January 2014

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31 January 2014

quango

[kwang-goh]

noun, plural quan·gos.

(especially in Great Britain) a semi-public advisory and administrative body supported by the government and having most of its members appointed by the government.

Origin:
1975–80; qu(asi)-a(utonomous) n(on-)g(overnmental) o(rganisation) or qu(asi)-a(utonomous) n(ational) g(overnmental) o(rganisation)

Anagram

quo nag

30 January 2014

rambunctious

[ram-buhngk-shuhs]

adjective

1. difficult to control or handle; wildly boisterous: a rambunctious child.
2. turbulently active and noisy: a social gathering that became rambunctious and out of hand.

Origin:
1820–30, Americanism; origin uncertain

Related forms
ram·bunc·tious·ly, adverb
ram·bunc·tious·ness, noun

Anagram

subatomic urn
barium counts
rum bacon suit

29 January 2014

diffident

Diffident

[dif-i-duhnt]

adjective

1. lacking confidence in one’s own ability, worth, or fitness; timid; shy, e.g. a diffident young man.
2. restrained or reserved in manner, conduct, etc, not diffident about speaking up.
3. Archaic. distrustful.

Origin:
1425–75; late Middle English < Latin diffīdent- (stem of diffīdēns mistrusting, despairing present participle of diffīdere ), equivalent to dif- dif- + fīd- trust + -ent- -ent
Related forms
dif·fi·dent·ly, adverb
dif·fi·dent·ness, noun
non·dif·fi·dent, adjective
non·dif·fi·dent·ly, adverb
un·dif·fi·dent, adjective
un·dif·fi·dent·ly, adverb
Synonyms
1. self-conscious, self-effacing, abashed, embarrassed, modest, unassuming, unconfident. See shy

Anagram

fetid find
Fed find it

28 January 2014

forbear

[fawr-bair]

verb (used with object), for·bore, for·borne, for·bear·ing.

1. to refrain or abstain from; desist from.
2. to keep back; withhold.
3. Obsolete . to endure.

verb (used without object), for·bore, for·borne, for·bear·ing.

4. to refrain; hold back.
5. to be patient or self-controlled when subject to annoyance or provocation.

Origin:
before 900; Middle English forberen, Old English forberan. See for-, bear1

Related forms
for·bear·er, noun
for·bear·ing·ly, adverb
non·for·bear·ing, adjective
non·for·bear·ing·ly, adverb
un·for·bear·ing, adjective

Synonyms
1. forgo, sacrifice, renounce.

Example:

Have patience and forbear acting in anger.

Anagram

or be far
fear rob
fare orb

27 January 2014

beleaguer

[bih-lee-ger]

verb (used with object)

1. to surround with military forces.
2. to surround or beset, as with troubles.

Origin:

1580–90; be- + leaguer

Related forms
be·lea·guer·er, noun

Synonyms
2. harass, pester, badger, bother, vex, annoy, plague, hector.

Anagram

eagle rube
eager blue
ear bug eel
a beer glue

26 January 2014

burl

[burl]

1. noun

Australianism, Ockerism, strine

– to have a go at something, as in, ‘give it a burl’.

Origin

It’s first known usage in Australian slang was in 1917. ‘Burl’ originally meant to spin, whirl, twirl. This was transferred to usage in the game of two-up in which coins are flipped in the air. For someone about to flip or spin the coin in two-up, others would say to them to ‘give it a burl’. The expression entered broader usage for giving something a go. Clive James used the term in one of his 1981 poems to Prince Charles.

2. noun

i. a small knot or lump in wool, thread, or cloth.
ii. a dome-shaped growth on the trunk of a tree; a wartlike structure sometimes 2 feet (0.6 meters) across and 1 foot (0.3 meters) or more in height, sliced to make veneer.
verb (used with object)
iii. to remove burls from (cloth) in finishing.
Origin:

1400–50; late Middle English burle ≪ Old French; akin to Medieval Latin burla bunch, sheaf, Late Latin burra wool, fluff

Related forms
burl·er, noun

Anagram

blur

25 January 2014

tintinnabulation

[tin-ti-nab-yuh-ley-shuhn]

noun

– the ringing or sound of bells, e.g. Every Sunday he woke to the church’s tintinnabulation.

adjectives:

tintin’nabular

tintin’nabulary

tintin’nabulous

Origin:
1825–35, Americanism; < Latin tintinnābul ( um ) bell (see tintinnabular) + -ation

24 January 2014

farrago

[fuh-rah-goh, -rey-]

noun, plural far·ra·goes.

