575–85; < Latin praevāricātus, past participle of praevāricārī to straddle something, (of an advocate) collude with an opponent’s advocate, equivalent to prae- pre- + vāricāre to straddle, derivative of vārus bent outwards, bow-legged
Related forms
pre·var·i·ca·tion, noun
pre·var·i·ca·tive, pre·var·i·ca·to·ry [pri-var-i-kuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] Show IPA , adjective
un·pre·var·i·cat·ing, adjective
Synonyms
evade, shift.
Example sentence:
‘The journalist’s prevarication regarding the government’s new bill, revealed his political leanings’.
26 February 2013
boondoggle
[boon-dog-uhl, -daw-guhl]
noun, verb, boon·dog·gled, boon·dog·gling.
noun
1. a product of simple manual skill, as a plaited leather cord for the neck or a knife sheath, made typically by a camper or a scout.
2. work of little or no value done merely to keep or look busy.
3. a project funded by the federal government out of political favoritism that is of no real value to the community or the nation.
verb (used with object)
4. to deceive or attempt to deceive: to boondoggle investors into a low-interest scheme.
verb (used without object)
5. to do work of little or no practical value merely to keep or look busy.
Origin:
1930–35, Americanism; said to have been coined by R. H. Link, American scoutmaster, as name for def 1
Related forms
boon·dog·gler, noun
25 February 2013
polemic
[puh-lem-ik, poh-]
noun
1. a controversial argument, as one against some opinion, doctrine, etc.
2. a person who argues in opposition to another; controversialist.
adjective
3. Also, po·lem·i·cal. of or pertaining to a polemic; controversial.
Origin:
1630–40; < Greek polemikós of or for war, equivalent to pólem ( os ) war + -ikos -ic
Related forms
po·lem·i·cal·ly, adverb
non·po·lem·ic, noun, adjective
non·po·lem·i·cal, adjective
non·po·lem·i·cal·ly, adverb
o·ver·po·lem·i·cal, adjective
24 February 2013
sequester
[si-kwes-ter]
verb (used with object)
1. to remove or withdraw into solitude or retirement; seclude.
2. to remove or separate.
3. Law. to remove (property) temporarily from the possession of the owner; seize and hold, as the property and income of a debtor, until legal claims are satisfied.
4. International Law. to requisition, hold, and control (enemy property).
Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English sequestren < Latin sequestrāre to put in hands of a trustee, derivative of sequester trustee, depositary
Related forms
se·ques·tra·ble, adjective
non·se·ques·tered, adjective
self-se·ques·tered, adjective
un·se·ques·tered, adjective
23 February 2013
ebullience
[ih-buhl-yuhns, ih-bool-]
noun
1. high spirits; exhilaration; exuberance.
2. a boiling over; overflow.
Also, e·bul·lien·cy.
Origin:
1740–50; ebulli(ent) + -ence
Related forms
non·e·bul·lience, noun
non·e·bul·lien·cy, noun
Example sentence:
He couldn’t hide his ebullience when told of his promotion.
22 February 2013
aberrant
[uh-ber-uhnt, ab-er-]
adjective
1. departing from the right, normal, or usual course.
2. deviating from the ordinary, usual, or normal type; exceptional; abnormal.
noun
3. an aberrant person, thing, group, etc.
Origin:
1820–30; < Latin aberrant- (stem of aberrāns, present participle of aberrāre to deviate). See ab-, errant
Related forms
ab·er·rance, ab·er·ran·cy, noun
ab·er·rant·ly, adverb
Can be confused: aberrant, abhorrent.
Synonyms
1. wandering. 2. divergent, unusual.
21 February 2013
mellifluous
[muh-lif-loo-uhs]
adjective
1. sweetly or smoothly flowing; sweet-sounding: a mellifluous voice; mellifluous tones.
2. flowing with honey; sweetened with or as if with honey.
