- anamnesis
- apocryphal
- apropos
- berm
- cauterise
- chicanery
- cockalorum
- curricle
- demure
- doover/doovie
- expansive
- flinty
- foible
- garner
- ingénue
- kinetic
- multifarious
- nary
- nyctophilia
- outré
- palpable
- parlay
- purview
- repudiate
- rift
- riven
- scintillate
- sessile
- taxonomy
- veridical
- wild fire
31 August 2014
garner
[gahr-ner]
verb (used with object)
1. to gather or deposit in or as if in a granary or other storage place.
2. to get; acquire; earn:
He gradually garnered a national reputation as a financial expert.
3. to gather, collect, or hoard.
noun
4. a granary or grain bin.
5. a store or supply of anything.
Origin
1125-75; Middle English garner, gerner < Old French gernier, grenier < Latin grānārium granary; see -er2
Related forms
ungarnered, adjective
Anagram
ranger
30 August 2014
outré
[oo-trey]
adjective
1. passing the bounds of what is usual or considered proper; unconventional; bizarre.
Origin
1715-17251715-25; < French, past participle of outrer to push beyond bounds (see outrage )
Examples for outré
– Whether outre plots or gimmicky marketing will succeed in reviving the soaps remains to be seen.
Anagram
route
29 August 2014
anamnesis
[an-am-nee-sis]
noun, plural anamneses [an-am-nee-seez]
1. the recollection or remembrance of the past; reminiscence.
2. Platonism. recollection of the Ideas, which the soul had known in a previous existence, especially by means of reasoning.
3. the medical history of a patient.
4. Immunology. a prompt immune response to a previously encountered antigen, characterized by more rapid onset and greater effectiveness of antibody and T cell reaction than during the first encounter, as after a booster shot in a previously immunized person.
5. (often initial capital letter) a prayer in a Eucharistic service, recalling the Passion, Resurrection, and Ascension of Christ.
Origin
1650-60; < Neo-Latin < Greek anámnēsis remembrance, equivalent to ana (mi) mnḗ (skein) to remember ( ana ana- + mimnḗskein to call to mind) + -sis -sis
Related forms
anamnestic [an-am-nes-tik], adjective
anamnestically, adverb
Anagram
amass nine
sane mains
28 August 2014
cockalorum
[kok-uh-lawr-uh m, -lohr-]
noun
1. a self-important little man.
2. bragging talk; crowing
Origin
1705-1715 1705-15; mock Latin, equivalent to cock1+ fanciful -al- + L genitive plural ending -ōrum
Anagram
mock ocular
27 August 2014
veridical
[vuh-rid-i-kuh l]
adjective
1. truthful; veracious.
2. corresponding to facts; not illusory; real; actual; genuine.
Also, veridic.
Origin
1645-55; < Latin vēridicus (vēr (us) true + -i- -i- + -dicus speaking) + -al1
Related forms
veridicality, noun
veridically, adverb
unveridic, adjective
unveridical, adjective
unveridically, adverb
Anagram
acid liver
idle vicar
viced liar
iced rival
26 August 2014
purview
[pur-vyoo]
noun
1. the range of operation, authority, control, concern, etc.
2. the range of vision, insight, or understanding.
3. Law.
that which is provided or enacted in a statute, as distinguished from the preamble.
the purpose or scope of a statute.
4. the full scope or compass of any document, statement, subject, book, etc.
Origin
1225-75; Middle English purveu < Anglo-French: past participle of purveier to purvey
1. scope, responsibility, compass, extent.
Examples for purview
– Perhaps this is because the problem of insomnia was for a long time the purview mainly of psychologists.
– These responses to serve the changing needs of students are by no means the sole purview of the for-profits.
– His purview, however, is mostly limited to the magazine.
25 August 2014
flinty
[flin-tee]
adjective, flintier, flintiest.
1. composed of, containing, or resembling flint, especially in hardness.
2. unyielding; unmerciful; obdurate:
a flinty heart.
Origin
1530-1540 1530-40; flint + -y1
Related forms
flintily, adverb
flintiness, noun
Anagram
nit fly
24 August 2014
taxonomy
[tak-son-uh-mee]
noun, plural taxonomies.
1. the science or technique of classification.
2. a classification into ordered categories:
a proposed taxonomy of educational objectives.
3. Biology. the science dealing with the description, identification, naming, and classification of organisms.
Origin
1805-15; French taxonomie. See taxo-, -nomy
Related forms
taxonomic [tak-suh-nom-ik], taxonomical, adjective
taxonomically, adverb
taxonomist, taxonomer, noun
nontaxonomic, adjective
nontaxonomical, adjective
nontaxonomically, adverb
Anagram
atom onyx
23 August 2014
riven
[riv-uh n]
verb
1. a past participle of rive.
adjective
2. rent or split apart.
