31 October 2013
pecksniffian
[pek-snif-ee-uhn]
adjective (often lowercase)
– hypocritically and unctuously affecting benevolence or high moral principles, e.g. His response to the questions showed how pecksniffian he really was.
Also, Peck·sniff·ish.
Origin:
1850–55; named after Seth Pecksniff, character in Martin Chuzzlewit, a novel (1843) by Dickens; see -ian
Related forms
Peck·sniff·er·y, Peck·sniff·i·an·ism, Peck·sniff·ism, noun
30 October 2013
cruciverbalist
[kroo-suh-vur-buh-list]
noun
– a designer or aficionado of crossword puzzles, e.g. He was Australia’s leading cruciverbalist.
Origin:
1975–80; < Latin cruci‐, stem of crux cross + verbalist
29 October 2013
whet
[hwet, wet]
verb, whet·ted, whet·ting, noun
verb (used with object)
1. to sharpen (a knife, tool, etc.) by grinding or friction.
2. to make keen or eager; stimulate: to whet the appetite; to whet the curiosity, to whet one’s apetite.
noun
3. the act of whetting.
4. something that whets; appetizer or drink.
5. Chiefly Southern U.S.
a. a spell of work.
b. a while: to talk a whet.
28 October 2013
obfuscate
[ob-fuh-skeyt, ob-fuhs-keyt]
verb (used with object), ob·fus·cat·ed, ob·fus·cat·ing.
1. to confuse, bewilder, or stupefy.
2. to make obscure or unclear: to obfuscate a problem with extraneous information.
3. to darken.
Origin:
1525–35; < Late Latin obfuscātus (past participle of obfuscāre to darken), equivalent to Latin ob- ob- + fusc ( us ) dark + -ātus -ate1
Related forms
ob·fus·ca·tion, noun
ob·fus·ca·to·ry [ob-fuhs-kuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] adjective
un·ob·fus·cat·ed, adjective
Synonyms
1. muddle, perplex. 2. cloud.
Antonyms
1. clarify.
27 October 2013
kaizen
[kahy-zen]
noun
1. a business philosophy or system that is based on making positive changes on a regular basis, as to improve productivity.
2. an approach to one’s personal or social life that focuses on continuous improvement.
Origin:
< Japanese: literally, ‘continuous improvement’>
26 October 2013
zombie
[zom-bee]
— noun, plural: -bies , -bis
1. a person who is or appears to be lifeless, apathetic, or totally lacking in independent judgment; automaton
2. a supernatural spirit that reanimates a dead body
3. a corpse brought to life in this manner
4. the snake god of voodoo cults in the West Indies, esp Haiti, and in scattered areas of the southern US
5. the python god revered in parts of West Africa
6. a piece of computer code that instructs an infected computer to send a virus on to other computer systems
7. a tall cocktail made typically with several kinds of rum, citrus juice, and often apricot liqueur.
[from Kongo zumbi: god, good-luck fetish]
– noun
‘zombiism or zombi
25 October 2013
salubrious
[suh-loo-bree-uhs]
adjective
– favorable to or promoting health; healthful: salubrious air.
Origin:
1540–50; < Latin salūbr ( is ) promoting health (akin to salūs health) + -ious
Related forms
sa·lu·bri·ous·ly, adverb
sa·lu·bri·ous·ess, sa·lu·bri·ty [suh-loo-bri-tee] Show IPA , noun
non·sa·lu·bri·ous, adjective
non·sa·lu·bri·ous·ly, adverb
non·sa·lu·bri·ous·ness, noun
24 October 2013
remonstrate
[ri-mon-streyt]
verb, re·mon·strat·ed, re·mon·strat·ing.
verb (used with object)
1. to say or plead in protest, objection, or disapproval.
2. Obsolete . to show.
verb (used without object)
3. to present reasons in complaint; plead in protest.