Origin:
1375–1425; late Middle English < Late Latin mellifluus, equivalent to Latin melli- (stem of mel ) honey + -flu ( ere ) to flow + -us adj. suffix (see -ous)
Related forms
mel·lif·lu·ous·ly, adverb
mel·lif·lu·ous·ness, noun
un·mel·lif·lu·ous, adjective
un·mel·lif·lu·ous·ly, adverb
Synonyms
1. melodious, musical, dulcet, harmonious.
Example sentence:
Amy Farrah Fowler: ‘Cornucopia – what a melliflous word’
Sheldon Cooper: ‘Let’s make that our word of the day’.
Amy: ‘Agreed, and we’ll use melliflous for our word for tomorrow’.
Big Bang Theory, Series 4, Episode 5.
20 February 2013
Cornucopia
[kawr-nuh-koh-pee-uh, -nyuh-]
noun
1. Classical Mythology . a horn containing food, drink, etc., in endless supply, said to have been a horn of the goat Amalthaea.
2. a representation of this horn, used as a symbol of abundance.
3. an abundant, overflowing supply.
4. a horn-shaped or conical receptacle or ornament.
Origin:
1585–95; < Late Latin, equivalent to Latin cornū horn (see cornu) + cōpiae of plenty (genitive stem of cōpia ); see copious
Related forms
cor·nu·co·pi·an, adjective
cor·nu·co·pi·ate [kawr-nuh-koh-pee-it] Show IPA , adjective
Example:
‘He’s a cornucopia of social awkwardness’.
– Sheldon Cooper, Big Bang Theory, Series 4, Episode 5.
19 February 2013
presenteeism
[prez-uhn-tee-iz-uhm]
noun
1. the practice of coming to work despite illness, injury, anxiety, etc., often resulting in reduced productivity.
2. the practice of working long hours at a job without the real need to do so.
Example sentence:
‘Employers often try to reduce absenteeism, but a more insidious threat to productivity is presenteeism’.
18 February 2013
hirsute
[hur-soot, hur-soot]
adjective
1. hairy; shaggy.
2. Botany, Zoology . covered with long, rather stiff hairs.
3. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of hair.
Origin:
1615–25; < Latin hirsūtus rough, shaggy, bristly; akin to horrid
Related forms
hir·sute·ness, noun
sub·hir·sute, adjective
sub·hir·sute·ness, noun
Synonyms
1. pilose, unshaved, bearded, bushy, woolly, furry
17 February 2013
ubiquitous
[yoo-bik-wi-tuhs]
adjective
– existing or being everywhere, especially at the same time; omnipresent: ubiquitous fog; ubiquitous little ants.
Also, u·biq·ui·tar·y [yoo-bik-wi-ter-ee] Show IPA .
Origin:
1830–40; ubiquit(y) + -ous
Related forms
u·biq·ui·tous·ly, adverb
u·biq·ui·tous·ness, noun
non·u·biq·ui·tar·y, adjective
non·u·biq·ui·tous, adjective
non·u·biq·ui·tous·ly, adverb
16 February 2013
phalanx
[fey-langks, fal-angks]
noun, plural pha·lanx·es or for 7, pha·lan·ges [fuh-lan-jeez]
1. (in ancient Greece) a group of heavily armed infantry formed in ranks and files close and deep, with shields joined and long spears overlapping.
2. any body of troops in close array.
3. a number of individuals, especially persons united for a common purpose.
4. a compact or closely massed body of persons, animals, or things.
5. Military , ( initial capital letter ) a radar-controlled U.S. Navy 20mm Gatling-type gun deployed on ships as a last line of defense against antiship cruise missiles.
15 February 2013
tutelage
[toot-l-ij, tyoot-]
noun
1. the act of guarding, protecting, or guiding; office or function of a guardian; guardianship.
2. instruction; teaching; guidance: His knowledge of Spanish increased under private tutelage.
3. the state of being under a guardian or a tutor.
Origin:
1595–1605; < Latin tūtēl ( a ) guardianship (derivative of tuērī to watch; see tuition) + -age
Synonyms
2. direction, supervision, tutoring, coaching.
14 February 2013
en règle
[ahn RE-gluh], adjective:
In order; according to the rules; correct.
