July 2014 WOTDs

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31 July 2014

obtrusive

[uhb-troo-siv]
adjective

1. having or showing a disposition to obtrude, as by imposing oneself or one’s opinions on others.
2. (of a thing) obtruding itself: an obtrusive error.
3. protruding; projecting.

Origin:
1660–70; < Latin obtrūs ( us ) (see obtrusion) + -ive

Related forms
ob·tru·sive·ly, adverb
ob·tru·sive·ness, noun
hy·per·ob·tru·sive, adjective
hy·per·ob·tru·sive·ly, adverb
hy·per·ob·tru·sive·ness, noun
pre·ob·tru·sive, adjective

Synonyms
1. interfering, meddlesome, officious, presumptuous. 2. blatant.

Anagram

to be virus
verb is out

30 July 2014

awful

[aw-fuhl]

adjective

1. extremely bad; unpleasant; ugly: awful paintings; an awful job.
2. inspiring fear; dreadful; terrible: an awful noise.
3. solemnly impressive; inspiring awe: the awful majesty of alpine peaks.
4. full of awe; reverential.
5. extremely dangerous, risky, injurious, etc.: That was an awful fall she had. He took an awful chance by driving here so fast.

adverb
6. Informal. very; extremely: He did an awful good job of painting the barn. It’s awful hot in here.

Origin:
1200–50; Middle English a ( g ) heful, aueful; see awe, -ful; replacing Old English egefull dreadful

Related forms
aw·ful·ness, noun
qua·si-aw·ful, adjective
qua·si-aw·ful·ly, adverb
un·aw·ful, adjective
un·aw·ful·ness, noun

Can be confused: awful, awesome, offal (see usage note at the current entry).

Usage note
Although some object to any use of awful or awfully in any sense not connected with a feeling of awe, both have been used in other senses for several centuries. Awful and awfully as adverbial intensifiers— awful ( ly ) hot; awful ( ly ) cold —appear in the early 19th century, following much the same pattern as horribly and dreadfully. As an adverb awful is less formal in tone than awfully. In the sense “inspiring awe or fear” awesome has largely replaced awful.

29 July 2014

privy

[priv-ee]

adjective, priv·i·er, priv·i·est.

1. participating in the knowledge of something private or secret (usually followed by to ): Many persons were privy to the plot.
2. private; assigned to private uses.
3. belonging or pertaining to some particular person, especially with reference to a sovereign.
4. secret, concealed, hidden, or secluded.
5. acting or done in secret.

noun, plural priv·ies.
6. outhouse ( def 1 ) .
7. Law. a person participating directly in or having a derivative interest in a legal transaction.

Origin:
1175–1225; Middle English prive < Old French: private (adj.), close friend, private place (noun) < Latin prīvātus private

28 July 2014

veto

[vee-toh]

noun, plural ve·toes. Also called veto power (for defs 1, 4).

1. the power or right vested in one branch of a government to cancel or postpone the decisions, enactments, etc., of another branch, especially the right of a president, governor, or other chief executive to reject bills passed by the legislature.
2. the exercise of this right.
3. Also called veto message. a document exercising such right and setting forth the reasons for such action.
4. a nonconcurring vote by which one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council can overrule the actions or decisions of the meeting on matters other than procedural.
5. an emphatic prohibition of any sort.

verb (used with object), ve·toed, ve·to·ing.
6. to reject (a proposed bill or enactment) by exercising a veto.
7. to prohibit emphatically.

Origin:
1620–30; < Latin vetō I forbid

Related forms
ve·to·er, noun
pre·ve·to, noun, plural pre·ve·toes, verb (used with object), pre·ve·toed, pre·ve·to·ing.
re·ve·to, verb (used with object), re·ve·toed, re·ve·to·ing.
un·ve·toed, adjective

Anagram

vote

27 July 2014

qualm

[kwahm, kwawm]

noun

1. an uneasy feeling or pang of conscience as to conduct; compunction:
He has no qualms about lying.
2. a sudden feeling of apprehensive uneasiness; misgiving:
a sudden qualm about the success of the venture.
3. a sudden sensation or onset of faintness or illness, especially of nausea.

