July 2013 – WOTDs

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31 July 2013

sophistry

[sof-uh-stree]

noun, plural soph·ist·ries.

1. a subtle, tricky, superficially plausible, but generally fallacious method of reasoning.
2. a false argument; sophism.

Example:

‘He (Justice Tony Fitzgerald) more or less said (to lawyers in the Royal Commission he was chairing into corruption in Queensland), “once you start the sophistry, I’ll sit you down because you’re here to help me find the truth and we’re not going to find it with those little tricks of sophistry you use” ‘.

– Evan Whitton, ABC Radio National,  Late Night Live, ‘Our Legal Flaws’, 30 July 2013.

Origin:
1300–50; Middle English sophistrie < Middle French, equivalent to sophistre sophister + -ie -y3

Related forms
an·ti·soph·ist·ry, noun

30 July 2013

doppelganger

[dop-uhl-gang-er; German daw-puhl-geng-er]

noun

– a ghostly double or counterpart of a living person, e.g. he thought he saw his doppelganger.

Also, Doppelgänger.
Also called doubleganger.

Origin:
1850–55; < German: literally, double-walker

29 July 2013

sanguine

[sang-gwin]

adjective

1. cheerfully optimistic, hopeful, or confident: a sanguine disposition; sanguine expectations.
2. reddish; ruddy: a sanguine complexion.
3. (in old physiology) having blood as the predominating humor and consequently being ruddy-faced, cheerful, etc.
4. bloody; sanguinary.
5. blood-red; red.

28 July 2013

profligate

[prof-li-git, -geyt]

adjective

1. utterly and shamelessly immoral or dissipated; thoroughly dissolute.
2. recklessly prodigal or extravagant.
noun
3. a profligate person.
Origin:
1525–35; < Latin prōflīgātus broken down in character, degraded, orig. past participle of prōflīgāre to shatter, debase, equivalent to prō- pro-1 + -flīgāre, derivative of flīgere to strike; see inflict, -ate1

Related forms
prof·li·gate·ly, adverb
prof·li·gate·ness, noun

Synonyms
1. abandoned, licentious.

27 July 2013

grist

[grist]

noun

1. grain to be ground.
2. ground grain; meal produced from grinding.
3. a quantity of grain for grinding at one time; the amount of meal from one grinding.
4. Older Use. a quantity or lot.
verb (used with object)
5. to grind (grain).
Idioms
6. grist for / to one’s mill, something employed to one’s profit or advantage, especially something seemingly unpromising: e.g. Every delay was so much more grist for her mill.

Origin:
before 1000; Middle English, Old English; akin to Old English grindan to grind

26 July 2013

fervid

[fur-vid]

adjective

1. heated or vehement in spirit, enthusiasm, etc.: a fervid orator.
2. burning; glowing; intensely hot.

Origin:
1590–1600; < Latin fervidus boiling. See fervent, -id4

Related forms
fer·vid·i·ty, noun
fer·vid·ly, adverb
non·fer·vid, adjective
non·fer·vid·ly, adverb
non·fer·vid·ness, noun

25 July 2013

truculent

[truhk-yuh-luhnt, troo-kyuh-]

adjective

1. fierce; cruel; savagely brutal.
2. brutally harsh; vitriolic; scathing: his truculent criticism of her work.
3. aggressively hostile; belligerent.

Origin:
1530–40; < Latin truculentus, equivalent to truc-, stem of trux savage, pitiless + -ulentus -ulent

Related forms
truc·u·lence, truc·u·len·cy, noun
truc·u·lent·ly, adverb

Synonyms
1. See fierce.

Antonyms
1. amiable, gentle.

24 July 2013

invigilator

[in-vij-uh-leyt-ohr]
noun

1. one who keeps watch
2. British: one who keeps watch over students at an examination.

[in-vij-uh-leyt]
verb (used without object), in·vig·i·lat·ed, in·vig·i·lat·ing.
1. to keep watch.
2. British . to keep watch over students at an examination.
Origin:
1545–55; < Latin invigilātus (past participle of invigilāre to keep watch, stay up late), equivalent to in- in-2 + vigilā- (stem of vigilāre to watch; see vigil) + -tus past participle suffix

Related forms
in·vig·i·la·tion, noun

23 July 2013

troth

[trawth, trohth]
noun

1. faithfulness, fidelity, or loyalty: by my troth.
2. truth or verity: in troth.
3. one’s word or promise, especially in engaging oneself to marry, such as ‘betrothed’

Origin:
1125–75; Middle English trowthe, trouthe, variant of treuthe, Old English trēowth. See truth

Related forms
troth·less, adjective

22 July 2013

fealty

[fee-uhl-tee]

noun, plural fe·al·ties.