Example sentences:
This was all done en règle, and in our work we shall be en règle too. We shall not go so early that the policemen who have then little to think of, shall deem it strange.
— Bram Stoker, Dracula
I told her it was not quite en règle to bring one so far out of our own set; but she said, ‘Genius itself is not en règle; it comes into the world to make new rules.’
— George Eliot, Daniel Deronda
En règle snuck into the English language in the 1810s. It came directly from the French phrase of the same spelling which meant literally ‘in rule’.
13 February 2013
lilt
[lilt]
noun
1. rhythmic swing or cadence.
2. a lilting song or tune.
verb (used without object), verb (used with object)
3. to sing or play in a light, tripping, or rhythmic manner.
Origin:
1300–50; Middle English lulte; perhaps akin to Dutch lul pipe, lullen to lull
Related forms
lilt·ing·ly, adverb
lilt·ing·ness, noun
12 February 2013
serendipity
[ser-uhn-dip-i-tee]
noun
1. an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident.
2. good fortune; luck: the serendipity of getting the first job she applied for.
Origin:
1754; Serendip + -ity; Horace Walpole so named a faculty possessed by the heroes of a fairy tale called The Three Princes of Serendip
Related forms
ser·en·dip·it·er, ser·en·dip·i·tist, ser·en·dip·per, noun
11 February 2013
hobbledehoy
[hob-uhl-dee-hoi]
noun
– an awkward, ungainly youth.
Origin:
1530–40; variant of hoberdyhoy, alliterative compound, equivalent to hoberd (variant of Roberd Robert) + -y2 + -hoy for boy ( b > h for alliteration; see hob2 )
Example sentence:
‘Miss O’Brien, we are about to host a society wedding. I have no time for training young hobbledehoys’.
– Mr Carson, Downton Abbey (Series 3)
10 February 2013
augur
[aw-ger]
noun
1. one of a group of ancient Roman officials charged with observing and interpreting omens for guidance in public affairs.
2. soothsayer; prophet.
verb (used with object)
3. to divine or predict, as from omens; prognosticate.
4. to serve as an omen or promise of; foreshadow; betoken: Mounting sales augur a profitable year.
verb (used without object)
5. to conjecture from signs or omens; predict.
6. to be a sign; bode: The movement of troops augurs ill for the peace of the area.
Origin:
1540–50; < Latin augur (variant of auger ) a diviner, soothsayer, derivative of augēre to augment with orig. implication of “prosper”; cf. august
9 February 2013
jubilarian
[joo-buh-LAIR-ee-uhn]
noun:
A person who celebrates or has celebrated a jubilee, as a nun observing 25 or more years of religious life.
To enable the school to open in 1916, Sisters Agnes Geraghty and Corona Hargrafen, golden jubilarians, had come out of retirement, and Sister Juliana Kritenbrink, another golden jubilarian, joined them the next year.
— O. P. Dolores Enderle, Suzanne Noffke, The Dominicans of Racine, Wisconsin
The crowd was so great that when the doors were closed at a late hour to relieve the strain on the seventy-two-year-old jubilarian, a line of people still reached around the south and west sides of the Square.
— Patrick Ryan, Archbishop Patrick John Ryan His Life and Times
In Biblical tradition, the jubilee is a yearlong celebration which occurs every 50 years. All debts are forgiven and lands returned to their original owners. Today jubilees are often celebrations of significant anniversaries, particularly every 25, 50, 60 or 75 years. Jubliarian refers to anyone who has or is celebrating a significant 25-year milestone.
7 February 2013
sang-froid
[French sahn-frwa]
noun
– coolness of mind; calmness; composure: They committed the robbery with complete sang-froid.
Origin:
1740–50; < French: literally, cold blood
Synonyms
self-possession, poise, equanimity, self-control, nerve, courage, steadiness
7 February 2013
vitriol
[vi-tree-uhl]
noun, verb, vit·ri·oled, vit·ri·ol·ing or ( especially British ) vit·ri·olled, vit·ri·ol·ling.
noun
1. Chemistry . any of certain metallic sulfates of glassy appearance, as copper sulfate or blue vitriol, iron sulfate or green vitriol, zinc sulfate or white vitriol, etc.