26 July 2014

boorish

[boor-ish]

adjective

– ill-mannered, clumsy, or insensitive; rude. ‘boorish behaviour’.

adverb:

boorishly

noun:

boorishness

Anagram

Sir hobo

25 July 2014

gonzo

[gon-zoh]
Slang.
adjective

1. (of journalism, reportage, etc.) filled with bizarre or subjective ideas, commentary, or the like.
2. crazy; eccentric.

noun
3. eccentricity, weirdness, or craziness.

Origin:
1970–75, Americanism; apparently first used in the phrase Gonzo journalism by U.S. journalist Hunter S. Thompson (born 18 July 1939); perhaps < Italian: simpleton, one easily duped (of uncertain origin) or < Spanish ganso a lazy or dull person, literally, goose (< Germanic; see goose)

24 July 2014

firkin

[fur-kin]

noun

1. a British unit of capacity usually equal to a quarter of a barrel.
2. a small wooden vessel or tub for butter, lard, etc.

Origin:
1400–50; late Middle English ferdkyn, firdekyn, equivalent to ferde (variant of ferthe fourth) + -kin -kin

Anagram

fin irk

23 July 2014

culpable

[kuhl-puh-buhl]

adjective

– deserving blame or censure; blameworthy. ‘He was culpable’.

Origin:
1275–1325; Middle English < Latin culpābilis, equivalent to culpā ( re ) to hold liable (derivative of culpa blame) + -bilis -ble; replacing Middle English coupable < Middle French < Latin as above

Related forms
cul·pa·bil·i·ty, cul·pa·ble·ness, noun
cul·pa·bly, adverb
non·cul·pa·ble, adjective
non·cul·pa·ble·ness, noun
non·cul·pa·bly, adverb

Synonyms
reprehensible.

Anagram

cup label
club pale
bull cape
blue clap

22 July 2014

shambolic

[sham-bol-ik]

adjective (Chiefly British Informal)

– very disorganized; messy or confused: I’ve had a shambolic year, the worst ever.

Origin:
alteration of shamble (shambles, ‘a disordered place’)

Anagram

cash limbo
chasm boil

21 July 2014

assay

[v. a-sey; n. as-ey, a-sey]

verb (used with object)

1. to examine or analyze: to assay a situation; to assay an event.
2. Metallurgy . to analyze (an ore, alloy, etc.) in order to determine the quantity of gold, silver, or other metal in it.
3. Pharmacology . to subject (a drug) to an analysis for the determination of its potency or composition.
4. to judge the quality of; assess; evaluate: to assay someone’s efforts.
5. to try or test; put to trial: to assay one’s strength; to assay one’s debating abilities.

verb (used without object)
7. to contain, as shown by analysis, a certain proportion of usually precious metal.

noun
8. Metallurgy . determination of the amount of metal, especially gold or silver, in an ore, alloy, etc.
9. a substance undergoing analysis or trial.
10. a detailed report of the findings in assaying a substance.
11. Archaic. examination; trial; attempt; essay.

Origin:
1250–1300; Middle English < Middle French; variant of essay

Related forms
as·say·a·ble, adjective
as·say·er, noun
un·as·sayed, adjective
un·as·say·ing, adjective

Can be confused: assay, essay

20 July 2014

dishabille

[dis-uh-beel, -bee]

noun

1. the state of being dressed in a careless, disheveled, or disorderly style or manner; undress. ‘She greeted me in a dishabille’.
2. a garment worn in undress.
3. a loose morning dress.
4. a disorderly or disorganized state of mind or way of thinking.

Also, des·habille.

Origin:
1665–75; < French déshabillé, noun use of past participle of déshabiller to undress, equivalent to dés- dis-1 + habiller to dress; see habiliment

Can be confused: décolletage, décolleté, dishabille.

Anagram

abide hills
shield bail

19 July 2014

pule

[pyool]

verb (used without object), puled, pul·ing.

– to cry in a thin voice; whine; whimper. ‘I heard the child pule when her toy broke’.