Origin:
1590–1600; < Medieval Latin remōnstrātus (past participle of remōnstrāre to exhibit, demonstrate), equivalent to re- re- + mōnstrā ( re ) to show + -tus past participle suffix; see -ate
Related forms
re·mon·strat·ing·ly, adverb
re·mon·stra·tion [ree-mon-strey-shuhn, rem-uhn-], noun
re·mon·stra·tive [ri-mon-struh-tiv], adjective
re·mon·stra·tive·ly, adverb
re·mon·stra·tor [ri-mon-strey-ter], noun
Synonyms
3. argue, object, expostulate.
23 October 2013
imprimatur
[im-pri-mah-ter, -mey-, -prahy-]
noun
1. an official license to print or publish a book, pamphlet, etc., especially a license issued by a censor of the Roman Catholic Church. Compare nihil obstat.
2. sanction or approval; support: Our plan has the company president’s imprimatur.
Origin:
1630–40; < Neo-Latin: let it be printed, Latin: let it be made by pressing upon (something); see impress
22 October 2013
dyadic
[dahy-ad-ik]
adjective
1. of or consisting of a dyad; being a group of two.
2. pertaining to the number 2.
noun
3. Mathematics . two or more dyads added together.
Origin:
1720–30; < Greek dyadikós. See dyad, -ic
21 October 2013
imbibe
[im-bahyb]
verb, im·bibed, im·bib·ing.
verb (used with object)
1. to consume (liquids) by drinking; drink: He imbibed great quantities of iced tea.
2. to absorb or soak up, as water, light, or heat: Plants imbibe moisture from the soil.
3. to take or receive into the mind, as knowledge, ideas, or the like: to imbibe a sermon; to imbibe beautiful scenery.
verb (used without object)
4. to drink, especially alcoholic beverages: Just a soft drink for me—I don’t imbibe.
5. to absorb liquid or moisture.
6. Archaic. to soak or saturate; imbue.
20 October 2013
pantywaist
[pan-tee-weyst]
noun
1. Informal. a weak, effeminate man; sissy. e.g. ‘penniless pantywaist’ as quoted in Baz Luhrman’s Great Gatsby.
2. formerly, a child’s undergarment consisting of short pants and a shirt that buttoned together at the waist.
adjective
3. weak; fainthearted.
4. Informal. childish.
Origin:
1925–30; panty + waist
Synonyms
1. weakling, milksop, namby-pamby.
19 October 2013
brinkmanship
[bringk-muhn-ship]
noun
– the technique or practice of maneuvering a dangerous situation to the limits of tolerance or safety in order to secure the greatest advantage, especially by creating diplomatic crises.
Also, brinks·man·ship [bringks-muhn-ship]
Origin:
1955–60; brink + -manship, with brink(s) – by analogy with sportsmanship, etc.
18 October 2013
junket
[juhng-kit]
noun
1. a sweet, custardlike food of flavored milk curdled with rennet.
2. a pleasure excursion, as a picnic or outing.
3. a trip, as by an official or legislative committee, paid out of public funds and ostensibly to obtain information.
verb (used without object)
4. to go on a junket.
verb (used with object)
5. to entertain; feast; regale.
Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English jonket < Old French (dial.) jonquette rush basket, equivalent to jonc (< Latin juncus reed) + -ette -ette
Related forms
jun·ket·er, noun
17 October 2013
tallyho
[tal-ee-hoh for 1; tal-ee-hoh for 2–5]
noun, plural tal·ly·hos, interjection, verb, tal·ly·hoed or tal·ly·ho’d, tal·ly·ho·ing.
noun
1. Chiefly British. A mail coach or a four-in-hand pleasure coach.
2. a cry of ‘tallyho’.
interjection
3. the cry of a hunter on first sighting the fox.
verb (used with object)
4. to arouse by crying ‘tallyho’, as to the hounds.
verb (used without object)
5. to utter a cry of ‘tallyho’.
Origin:
1750–60; compare French tayau hunter’s cry
16 October 2013
duff
[duhf]
verb (used with object) Slang.
1. to give a deliberately deceptive appearance to; misrepresent; fake.
2. British . (in golf) to misplay (a golf ball), especially to misjudge one’s swing so that the club strikes the ground behind the ball before hitting it.