2. oil of vitriol; sulfuric acid.
3. something highly caustic or severe in effect, as criticism.
verb (used with object)
4. to treat with or as with vitriol, especially sulfuric acid.
Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English < Medieval Latin vitriolum, vitreolum, equivalent to Latin vitre ( us ) vitreous + -olum, neuter of -olus -ole1
Example sentence:
She’s only partially informed, full of vitriol, and can barely form an argument.
6 February 2013
apotheosis
[uh-poth-ee-oh-sis, ap-uh-thee-uh-sis]
noun
plural a·poth·e·o·ses [uh-poth-ee-oh-seez, ap-uh-thee-uh-seez]
1. the elevation or exaltation of a person to the rank of a god.
2. the ideal example; epitome; quintessence: This poem is the apotheosis of lyric expression.
Origin:
1570–80; < Late Latin < Greek. See apo-, theo-, -osis
Example sentence:
Gary Ablett, a.k.a. God, achieved apotheosis during his legendary AFL career with the Geelong Cats.
5 February 2013
vicarious
[vahy-kair-ee-uhs, vi-]
adjective
1. performed, exercised, received, or suffered in place of another: vicarious punishment.
2. taking the place of another person or thing; acting or serving as a substitute.
3. felt or enjoyed through imagined participation in the experience of others: a vicarious thrill.
4. Physiology . noting or pertaining to a situation in which one organ performs part of the functions normally performed by another.
Origin:
1630–40; < Latin vicārius substituting, equivalent to vic ( is ) (genitive) interchange, alternation (see vice3 ), + -ārius -ary; see -ous
Related forms
vi·car·i·ous·ly, adverb
vi·car·i·ous·ness, vi·car·i·ism, noun
non·vi·car·i·ous, adjective
non·vi·car·i·ous·ly, adverb
non·vi·car·i·ous·ness, noun
4 February 2013
acumen
[uh-kyoo-muhn, ak-yuh-]
noun
– keen insight; shrewdness: remarkable acumen in business matters.
Origin:
1525–35; < Latin acūmen sharpness, equivalent to acū- (stem of acuere to sharpen; see acute) + -men noun suffix
Related forms
a·cu·mi·nous [uh-kyoo-muh-nuhs] adjective
un·a·cu·mi·nous, adjective
3 February 2013
conterminous
[kuhn-tur-muh-nuhs]
adjective
1. having a common boundary; bordering; contiguous.
2. meeting at the ends; without an intervening gap: In our calendar system, the close of one year is conterminous with the beginning of the next.
3. coterminous.
Also, con·ter·mi·nal, coterminal.
Origin:
1625–35; < Latin conterminus having a common border with, equivalent to con- con- + terminus terminus; see -ous
Related forms
con·ter·mi·nal·ly, con·ter·mi·nous·ly, adverb
con·ter·mi·nal·i·ty, con·ter·mi·nous·ness, noun
non·con·ter·mi·nal, adjective
non·con·ter·mi·nous, adjective
non·con·ter·mi·nous·ly, adverb
Example sentence:
‘New South Wales and Victoria have a conterminous border’.
2 February 2013
denizen
[den-uh-zuhn]
noun
1. an inhabitant; resident.
2. a person who regularly frequents a place; habitué: the denizens of a local bar.
3. British . an alien admitted to residence and to certain rights of citizenship in a country.
4. anything adapted to a new place, condition, etc., as an animal or plant not indigenous to a place but successfully naturalized.
verb (used with object)
5. to make a denizen of.
1 February 2013
interrobang
[in-ter-uh-bang]
noun
a printed punctuation mark (‽), available only in some typefaces, designed to combine the question mark (?) and the exclamation point (!), indicating a mixture of query and interjection, surprise or shock, as after a rhetorical question.
Also, interabang.
Origin:
1965–70, Americanism; interro(gation point) + bang1 , printers’ slang for an exclamation point