Origin:
1525–35; perhaps imitative

Related forms
pul·er, noun

18 July 2014

officious

[uh-fish-uhs]

adjective

1. objectionably aggressive in offering one’s unrequested and unwanted services, help, or advice; meddlesome: an officious person.
2. marked by or proceeding from such forwardness: officious interference.
3. Obsolete . ready to serve; obliging.

Origin:
1555–65; < Latin officiōsus obliging, dutiful, equivalent to offici ( um ) office + -ōsus -ous

Related forms
of·fi·cious·ly, adverb
of·fi·cious·ness, noun
o·ver·of·fi·cious, adjective
o·ver·of·fi·cious·ly, adverb
o·ver·of·fi·cious·ness, noun

Can be confused: 1. official, officious ; 2. officiate, officious.

17 July 2014

precocious

[pri-koh-shuhs]

adjective

1. unusually advanced or mature in development, especially mental development: a precocious child.
2. prematurely developed, as the mind, faculties, etc.
3. of or pertaining to premature development.
4. Botany .
a. flowering, fruiting, or ripening early, as plants or fruit.
b. bearing blossoms before leaves, as plants.
c. appearing before leaves, as flowers.

Origin:
1640–50; Latin praecoci-, stem of praecox (see precocity) + -ous

Related forms
pre·co·cious·ly, adverb
pre·co·cious·ness, noun
un·pre·co·cious, adjective
un·pre·co·cious·ly, adverb
un·pre·co·cious·ness, noun

Anagram

or occupies
coop cruise

16 July 2014

hoary

[hawr-ee, hohr-ee]

adjective, hoar·i·er, hoar·i·est.

1. gray or white with age: an old dog with a hoary muzzle.
2. ancient or venerable: hoary myths.
3. tedious from familiarity; stale: Please don’t tell that hoary joke at dinner again tonight.

Origin:
1520–30; hoar + -y

Related forms
hoar·i·ly, adverb
hoar·i·ness, noun
un·hoar·y, adjective

Synonyms
1. grizzled, grizzly; hoar. 2. old, dated, aged; venerated, revered.

15 July 2014

impunity

[im-pyoo-ni-tee]

noun

1. exemption from punishment.
2. immunity from detrimental effects, as of an action.

Origin:
1525–35; < Latin impūnitās, equivalent to im- im-2 + pūnitās punishment ( pūn- (stem of punīre to punish) + -itās -ity); see punitive

Can be confused: immunity, impunity.

Synonyms
See exemption.

Anagram

pi mutiny

14 July 2014

replete

[ri-pleet]

adjective

1. abundantly supplied or provided; filled (usually followed by with): a speech replete with sentimentality.
2. stuffed or gorged with food and drink.
3. complete: a scholarly survey, replete in its notes and citations.

noun
4. Entomology . (among honey ants) a worker with a distensible crop in which honeydew and nectar are stored for the use of the colony.

Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English repleet < Middle French replet < Latin replētus past participle of replēre to fill up ( re- re- + plē ( re ) to fill, akin to plēnus full1 + -tus past participle suffix)

Related forms
re·plete·ly, adverb
re·plete·ness, noun
re·ple·tive, adjective
re·ple·tive·ly, adverb
un·re·plete, adjective

Synonyms
2. sated, satiated, glutted, surfeited.

Anagram

pert eel

13 July 2014

quarantine

[kwawr-uhn-teen, kwor-, kwawr-uhn-teen, kwor-]

noun

1. a strict isolation imposed to prevent the spread of disease.
2. a period, originally 40 days, of detention or isolation imposed upon ships, persons, animals, or plants on arrival at a port or place, when suspected of carrying some infectious or contagious disease.
3. a system of measures maintained by governmental authority at ports, frontiers, etc., for preventing the spread of disease.
4. the branch of the governmental service concerned with such measures.
5. a place or station at which such measures are carried out, as a special port or dock where ships are detained.
6. the detention or isolation enforced.
7. the place, especially a hospital, where people are detained.
8. a period of 40 days.
9. social, political, or economic isolation imposed as a punishment, as in ostracizing an individual or enforcing sanctions against a foreign state.

verb (used with object), quar·an·tined, quar·an·tin·ing.
10. to put in or subject to quarantine.
11. to exclude, detain, or isolate for political, social, or hygienic reasons.