3. Australian.
a. to steal (cattle). e.g. ‘The police arrested the cattle duffer’.
b. (formerly) to alter the brand on (stolen cattle).
c. pregnant, e.g. ‘The last time I saw her, she was up the duff’.
4. to cheat someone.
5. Homer Simpson’s favourite beer, e.g. ‘Mmmm …. Duff Beer …’
Origin:
1830–40; back formation from duffer
15 October 2013
cabal
[kuh-bal]
noun, verb, ca·balled, ca·bal·ling.
noun
1. a small group of secret plotters, as against a government or person in authority.
2. the plots and schemes of such a group; intrigue.
3. a clique, as in artistic, literary, or theatrical circles.
verb (used without object)
4. to form a cabal; intrigue; conspire; plot.
Origin:
1610–20, for an earlier sense; earlier cabbal < Medieval Latin cabbala. See cabala
Related forms
ca·bal·ler, noun
Can be confused: cabal, cabala.
Synonyms
1. junta, faction, band, league, ring. 2. See conspiracy.
14 October 2013
shrift
[shrift]
noun Archaic.
1. the imposition of penance by a priest on a penitent after confession.
2. absolution or remission of sins granted after confession and penance.
3. confession to a priest.
The term ‘short shrift’ referred to condemned criminals being given only a short amount of time with the priest to confess their sins.
These days, ‘short shrift’ means to receive little attention or consideration in dealing with a person or matter: ‘to give short shrift to an opponent’s arguments’.
Origin:
before 900; Middle English; Old English scrift penance; cognate with German, Dutch schrift writing; see shrive
13 October 2013
wanderlust
[won-der-luhst]
noun
– a strong, innate desire to rove or travel about.
Origin:
1850–55; < German, equivalent to wander ( n ) to wander + Lust desire; see lust
12 October 2013
deus ex machina
[dey-uhs eks mah-kuh-nuh, dee-uhs eks mak-uh-nuh]
noun
1. (in ancient Greek and Roman drama) a god introduced into a play to resolve the entanglements of the plot.
2. any artificial or improbable device resolving the difficulties of a plot.
Origin:
1690–1700; < Neo-Latin literally, god from a machine (i.e., stage machinery from which a deity’s statue was lowered), as translation of Greek apò mēchanês theós (Demosthenes), theòs ek mēchanês (Menander), etc.
11 October 2013
corsair
[kawr-sair]
noun
1. a fast ship used for piracy.
2. a pirate, especially formerly of the Barbary Coast.
3. ( initial capital letter ) Military . a gull-winged, propeller-driven fighter plane built for the U.S. Navy in World War II and kept in service into the early 1950s.
Origin:
1540–50; < Middle French corsaire < Provençal corsar ( i ) < Upper Italian corsaro < Medieval Latin cursārius, equivalent to Latin curs ( us ) course + -ārius -ary
10 October 2013
avant-garde
[uh-vahnt-gahrd, uh-vant-, av-ahnt-, ah-vahnt-; French a-vahn-gard]
noun
1. the advance group in any field, especially in the visual, literary, or musical arts, whose works are characterized chiefly by unorthodox and experimental methods.
adjective
2. of or pertaining to the experimental treatment of artistic, musical, or literary material.
3. belonging to the avant-garde: an avant-garde composer.
4. unorthodox or daring; radical.
Origin:
1475–85; in sense “vanguard”; < French: literally, fore-guard. See vanguard
Related forms
a·vant-gard·ist, noun
9 October 2013
conniption
[kuh-nip-shuhn]
noun
Often, conniptions. Informal.
– a fit of hysterical excitement or anger.
Also called conniption fit.
Example:
– She had a conniption when her mobile phone went missing.
Origin:
1825–35, Americanism; origin uncertain
8 October 2013
plenipotentiary
(ˌplɛnɪpəˈtɛnʃərɪ)
— adj
1. (esp of a diplomatic envoy) invested with or possessing full power or authority
2. conferring full power or authority
3. (of power or authority) full; absolute
— n , -aries
4. See also envoy a person invested with full authority to transact business, esp a diplomat authorised to represent a country
[C17: from Medieval Latin plēnipotentiārius, from Latin plēnus full + potentia power ]
7 October 2013
taiga
[tahy-guh, tahy-gah]
noun
– the coniferous evergreen forests of subarctic lands, covering vast areas of northern North America and Eurasia.