3. split radially, as a log.
Related forms
unriven, adjective
rive
[rahyv]
Syllables
verb (used with object), rived, rived or riven, riving.
1. to tear or rend apart:
to rive meat from a bone.
2. to separate by striking; split; cleave.
3. to rend, harrow, or distress (the feelings, heart, etc.).
4. to split (wood) radially from a log.
verb (used without object), rived, rived or riven, riving.
5. to become rent or split apart:
stones that rive easily.
Origin
1225-75; Middle English riven < Old Norse rīfa to tear, split. See rift
Related forms
unrived, adjective
Examples for riven
Lame duck president, deeply riven board, ridiculous faculty senate.
And yet, this comment made me think of the cochlear implant controversy that has riven the deaf community.
Amid this pressure the hacker underground, riven by squabbles and splits over personality and policy, has turned on itself.
22 August 2014
nary
[nair-ee]
adjective, Older Use.
1. not any; no; never a:
nary a sound.
Origin
1740-1750
variant of ne’er a never a
Examples for nary
– Not a plank left in the dam, and nary a bridge on the river.
– He was then perfunctory-marched through two days of interviews by depressed handlers, with nary a call later.
– They said nary a word and the service was uninterrupted.
Anagram
yarn
21 August 2014
ingénue
[an-zhuh-noo, -nyoo; French an-zhey-ny]
noun, plural ingénues [an-zhuh-nooz, -nyooz; French an-zhey-ny]
1. the part of an artless, innocent, unworldly girl or young woman, especially as represented on the stage.
2. an actress who plays such a part or specializes in playing such parts.
Also, ingenue.
Origin
1840-50; < French, feminine of ingénu < Latin ingenuus native, inborn, etc.; see ingenuous
Examples for ingénue
– The ingenue couldn’t see garden-variety jealousy when it smacked her with her own rising star.
– In the tragedy, she chain-smokes and fidgets, while in the comedy she has an ingenue ‘s golden glow.
– Her character is neither a simple ingenue nor a vamp.
Anagram
genuine
20 August 2014
palpable
[pal-puh-buh l]
adjective
1. readily or plainly seen, heard, perceived, etc.; obvious; evident:
a palpable lie; palpable absurdity.
2. capable of being touched or felt; tangible.
3. Medicine/Medical. perceptible by palpation.
Origin
1350-1400; Middle English < Late Latin palpābilis that can be touched, equivalent to palpā (re) to stroke, touch, palpate1+ -bilis -ble
Related forms
palpability, palpableness, noun
palpably, adverb
nonpalpability, noun
nonpalpable, adjective
nonpalpably, adverb
Synonyms
1. manifest, plain. 2. material, corporeal.
Antonyms
1. obscure.
Examples for palpable
– At the meeting, the electricity about it was palpable, and it was obvious what it was.
– There was some palpable resentment.
– But there is a palpable need for consistent rules of engagement.
Anagram
be appall
papa bell
lab apple
19 August 2014
repudiate
[ri-pyoo-dee-eyt]
verb (used with object), repudiated, repudiating.
1. to reject as having no authority or binding force:
to repudiate a claim.
2. to cast off or disown:
to repudiate a son.
3. to reject with disapproval or condemnation:
to repudiate a new doctrine.
4. to reject with denial:
to repudiate a charge as untrue.
5. to refuse to acknowledge and pay (a debt), as a state, municipality, etc.
Origin
1535-45; < Latin repudiātus (past participle of repudiāre to reject, refuse), equivalent to repudi (um) a casting off, divorce ( re- re- + pud (ere) to make ashamed, feel shame (see pudendum ) + -ium -ium ) + -ātus -ate1
Related forms
repudiable, adjective
repudiative, adjective
repudiator, noun
nonrepudiable, adjective
nonrepudiative, adjective
Can be confused
repudiate, refute, refudiate (see word story at refudiate )
Synonyms
1. disavow, renounce, discard, disclaim. 3. condemn, disapprove.
Antonyms
1. accept. 3. approve.
Examples for repudiate Expand
– To affirm this as a psychiatric malady is to repudiate the principles of science itself.
– Our leaders-and would-be leaders-should repudiate this sort of fatalism.
– Before me now is plaintiff’s motion to repudiate the settlement agreement.
Anagram
– idea erupt
– due pirate
18 August 2014
expansive
[ik-span-siv]
adjective
1. having a wide range or extent; comprehensive; extensive:
expansive mountain scenery.
2. (of a person’s character or speech) effusive, unrestrained, free, or open:
Our expansive host welcomed us warmly.
3. tending to expand or capable of expanding.
4. causing expansion :
the expansive force of heat.
5. working by expansion, as an engine.