1. History/Historical .
a. fidelity to a lord.
b. the obligation or the engagement to be faithful to a lord, usually sworn to by a vassal.
2. fidelity; faithfulness.

Origin:
1275–1325; Middle English feute, feaute, fealtye < Anglo-French, Old French feauté, fealté < Latin fidēlitāt- (stem of fidēlitās ) fidelity; internal -au-, -al- from feal, reshaping (by substitution of -al- -al1 ) of fe ( d ) eil < Latin fidēlis

Related forms
non·fe·al·ty, noun, plural non·fe·al·ties.
un·fe·al·ty, noun, plural un·fe·al·ties.

Synonyms
2. loyalty, devotion.

Example:

More surprisingly, he managed to persuade the norman nobility to swear fealty to the boy.

21 July 2013

jingo

[jing-goh]

noun, plural jin·goes, adjective

noun

1. a person who professes his or her patriotism loudly and excessively, favoring vigilant preparedness for war and an aggressive foreign policy; bellicose chauvinist.
2. English History . a Conservative supporter of Disraeli’s policy in the Near East during the period 1877–78.
adjective
3. of jingoes.
4. characterized by jingoism.
Idioms
5. by jingo!, Informal. (an exclamation used to emphasize the truth or importance of a foregoing statement, or to express astonishment, approval, etc.): I know you can do it, by jingo!

Example sentence:

Jingoism dominated the debate in the UN General Assembly.

Origin:

1660–70; orig. conjurer’s call hey jingo appear! come forth! (opposed to hey presto hasten away!), taken into general use in the phrase by Jingo, euphemism for by God; chauvinistic sense from by Jingo in political song supporting use of British forces against Russia in 1878

jingo
“mindless, gung-ho patriot,” 1878, picked up from the refrain of a music hall song written by G.W. Hunt supporting aggressive British policy toward Russia at a time of international tension. (“We don’t want to fight, But by Jingo! if we do, We’ve got the ships, we’ve got the men, We’ve got the money
too.”) As an asseveration, it was in colloquial use since 1694, and is apparently yet another euphemism for Jesus, influenced by conjurer’s gibberish presto-jingo (1670). The suggestion that it somehow derives from Basque Jinko “god” is “not impossible,” but “as yet unsupported by evidence” [OED].

20 July 2013

parochial

[puh-roh-kee-uhl]

adjective

1. of or pertaining to a parish or parishes.
2. of or pertaining to parochial schools or the education they provide.
3. very limited or narrow in scope or outlook; provincial: parochial views; a parochial mentality, football fans are very parochial.

Origin:
1350–1400; late Middle English parochialle < Late Latin parochiālis (see parish, -al1 ); replacing Middle English parochiele < Anglo-French parochiel < Late Latin as above

Related forms
pa·ro·chi·al·ly, adverb
pa·ro·chi·al·ness, noun
in·ter·pa·ro·chi·al, adjective
in·ter·pa·ro·chi·al·ly, adverb
in·ter·pa·ro·chi·al·ness, noun

19 July 2013

miasma

[mahy-az-muh, mee-]

noun, plural mi·as·mas, mi·as·ma·ta [mahy-az-muh-tuh, mee-]

1. noxious exhalations from putrescent organic matter; poisonous effluvia or germs polluting the atmosphere.
2. a dangerous, foreboding, or deathlike influence or atmosphere.
3. an unwholesome or oppressive atmosphere

Example sentence:

The organisation was beset by the miasma of corruption.

Origin:
1655–65; < Neo-Latin < Greek míasma stain, pollution, akin to miaínein to pollute, stain

Related forms
mi·as·mal, mi·as·mat·ic [mahy-az-mat-ik], mi·as·mat·i·cal, mi·as·mic, adjective
un·mi·as·mal, adjective
un·mi·as·mat·ic, adjective
un·mi·as·mat·i·cal, adject

17 July 2013 – State of Origin Special

cerise

cerise \suh-REES\, noun:

moderate to deep red.