– a confused mixture; hodgepodge; medley: ‘a farrago of doubts, fears, hopes, and wishes’, ‘There was not one reasonable balanced statement in the whole farrago’, ‘Farrago of lies in one of the unpublished letters.

Origin:
1625–35; < Latin: literally, mixed crop of feed grains, equivalent to farr- (stem of far ) emmer + -āgō suffix noting kind or nature

Anagram

for a rag
fag roar

23 January 2014

misoneism

[mis-oh-nee-iz-uhm, mahy-soh-]

noun

– hatred or dislike of what is new or represents change.

Origin:
1885–90; < Italian misoneismo. See miso-, neo-, -ism

Related forms
mis·o·ne·ist, noun
mis·o·ne·is·tic, adjective

Anagram

me mission

22 January 2014

slowth

[sloh-th]

noun.

1. slow growth, such as slow economic growth, e.g. ‘the slowth was attributable to dwindling market confidence’. Etymology: combination of slow + growth.

2. (archaic, obsolete) – laziness, slowness to action, e.g. ‘but such was the reduced state of our Continental regiments, after the battle of Brandywine, and such the slowth and difficulty of procuring reinforcements of militia from the southward …’ (from the ‘Writings of George Washington’). Etymology: alternative form of sloth.

21 January 2014

dissemble

[dih-sem-buhl]

verb (used with object), dis·sem·bled, dis·sem·bling.

1. to give a false or misleading appearance to; conceal the truth or real nature of: to dissemble one’s incompetence in business.
2. to put on the appearance of; feign: to dissemble innocence.
3. Obsolete . to let pass unnoticed; ignore.

verb (used without object), dis·sem·bled, dis·sem·bling.

4. to conceal one’s true motives, thoughts, etc., by some pretense; speak or act hypocritically.

Origin:
1490–1500; alteration (by association with obsolete semble to resemble) of Middle English dissimulen < Latin dissimulāre. See dis-1 , simulate

Related forms
dis·sem·bler, noun
dis·sem·bling·ly, adverb
un·dis·sem·bled, adjective
un·dis·sem·bling, adjective
un·dis·sem·bling·ly, adverb

Can be confused: disassemble.

Synonyms
1. mask, hide, camouflage, dissimulate.

Anagram

Deb smiles
imbed less

20 January 2014

ailurophile

[ahy-loor-uh-fahyl, ey-loor-]

noun

– a person who likes cats; cat fancier.

Also, aelurophile.

Origin:
1925–30; < Greek aílouro ( s ) cat + -phile

Related forms
ai·lu·ro·phil·ic [ahy-loor-uh-fil-ik, ey-loor-] Show IPA , adjective

Anagram

ill euphoria
holier Pilau
ripe oil haul
april oil hue
heal I roil up

19 January 2014

wafture

[wahf-cher, waf-]

noun

1. the act of wafting or waving.
2. something wafted: waftures of incense.
Origin:
1595–1605; waft + -ure

Anagram

waft rue
a wet fur
a few rut

18 January 2014

aquiline

[ak-wuh-lahyn, -lin]

adjective

1. (of the nose) shaped like an eagle’s beak; hooked.
2. of or like the eagle.

Origin:
1640–50; (< F) < Latin aquilīnus. See Aquila, -ine1

Related forms
aq·ui·lin·i·ty [ak-wuh-lin-i-tee] Show IPA , noun

Anagram

equal in I

17 January 2014

demesne

[dih-meyn, -meen]

noun

1. possession of land as one’s own: land held in demesne.
2. an estate or part of an estate occupied and controlled by, and worked for the exclusive use of, the owner.
3. land belonging to and adjoining a manor house; estate.
4. the dominion or territory of a sovereign or state; domain.
5. a district; region.

Origin:
1250–1300; Middle English demeine < Anglo-French demesne, Old French demein; see domain

Related forms
de·mesn·i·al, adjective

Anagram:

needs me
seem end
me dense

16 January 2014

ampersand

[am-per-sand, am-per-sand]

noun

– a character or symbol (& or ) for and : Smith & Jones, Inc.