6. Psychiatry. marked by an abnormal euphoric state and by delusions of grandeur.
Origin
1645-1655 1645-55; expans(ion) + -ive
Related forms
expansively, adverb
expansiveness, noun
nonexpansive, adjective
nonexpansively, adverb
nonexpansiveness, noun
Synonyms
2. sociable, extroverted, outgoing, genial, unreserved; gushy, gushing.
Examples for expansive
– It is normally a time for upbeat comments about bright futures and expansive political visions.
– In previous entries of my sabbatical diary, one topic that arose was how to handle expansive periods of unstructured time.
– If you buy this premise, there are expansive implications.
Anagram
apes vixen
pain vexes
17 August 2014
demure
demure
[dih-myoo r]
adjective, demurer, demurest.
1. characterized by shyness and modesty; reserved.
2. affectedly or coyly decorous, sober, or sedate.
Origin
1350-1400; Middle English dem (e) ur (e) well-mannered, grave < Anglo-French demuré, past participle of demurer to demur; perhaps influenced by Old French mur, mëur grave, mature (< Latin matūrus)
Related forms
demurely, adverb
demureness, noun
undemure, adjective
undemurely, adverb
undemureness, noun
Can be confused
demur, demure.
Synonyms Expand
1. retiring. See modest.
Antonyms
1, 2. indecorous.
Anagram
red emu
rude me
16 August 2014
cauterise
[kaw-tuh-rahyz]
verb (used with object), cauterised, cauterising.
1. to burn with a hot iron, electric current, fire, or a caustic, especially for curative purposes; treat with a cautery.
Expand
Also, especially American, cauterize.
Origin
1350-1400; Middle English < Late Latin cautērizāre to brand, equivalent to cautēr- (< Greek kautḗr branding iron, equivalent to kau-, variant stem of kaíein to burn (cf. caustic ), + -tēr agent suffix) + -izāre -ize
Anagram
rite cause
acute rise
a rescue it
15 August 2014
nyctophilia
[nikt-oh-fill-ee-uh]
noun
– a preference or love for the night or darkness. Also called ‘scotophilia’.
Anagram
ponytail chi
a thin policy
I chop litany
14 August 2014
wild fire
[wahyld-fahyuhr]
noun
1. a highly flammable composition, also known as Greek fire, difficult to extinguish when ignited, formerly used in warfare. (Greek fire was an incendiary weapon used by the Byzantine empire from around 672AD. It was often used in naval battles because of its ability to continue burning while floating on water).
2. any large fire that spreads rapidly and is hard to extinguish.
3. sheet lightning, unaccompanied by thunder.
4. the ignis fatuus or a similar light.
5. Plant Pathology . a disease of tobacco and soybeans, characterized by brown, necrotic spots, each surrounded by a yellow band, on the leaves and caused by a bacterium, Pseudomonas tabaci.
6. Pathology Obsolete . erysipelas or some similar disease.
Origin:
before 1000; Middle English wildefire, Old English wildfȳr.
13 August 2014
sessile
[ses-il, -ahyl]
adjective
1. Botany . attached by the base, or without any distinct projecting support, as a leaf issuing directly from the stem.
2. Zoology . permanently attached; not freely moving.
Origin:
1715–25; < Latin sessilis fit for sitting on, low enough to sit on, dwarfish (said of plants), equivalent to sess ( us ) (past participle of sedēre to sit1 ) + -ilis -ile
Related forms
ses·sil·i·ty [se-sil-i-tee] noun
pseu·do·ses·sile, adjective
sub·ses·sile, adjective
12 August 2014
kinetic
[ki-net-ik, kahy-]
adjective
1. pertaining to motion.
2. caused by motion.
3. characterized by movement: Running and dancing are kinetic activities.
Origin:
1850–55; < Greek kīnētikós moving, equivalent to kīnē- (verbid stem of kīneîn to move) + -tikos -tic
Related forms
ki·net·i·cal·ly, adverb
non·ki·net·ic, adjective
Anagram
Ice knit
nice kit
11 June 2014
parlay
[pahr-ley, -lee]
verb (used with object)
1. to bet or gamble (an original amount and its winnings) on a subsequent race, contest, etc.
2. Informal. to use (one’s money, talent, or other assets) to achieve a desired objective, as spectacular wealth or success: He parlayed a modest inheritance into a fortune.
noun
3. a bet of an original sum and the subsequent winnings.
Origin:
1820–30, Americanism; alteration of earlier paroli < French < Neapolitan Italian, plural of parolo, perhaps derivative of paro equal < Latin pār; see pair
Anagram
lay rap
10 April 2014
apocryphal
[uh-pok-ruh-fuhl]
adjective
1. of doubtful authorship or authenticity.
2. Ecclesiastical .
a. (initial capital letter) of or pertaining to the Apocrypha.
b. of doubtful sanction; uncanonical.
3. false; spurious: He told an apocryphal story about the sword, but the truth was later revealed.