Example Sentence

New South Wales was awash with cerise tonight as the Queensland Maroons celebrated their eighth straight State of Origin Series by defeating the NSW Blues 12-10.

Cerise comes from the French word of the same spelling meaning “cherry.” It entered English in the 1850s describing a shade of cherry red.

18 July 2013

bulwark

[bool-werk, -wawrk, buhl-]

noun

1. a wall of earth or other material built for defense; rampart.
2. any protection against external danger, injury, or annoyance: The new dam was a bulwark against future floods.
3. any person or thing giving strong support or encouragement in time of need, danger, or doubt: Religion was his bulwark.
4. Usually, bulwarks. Nautical . a solid wall enclosing the perimeter of a weather or main deck for the protection of persons or objects on deck.

verb (used with object)
5. to fortify or protect with a bulwark; secure by or as if by a fortification.

17 July 2013

varsity

[vahr-si-tee]

noun, plural var·si·ties, adjective

noun

1. any first-string team, especially in sports, that represents a school, college, university, or the like: He is on the varsity in tennis and in debating.
2. Chiefly British Informal. university.
adjective
3. of or pertaining to a university or school team, activity, or competition: a varsity debater.
Origin:
1840–50; compare versity university, in 17th century; pronunciation probably preserves historical outcome of Middle English ĕr, as in varmint

Related forms
in·ter·var·si·ty, adjective

16 July 2013

misanthrope

[mis-uhn-throhp, miz-]
noun
a hater of humankind, e.g. he behaved like a misanthrope. His behaviour was misanthropic.

15 July 2013

litotes

[lahy-tuh-teez, lit-uh-, lahy-toh-teez]

noun, plural li·to·tes. Rhetoric .
understatement, especially that in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of its contrary, as in ‘not bad at all’.
Compare hyperbole.

Origin:
1650–60; < Neo-Latin < Greek lītótēs orig., plainness, simplicity, derivative of lītós plain, small, meager

14 July 2013

hyperbole

[hahy-pur-buh-lee]

noun Rhetoric .

1. obvious and intentional exaggeration.
2. an extravagant statement or figure of speech not intended to be taken literally, as ‘to wait an eternity’, or ‘I’m so hungry I could eat a horse’.

Example sentence:

‘The aspiring politician’s campaign promises were more hyperbole than policy’.

Compare litotes.

Origin:
1520–30; < Greek hyperbolḗ excess, exaggeration, throwing beyond, equivalent to hyper- hyper- + bolḗ throw

Synonyms
2. overstatement.

Antonyms
2. understatement.

13 July 2013

lugubrious

[loo-goo-bree-uhs, -gyoo-]

adjective

– mournful, dismal, or gloomy, especially in an affected, exaggerated, or unrelieved manner: lugubrious songs of lost love.

Origin:
1595–1605; < Latin lūgubri ( s ) mournful (akin to lūgēre to mourn) + -ous

Related forms
lu·gu·bri·ous·ly, adverb
lu·gu·bri·ous·ness, lu·gu·bri·os·i·ty [luh-goo-bree-os-i-tee, -gyoo-] Show IPA , noun
non·lu·gu·bri·ous, adjective
non·lu·gu·bri·ous·ly, adverb
non·lu·gu·bri·ous·ness, noun

Synonyms
sorrowful, melancholy.

Antonyms
cheerful.

12 July 2013

ginormous

[jahy-nawr-muhs]

adjective Informal.

– extremely large; huge. e.g. King Kong was ginormous gorilla.

11 July 2013

synoptic

[si-nop-tik]

adjective

1. pertaining to or constituting a synopsis; affording or taking a general view of the principal parts of a subject.
2. ( often initial capital letter ) taking a common view: used chiefly in reference to the first three Gospels (synoptic Gospels) Matthew, Mark, and Luke, from their similarity in content, order, and statement.
3. ( often initial capital letter ) pertaining to the synoptic Gospels.
4. meteorological: showing or concerned with the distribution of meteorological conditions over a wide area at a given time: a synoptic chart

Also, syn·op·ti·cal.