The ampersand symbol (&) originated in Ancient Rome. ‘&’ was a cursive form of the word ‘et’ (in which the ‘e’ and the ‘t’ flowed into one another). In the 19th century, the ampersand was added to the end of the english alphabet, making it the 27th letter. Initially, it wasn’t called an ampersand, instead it was the phrase ‘and per se’ (meaning ‘by itself). Reciting the alphabet concluded with ‘ … x, y, z, and per se’. The word ‘ampersand’ is a mondegreen of ‘and per se’. Although the word ‘ampersand’ and its symbol (&) are in common usage, it was eventually dropped from the alphabet.

Some fonts clearly show the origin of ‘&’. These can be viewed here: http://www.adobe.com/type/topics/theampersand.html

Anagram

drama pens
panda rems
named raps
dream naps
sedan ramp

15 January 2014

Sesquipedalian

[ses-kwi-pi-dey-lee-uhn, -deyl-yuhn]
adjective Also, ses·quip·e·dal [ses-kwip-i-dl]

1. given to using long words.
2. (of a word) containing many syllables.

noun

3. a sesquipedalian word.
Origin:
1605–15; < Latin sēsquipedālis measuring a foot and a half (see sesqui-, pedal) + -an

Related forms
ses·qui·pe·dal·i·ty [ses-kwi-pi-dal-i-tee] Show IPA , ses·qui·pe·da·li·an·ism, ses·quip·e·dal·ism [ses-kwip-i-dl-iz-uhm, ‐kwi-peed-l-iz-uhm] Show IPA , noun
un·ses·qui·pe·da·li·an, adjective

Anagram

nasalised equip
sequin palisade
passed aquiline
equalised Spain
salad sequin pie
equine salsa dip

14 January 2014

ephemeral

[ih-fem-er-uhl]

adjective

1. lasting a very short time; short-lived; transitory: the ephemeral joys of childhood.
2. lasting but one day: an ephemeral flower.

noun

3. anything short-lived, as certain insects.

Origin:
1570–80; < Greek ephḗmer ( os ) short-lived, lasting but a day ( ep- ep- + hēmér ( a ) day + -os adj. suffix) + -al1

Related forms
e·phem·er·al·ly, adverb
e·phem·er·al·ness, noun
non·e·phem·er·al, adjective
non·e·phem·er·al·ly, adverb
un·e·phem·er·al, adjective

Synonyms
1. fleeting, evanescent, transient, momentary, brief.

Antonyms
1. permanent.

Anagram

eel hamper
me a helper
repel a hem
ample here

13 January 2014

elision

[ih-lizh-uhn]

noun

1. the omission of a vowel, consonant, or syllable in pronunciation, as ‘Straya instead of Australia. E.g. The elision of native speakers can be confusing for those not fluent or familiar with the vernacular.
2. (in verse) the omission of a vowel at the end of one word when the next word begins with a vowel, as th’orient.
3. an act or instance of eliding or omitting anything.

Origin:
1575–85; < Latin ēlīsiōn- (stem of ēlīsiō ) a striking out, equivalent to ēlīs ( us ) (past participle of ēlīdere; see elide) + -iōn- -ion

Anagram

lionise
son I lie
I so line

12 January 2014

pendulous

[pen-juh-luhs, pen-duh-]

adjective

1. hanging down loosely: pendulous blossoms. (‘It’s true, there were dark storm clouds … heavy—black and pendulous, toward which they were driving’. – Narrator, Rocky Horror Show)
2. swinging freely; oscillating.
3. vacillating or undecided; wavering.

Origin:
1595–1605; < Latin pendulus hanging, swinging. See pend, -ulous

Related forms
pen·du·lous·ly, adverb
pen·du·lous·ness, noun
sem·i·pen·du·lous, adjective
sem·i·pen·du·lous·ly, adverb
sem·i·pen·du·lous·ness, noun

Synonyms
1. dangling, drooping, pendent, sagging.

Anagram

nodules up
lop unused
undue slop

11 January 2014

chatoyant

[shuh-toi-uhnt]

adjective

1. changing in luster or color: chatoyant silk.
2. Jewelry. reflecting a single streak of light when cut in a cabochon.
noun
3. Jewelry. a cabochon-cut gemstone having this reflected streak, as a chrysoberyl cat’s-eye.
Vernacular
4. like a cat’s eye: her chatoyant gaze
Origin:

1790–1800; < French, special use of present participle of chatoyer to change luster like a cat’s eye, equivalent to chat cat 1 + -oy- v. suffix + -ant -ant

Related forms
cha·toy·ance, cha·toy·an·cy, noun

Anagram

Any hot cat
Ah no catty
Chat to any
Yacht at on
To achy ant

10 January 2014

manacle

[man-uh-kuhl]

noun

1. a shackle for the hand; handcuff.
2. Usually, manacles. restraints; checks.

verb (used with object), man·a·cled, man·a·cling.