Origin:
1885–90; < Russian taĭgá < one or more Turkic languages of the Altai Mountain region; compare Altai, Shor tayγa forest-covered mountain
6 October 2013
blackguard
[blag-ahrd, -erd, blak-gahrd]
noun
1. a low, contemptible person; scoundrel.
2. Obsolete .
a. a group of menial workers in the kitchen of a large household.
b. the servants of an army.
c. camp followers.
verb (used with object)
3. to revile in scurrilous language.
Origin:
1525–35; black + guard; original sense obscure
Related forms
black·guard·ism, noun
black·guard·ly, adverb
Synonyms
1. scamp, rascal, rapscallion, rogue, devil, villain. 3. berate, vilify.
5 October 2013
irascible
[ih-ras-uh-buhl]
adjective
1. easily provoked to anger; very irritable: an irascible old man.
2. characterised or produced by anger: an irascible response.
Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English irascibel < Late Latin īrāscibilis, equivalent to Latin īrāsc- (stem of īrāscī to grow angry; equivalent to īr ( a ) ire + -ā- theme vowel + -sc- inchoative suffix + -ī infinitive ending; see -esce) + -ibilis -ible
Related forms
i·ras·ci·bil·i·ty, i·ras·ci·ble·ness, noun
i·ras·ci·bly, adverb
un·i·ras·ci·bil·i·ty, noun
un·i·ras·ci·ble, adjective
Can be confused: erasable, irascible.
Synonyms
1, 2. testy, touchy, peppery, choleric, short-tempered. See irritable.
Antonyms
1, 2. calm, even-tempered.
4 October 2013
mandarin
[man-duh-rin]
noun
1. (in the Chinese Empire) a member of any of the nine ranks of public officials, each distinguished by a particular kind of button worn on the cap.
2. ( initial capital letter ) the standard Chinese language.
3. ( initial capital letter ) a northern Chinese dialect, especially as spoken in and around Beijing.
4. a small, spiny citrus tree, Citrus reticulata, native to China, bearing lance-shaped leaves and flattish, orange-yellow to deep-orange loose-skinned fruit, some varieties of which are called tangerines.
5. any of several plants belonging to the genus Disporum or Streptopus, of the lily family, as S. roseus (rose mandarin) or D. lanuginosum (yellow mandarin) having drooping flowers and red berries.
3 October 2013
abridge
[uh-brij]
verb (used with object), a·bridged, a·bridg·ing.
1. to shorten by omissions while retaining the basic contents: to abridge a reference book.
2. to reduce or lessen in duration, scope, authority, etc.; diminish; curtail: to abridge a visit; to abridge one’s freedom.
3. to deprive; cut off.
Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English abreggen, abriggen < Middle French abreg ( i ) er < Late Latin abbreviāre to shorten. See a-4 , abbreviate
Related forms
a·bridg·a·ble, a·bridge·a·ble, adjective
a·bridg·er, noun
non·a·bridg·a·ble, adjective
re·a·bridge, verb (used with object), re·a·bridged, re·a·bridg·ing.
Synonyms
1. cut down; epitomize; condense, abstract, digest. See shorten. 2. contract, reduce. 3. divest.
Antonyms
1. lengthen. 2. expand.
2 October 2013
frenetic
[fruh-net-ik]
adjective
– frantic; frenzied.
Also, fre·net·i·cal, phrenetic, phrenetical.
Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English; see frantic
Related forms
fre·net·i·cal·ly, adverb
non·fre·net·ic, adjective
non·fre·net·i·cal·ly, adverb
Can be confused: fanatic, frantic, frenetic (see synonym study at fanatic).
1 October 2013
cenosillicaphobia
[sen-oh-sill-ee-ka-foh-bee-uh]
noun
– the fear of empty glasses. There are some definitions which claim it means ‘fear of empty beer glasses’. Understandable, but not entirely correct.