Origin:
1755–65; < Greek synoptikós, equivalent to synop- (see synopsis) + -tikos -tic

Related forms
syn·op·ti·cal·ly, adverb
non·syn·op·tic, adjective, noun
non·syn·op·ti·cal, adjective
non·syn·op·ti·cal·ly, adverb

10 July 2013

unilateral

[yoo-nuh-lat-er-uhl]

adjective
1. relating to, occurring on, or involving one side only: unilateral development; a unilateral approach.
2. undertaken or done by or on behalf of one side, party, or faction only; not mutual: a unilateral decision; unilateral disarmament.
3. having only one side or surface; without a reverse side or inside, as a Möbius strip.
4. Law.
a. pertaining to a contract that can be formed only when the party to whom an offer is made renders the performance for which the offeror bargains.
b. pertaining to a contract in which obligation rests on only one party, as a binding promise to make a gift.
5. Botany . having all the parts disposed on one side of an axis, as an inflorescence.

9 July 2013

Young Fogey

noun

– a young or fairly young person who adopts the conservative values of an older generation (see Old Fogey).

Example sentence:

The chubby London detective wore the three-piece, pink shirt and toothbrush moustache of the archetypal Young Fogey.

– Margaret Moore, Forests of the Night.

8 July 2013

old fogey

noun

a person who is excessively old-fashioned in attitude, ideas, manners, etc.
Also, old fogy.

Origin:
1825–35

Related forms
old-fo·gy·ish, old-fo·gey·ish, adjective

6 July 2013

prosaic

[proh-zey-ik]

adjective

1. commonplace or dull; matter-of-fact or unimaginative: a prosaic mind.
2. of or having the character or form of prose rather than poetry.
Also, pro·sa·i·cal.

Origin:
1650–60; Late Latin prōsaicus. See prose, -ic

Related forms
pro·sa·i·cal·ly, adverb
pro·sa·ic·ness, noun
non·pro·sa·ic, adjective
non·pro·sa·ic·ness, noun
non·pro·sa·i·cal·ly, adverb

Synonyms
1. ordinary, everyday; vapid, humdrum, tedious, tiresome, uninteresting.

5 July 2013

madcap

[mad-kap]
adjective
1. wildly or heedlessly impulsive; reckless; rash: a madcap scheme.
noun
2. a madcap person.
Origin:
1580–90; mad + cap1

4 July 2013

niggle

[nig-uhl]

verb (used without object), nig·gled, nig·gling.
1. to criticize, especially constantly or repeatedly, in a peevish or petty way; carp: to niggle about the fine points of interpretation; preferring to niggle rather than take steps to correct a situation.
2. to spend too much time and effort on inconsequential details: It’s difficult to be meticulous and not niggle.
3. to work ineffectively; trifle: to niggle with an uninteresting task.
Origin:
1610–20; < Scandinavian; compare Norwegian nigla to be penurious (ultimately < Old Norse hnøggr stingy, cognate with Old English hnēaw ); cf. niggard

Related forms
nig·gler, noun

3 July 2013

halcyon

[hal-see-uhn]

adjective

Also, hal·cy·o·ni·an [hal-see-oh-nee-uhn], hal·cy·on·ic [hal-see-on-ik]

1. calm; peaceful; tranquil: halcyon weather.
2. rich; wealthy; prosperous: halcyon times of peace.
3. happy; joyful; carefree: halcyon days of youth.
4. of or pertaining to the halcyon or kingfisher.
noun
5. a mythical bird, usually identified with the kingfisher, said to breed about the time of the winter solstice in a nest floating on the sea, and to have the power of charming winds and waves into calmness.
6. any of various kingfishers, especially of the genus Halcyon.
7. ( initial capital letter ) Classical Mythology , Alcyone ( def 2 ) .

2 July 2013

platitude

[plat-i-tood, -tyood]

noun
1. a flat, dull, or trite remark, especially one uttered as if it were fresh or profound.
2. the quality or state of being flat, dull, or trite: the platitude of most political oratory.

Origin:
1805–15; < French: literally, flatness, equivalent to plat flat (see plate1 ) + -itude, as in French latitude, altitude, magnitude, etc.

Can be confused: platitude, plaudit.

Synonyms
1. cliché, truism.

1 July 2013

ensconce

[en-SKONS]

verb (used with object), esconced, ensconcing.

1. To settle firmly and comfortably.
2. To hide securely.

ETYMOLOGY:
From en- (in) + sconce (small fortification), from Dutch schans (entrenchment). Earliest documented use: 1589.

USAGE:
‘Vladimir Putin is once more ensconced behind the Kremlin’s walls’
Not Such a Strongman; The Economist (London, UK); Jun 9, 2012.

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