3. to handcuff; fetter.
4. to hamper; restrain: He was manacled by his inhibitions.

Origin:

1275–1325; Middle English, variant of manicle < Middle French: handcuff < Latin manicula small hand, handle of a plow. See manus, -i-, -cle1

Related forms
un·man·a·cled, adjective

Anagram

am clean
can meal
lace man
cane lam

9 January 2014

bucolic

[byoo-kol-ik]

adjective Also, bu·col·i·cal.

1. of or pertaining to shepherds; pastoral.
2. of, pertaining to, or suggesting an idyllic rural life.
noun
3. a pastoral poem.
4. Archaic. a farmer; shepherd; rustic.

Origin:
1525–35; < Latin būcolicus < Greek boukolikós rustic, equivalent to boukól ( os ) herdsman ( bou-, stem of boûs ox + -kolos keeper + -ikos -ic

Related forms
bu·col·i·cal·ly, adverb

Synonyms
2, 3. georgic.

Anagram

cub coil

8 January 2014

apostasy

[uh-pos-tuh-see]

noun, plural a·pos·ta·sies.

– a total desertion of or departure from one’s religion, principles, party, cause, etc.

Origin:

1350–1400; Middle English apostasye (< Anglo-French ) < Late Latin apostasia < Greek: a standing away, withdrawing, equivalent to apóstas ( is ) ( apo- apo- + sta- stand + -sis -sis) + -ia -ia

Anagram

Yo pastas
Soy pasta
Sat soapy

7 January 2014

bailey

[bey-lee]

noun, plural bai·leys.

1. the defensive wall surrounding an outer court of a castle.
2. the courtyard itself.

Anagram

bail ye

6 January 2013

amity

[am-i-tee]

noun

1. friendship; peaceful harmony.
2. mutual understanding and a peaceful relationship, especially between nations; peace; accord.
3. female name.

Origin:
1400–50; late Middle English amit ( i ) e < Middle French amitie, Old French amiste ( t ) < Vulgar Latin *amicitāt-, stem of amīcitās, derivative of Latin amīcus. See ami, amiable, -ity

Can be confused: enmity.

Anagram

may it

5 January 2013

golem

[goh-luhm, -lem]

noun

1. Jewish Folklore. a figure artificially constructed in the form of a human being and endowed with life.
2. a stupid and clumsy person; blockhead.
3. an automaton.

Origin:
1895–1900; (< Yiddish goylem ) < Hebrew gōlem embryo, larva, cocoon

Anagram

Me log
elm go

4 January 2014

scintilla

[sin-til-uh]

noun

– a minute particle; spark; trace: not a scintilla of remorse.

Origin:
1685–95; < Latin: spark

Anagram

lilac nits
can I still

3 January 2014

orenda

orenda

[aw-ren-duh, oh-ren-]

noun

– a supernatural force believed by the Iroquois Indians to be present, in varying degrees, in all objects or persons, and to be the spiritual force by which human accomplishment is attained or accounted for. E.g. He credited his orenda with the profound change in his life.
– inherent power.

Origin:

1902; coined by U.S. ethnologist J.N.B. Hewitt from the supposed Huron cognate of Mohawk orę́˙naʔ inherent power (akin to karę́˙naʔ song; compare Seneca oęnǫʔ power, song with power, kaęnǫʔ song)

Anagram

Dare on
Read on
Near do
A drone

2 January 2014

malarky

[muh-lahr-kee]

noun Informal/slang

1. speech or writing designed to obscure, mislead, or impress; bunkum: The claims were just a lot of malarkey.
2. information that is nonsense, rubbish.

Also, ma·lar·ky.

Origin:
1925–30, Americanism; origin uncertain

Anagram

may lark

1 January 2014

dauntless

[dawnt-lis, dahnt-]

adjective

– bold; fearless; intrepid

Origin:
1585–95; daunt + -less
(from the word ‘daunt’, meaning ‘to intimidate’, ‘to overcome with fear’, ‘to dishearten’.

Related forms
daunt·less·ly, adverb
daunt·less·ness, noun

Synonyms
1. undaunted, daring, indomitable, brave, courageous.

Antonyms
1. fearful, timid.

Anagram

– lad sent us
– and lets us
– deals stun
– Delta suns

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