Origin:
1600–10; < Italian quarantina, variant of quarantena, orig. Upper Italian (Venetian): period of forty days, group of forty, derivative of quaranta forty ≪ Latin quadrāgintā

Related forms
quar·an·tin·a·ble, adjective
quar·an·tin·er, noun
pre·quar·an·tine, noun, verb (used with object), pre·quar·an·tined, pre·quar·an·tin·ing.
un·quar·an·tined, adjective

Anagram

inane quart
near quaint

12 July 2014

pandiculate

Verb

(third-person singular simple present pandiculates, present participle pandiculating, simple past and past participle pandiculated)

(transitive, intransitive)

– To fully stretch the torso and upper limbs, typically accompanied by yawning. ‘The first thing many people do upon awakening is to pandiculate’.

anagram

antacid pule
decant pilau
a citadel pun

11 June 2014

drubbing

[druhb-ing]

noun

1. a beating; a sound thrashing.
2. a decisive, humiliating defeat, as in a game or contest.

Origin:
1640–50; drub + -ing

drub [druhb]

verb (used with object), drubbed, drub·bing.

1. to beat with a stick or the like; cudgel; flog; thrash.
2. to defeat decisively, as in a game or contest.
3. to drive as if by flogging: Latin grammar was drubbed into their heads.
4. to stamp (the feet).

noun
5. a blow with a stick or the like.

Origin:
1625–35; perhaps by uncertain mediation < Arabic ḍarb blow, beating

Related forms
drub·ber, noun
un·drubbed, adjective

Anagram

bring Bud
bind grub

10 July 2014

risible

[riz-uh-buhl]

adjective

1. causing or capable of causing laughter; laughable; ludicrous.
2. having the ability, disposition, or readiness to laugh.
3. pertaining to or connected with laughing.

Origin:
1550–60; < Late Latin rīsibilis that can laugh, equivalent to Latin rīs ( us ) (past participle of rīdēre to laugh) + -ibilis -ible

Related forms
un·ris·i·ble, adjective

Synonyms
1. funny, humorous, comical.

Anagram

sir bile
rib lies

9 July 2014

clout

[klout]

noun

1. a blow, especially with the hand; cuff: The bully gave him a painful clout on the head.
2. Informal. pull; strong influence; muscle, especially political power: a wealthy campaign contributor with clout at city hall.
3. Baseball. a long hit, especially an extra-base hit: A hard clout to deep center field drove in the winning run.
4. Archery.
a. the mark or target shot at, especially in long-distance shooting.
b. a shot that hits the mark.
5. Also called clout nail. a nail for attaching sheet metal to wood, having a short shank with a broad head.
verb (used with object)
6. Archaic.
a. a patch or piece of cloth or other material used to mend something.
b. any worthless piece of cloth; rag.
c. an article of clothing (usually used contemptuously).
7. to strike, especially with the hand; cuff.
8. Archaic.
a. to bandage.
b. to patch; mend.

Origin:
before 900; Middle English; Old English clūt piece of cloth or metal; cognate with Middle Low German klūte, Old Norse klūtr

Related forms
clout·er, noun

8 July 2014

lax

[laks]

adjective, lax·er, lax·est.

1. not strict or severe; careless or negligent: lax morals; a lax attitude toward discipline.
2. loose or slack; not tense, rigid, or firm: a lax rope; a lax handshake.
3. not rigidly exact or precise; vague: lax ideas.
4. open, loose, or not retentive, as diarrheal bowels.
5. (of a person) having the bowels unusually loose or open.
6. open or not compact; having a loosely cohering structure; porous: lax tissue; lax texture.
7. Phonetics. (of a vowel) articulated with relatively relaxed tongue muscles. Compare tense1 (def 4) .

Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin laxus loose, slack, wide; akin to languēre to languish; cognate with Old English slæc slack1

Related forms
lax·ly, adverb
lax·ness, noun
o·ver·lax, adjective
o·ver·lax·ly, adverb
o·ver·lax·ness, noun

7 July 2014

pestilent

[pes-tl-uhnt]

adjective

1. producing or tending to produce infectious or contagious, often epidemic, disease; pestilential.
2. destructive to life; deadly; poisonous.
3. injurious to peace, morals, etc.; pernicious.
4. troublesome, annoying, or mischievous.

Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin pestilent- (stem of pestilēns ) unhealthy, noxious, alteration of pestilentus, equivalent to pesti- (stem of pestis ) pest + -lentus -lent

Related forms
pes·ti·lent·ly, adverb
an·ti·pes·ti·lent, adjective
an·ti·pes·ti·lent·ly, adverb
non·pes·ti·lent, adjective
non·pes·ti·lent·ly, adverb

Anagram

nestle tip
silent pet

6 July 2014

lackadaisical

[lak-uh-dey-zi-kuhl]

adjective

1. without interest, vigor, or determination; listless; lethargic: a lackadaisical attempt.
2. lazy; indolent: a lackadaisical fellow.

Origin:
1760–70; lackadais(y) (variant of lackaday) + -ical

Related forms
lack·a·dai·si·cal·ly, adverb
lack·a·dai·si·cal·ness, noun

Synonyms
2. slothful, unambitious, idle.

Anagram

Cicadas Alkali
Acacia All Disk
Lack Acid Alias

5 July 2014

frenemy

[fren-uh-mee]

noun (Informal)

– a person or group that is friendly toward another because the relationship brings benefits, but harbors feelings of resentment or rivalry: Clearly, turning the competition into frenemies is good for your business.
Origin:
1975-80; fr(iend) + enemy

Anagram

ferny me

4 July 2014

shill

[shil]
Slang.
noun

1. a person who poses as a customer in order to decoy others into participating, as at a gambling house, auction, confidence game, etc.
2. a person who publicizes or praises something or someone for reasons of self-interest, personal profit, or friendship or loyalty.
verb (used without object)
3. to work as a shill: He shills for a large casino.
verb (used with object)
4. to advertise or promote (a product) as or in the manner of a huckster; hustle: He was hired to shill a new TV show.
Origin:
1920–25; origin uncertain

Anagram

hills

2 July 2014

spurious

[spyoor-ee-uhs]

adjective

1. not genuine, authentic, or true; not from the claimed, pretended, or proper source; counterfeit.
2. Biology . (of two or more parts, plants, etc.) having a similar appearance but a different structure.
3. of illegitimate birth; bastard.
Origin:
1590–1600; < Latin spurius bastard, perhaps < Etruscan; see -ous

Related forms
spu·ri·ous·ly, adverb
spu·ri·ous·ness, noun
non·spu·ri·ous, adjective
non·spu·ri·ous·ly, adverb
non·spu·ri·ous·ness, noun

Synonyms
1. false, sham, bogus, mock, feigned, phony; meretricious, deceitful.

Antonyms
1. genuine.

Anagram

I pours us

2 July 2014

hector

[hek-ter]

noun

1. Classical Mythology . the eldest son of Priam and husband of Andromache: the greatest Trojan hero in the Trojan War, killed by Achilles.
2. (lowercase) a blustering, domineering person; a bully.
3. a male given name.
verb (used with object)
4. (lowercase) to treat with insolence; bully; torment: The teacher hectored his students incessantly.
verb (used without object)
5. (lowercase) to act in a blustering, domineering way; be a bully.
Origin:
< Latin < Greek Héktōr, special use of adj. héktōr holding fast

Synonyms
4. torture, persecute; badger, harass.

Anagram
or etch

30 June 2014

moiety

[moi-i-tee]

noun, plural moi·e·ties.

1. a half.
2. an indefinite portion, part, or share.
3. Anthropology . one of two units into which a tribe or community is divided on the basis of unilineal descent.

Origin:

1400–50; late Middle English moite < Middle French < Latin medietāt- (stem of medietās ) the middle, equivalent to medi ( us ) mid + -etāt-, variant, after vowels, of -itāt- -ity

Anagram

yo time

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