Origin:
1580–90; apocryph(a) + -al1
Related forms
a·poc·ry·phal·ly, adverb
a·poc·ry·phal·ness, noun
Anagram
parlay chop
9 August 2014
curricle
[kur-i-kuhl]
noun
a light, two-wheeled, open carriage drawn by two horses abreast.
Origin:
1675–85; < Latin curriculum; see curriculum: < Latin: action of running, course of action, race, chariot, equivalent to curr ( ere ) to run
8 August 2014
scintillate
[sin-tl-eyt]
verb (used without object), scin·til·lat·ed, scin·til·lat·ing.
1. to emit sparks.
2. to sparkle; flash: a mind that scintillates with brilliance.
3. to twinkle, as the stars.
4. Electronics. (of a spot of light or image on a radar display) to shift rapidly around a mean position.
5. Physics.
a. (of the amplitude, phase, or polarization of an electromagnetic wave) to fluctuate in a random manner.
b. (of an energetic photon or particle) to produce a flash of light in a phosphor by striking it.
verb (used with object), scin·til·lat·ed, scin·til·lat·ing.
6. to emit as sparks; flash forth.
Origin:
1615–25; < Latin scintillātus (past participle of scintillāre to send out sparks, flash). See scintilla, -ate1
Anagram
elastic lint
a lit stencil
a client list
7 August 2014
rift
[rift]
noun
1. an opening made by splitting, cleaving, etc.; fissure; cleft; chink.
2. an open space, as in a forest or cloud mass, or a clear interval.
3. a break in friendly relations: a rift between two people; a rift between two nations.
4. a difference in opinion, belief, or interest that causes such a break in friendly relations.
5. Geology .
a. a fault.
b. a graben of regional extent.
6. the plane or direction along which a log or mass of granite can most easily be split.
7. wood or a piece of wood that has been split radially from a log.
6 August 2014
foible
[foi-buhl]
noun
1. a minor weakness or failing of character; slight flaw or defect: an all-too-human foible.
2. the weaker part of a sword blade, between the middle and the point (opposed to forte ).
Origin:
1640–50; < French, obsolete form of faible feeble
Synonyms
1. frailty, quirk, crotchet, eccentricity, peculiarity. See fault.
Antonyms
1. strength.
5 August 2014
berm
[burm]
noun
1. Also, berme. Fortification . a horizontal surface between the exterior slope of a rampart and the moat.
2. Also called bench. any level strip of ground at the summit or sides, or along the base, of a slope.
3. Also called backshore, beach berm. a nearly flat back portion of a beach, formed of material deposited by the action of the waves.
4. Chiefly Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. the bank of a canal or the shoulder of a road.
5. Chiefly Alaska. a mound of snow or dirt, as formed when clearing land.
6. a bank of earth placed against an exterior wall or walls of a house or other building as protection against extremes of temperature.
4 August 2014
multifarious
[muhl-tuh-fair-ee-uhs]
adjective
1. having many different parts, elements, forms, etc.
2. numerous and varied; greatly diverse or manifold: multifarious activities.
Origin:
1585–95; < Late Latin multifārius many-sided, manifold, equivalent to Latin multifāri ( am ) on many sides + -us adj. suffix (see -ous); see multi-, bifarious
Related forms
mul·ti·far·i·ous·ly, adverb
mul·ti·far·i·ous·ness, noun
Anagram
a futurism oil
a four stimuli
i suit formula
if sumo ritual
3 August 2014
apropos
[ap-ruh-poh]
adverb
1. fitting; at the right time; to the purpose; opportunely.
2. Obsolete . by the way.
adjective
3. opportune; pertinent: apropos remarks.
Idioms
4. apropos of, with reference to; in respect or regard to: apropos of the preceding statement.
Origin:
1660–70; < French à propos literally, to purpose < Latin ad prōpositum. See ad-, proposition
Can be confused: appropriate, apropos, expropriate.
Anagram
poor sap
2 August 2014
chicanery
[shi-key-nuh-ree, chi-]
noun, plural chi·can·er·ies.
1. trickery or deception by quibbling or sophistry: He resorted to the worst flattery and chicanery to win the job.
2. a quibble or subterfuge used to trick, deceive, or evade.
Origin:
1605–15; < French chicanerie. See chicane, -ery
Synonyms
1. fraud, deception, knavery. 2. evasion.
Anagram
racy niche
nice chary
A cynic her
1 August 2014
doover / doovie
[doo-ver] [doo-vee]
noun Australian Slang.
– thingumbob; thingumajig. A word used when the proper word doesn’t come to mind.
– horses doovers – Australian slang for hors d’Oeuvres
Origin:
1940–45; probably to be identified with doofer, doofah in same sense, perhaps representing do for, as in that will do for now
Anagram
overdo