June 2014 WOTDs

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29 June 2014

hegemony

[hi-jem-uh-nee, hej-uh-moh-nee]

noun, plural he·gem·o·nies.

1. leadership or predominant influence exercised by one nation over others, as in a confederation.
2. leadership; predominance.
3. (especially among smaller nations) aggression or expansionism by large nations in an effort to achieve world domination.

Origin:
1560–70; < Greek hēgemonía leadership, supremacy, equivalent to hēgemon- (stem of hēgemṓn ) leader + -ia -y3

Related forms
heg·e·mon·ic [hej-uh-mon-ik] Show IPA , heg·e·mon·i·cal, adjective
an·ti·he·gem·o·ny, noun, plural an·ti·he·gem·o·nies, adjective

Anagram

enemy hog
gem honey
hey gnome

29 June 2014

Weltschmerz

[velt-shmerts]

noun German.

– sorrow that one feels and accepts as one’s necessary portion in life; sentimental pessimism.

Also, welt·schmerz.

Origin:

literally translates as world-pain

28 June 2014

calumny

[kal-uhm-nee]

noun, plural cal·um·nies.

1. a false and malicious statement designed to injure the reputation of someone or something: The speech was considered a calumny of the administration.
2. the act of uttering calumnies; slander; defamation.

Origin:
1400–50; late Middle English < Latin calumnia, equivalent to calumn-, perhaps originally a middle participle of calvī to deceive + -ia -y3 )

Synonyms
2. libel, vilification, calumniation, derogation.

Anagram

clan yum

27 June 2014

humility

[hyoo-mil-i-tee or, often, yoo-]

noun

– the quality or condition of being humble; modest opinion or estimate of one’s own importance, rank, etc. e.g. He accepted the award with humility.

Origin:
1275–1325; Middle English humilite < Latin humilitās. See humble, -ty

Synonyms
lowliness, meekness, submissiveness.

Antonyms
pride.

Anagrams

thy ilium

26 June 2014

handsel

[han-suhl]

noun

1. a gift or token for good luck or as an expression of good wishes, as at the beginning of the new year or when entering upon a new situation or enterprise.
2. a first installment of payment.
3. the initial experience of anything; first encounter with or use of something taken as a token of what will follow; foretaste.

verb (used with object), hand·seled, hand·sel·ing or ( especially British ) hand·selled, hand·sel·ling.
4. to give a handsel to.
5. to inaugurate auspiciously.
6. to use, try, or experience for the first time.

Origin:
before 1050; Middle English handselne good-luck token, good-will gift, Old English handselen manumission, literally, hand-gift (see hand, sell); cognate with Danish handsel, earnest money

Related forms
un·hand·seled, adjective
un·hand·selled, adjective

Anagram

handles
den lash

25 June 2014

spoof

[spoof]

noun

1. a mocking imitation of someone or something, usually light and good-humored; lampoon or parody: The show was a spoof of college life.
2. a hoax; prank.

verb (used with object)
3. to mock (something or someone) lightly and good-humoredly; kid.
4. to fool by a hoax; play a trick on, especially one intended to deceive.

verb (used without object)
5. to scoff at something lightly and good-humoredly; kid: The campus paper was always spoofing about the regulations.

Origin:
1885–90; after a game invented and named by Arthur Roberts (1852–1933), British comedian

24 June 2014

obstreperous

[uhb-strep-er-uhs]

adjective

1. resisting control or restraint in a difficult manner; unruly.
2. noisy, clamorous, or boisterous: obstreperous children.

Origin:
1590–1600; < Latin obstreperus clamorous, akin to obstrepere to make a noise at ( ob- ob- + strepere to rattle); see -ous

Related forms
ob·strep·er·ous·ly, adverb
ob·strep·er·ous·ness, ob·strep·e·ros·i·ty [uhb-strep-uh-ros-i-tee] Show IPA , noun

Synonyms
1. uncontrolled, refractory.

Antonyms
1. obedient. 2. calm.

Anagram

uproots beers
super booster
sober troupes

23 June 2014

rile

[rahyl]

verb (used with object), riled, ril·ing. Chiefly Northern and North Midland U.S.

1. to irritate or vex. (e.g. It riled him)
2. to roil (water or the like).

Origin:
1815–25; variant of roil

Synonyms
1. irk, annoy, provoke, chafe, nettle.

Anagram

lire

22 June 2014

miscreant

[mis-kree-uhnt]

adjective

1. depraved, villainous, or base.
2. Archaic. holding a false or unorthodox religious belief; heretical.

noun

3. a vicious or depraved person; villain.
4. Archaic. a heretic or infidel.

Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English < Middle French mescreant unbelieving, equivalent to mes- mis-1 + creant ≪ Latin crēdent- credent

Anagram

cream tins
racism net
met Cairns

21 June 2014

felicity

[fi-lis-i-tee]

noun, plural fe·lic·i·ties.

1. the state of being happy, especially in a high degree; bliss: marital felicity.
2. an instance of this.
3. a source of happiness.
4. a skillful faculty: felicity of expression.
5. an instance or display of this: the many felicities of the poem.

Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English felicite (< Anglo-French ) < Latin fēlīcitās, equivalent to fēlīci- (stem of fēlīx ) happy + -tās -ty2

Related forms
non·fe·lic·i·ty, noun

Synonyms
1. See happiness.

Fe·lic·i·ty [fi-lis-i-tee]
noun
a female given name, form of Felicia.
Also, Fe·lic·i·ta [fi-lis-i-tuh]

Anagram

city life
ice fitly
I felt icy

20 June 2014

ultimo

[uhl-tuh-moh]

adverb

– in or of the month preceding the current one. For example, ‘On the twelfth ultimo’. (meaning the 12th of the preceding month). Abbreviation: ult., ulto. Compare instant, proximo.

Origin:
1575–85; < Latin ultimō ( mēnse or diē ) in the last (month) or on the last (day)

Anagram

I moult

19 June 2014

Predicate

[v. pred-i-keyt; adj., n. pred-i-kit]

verb (used with object), pred·i·cat·ed, pred·i·cat·ing.

1. to proclaim; declare; affirm; assert.

2. Logic.

a. to affirm or assert (something) of the subject of a proposition.

b. to make (a term) the predicate of such a proposition.

3. to connote; imply: His retraction predicates a change of attitude.

4. to found or derive (a statement, action, etc.); base (usually followed by on ): He predicated his behavior on his faith in humanity.

verb (used without object), pred·i·cat·ed, pred·i·cat·ing.

5. to make an affirmation or assertion.

adjective

6. predicated.

7. Grammar . belonging to the predicate: a predicate noun.

noun

8. Grammar . (in many languages, as English) a syntactic unit that functions as one of the two main constituents of a simple sentence, the other being the subject, and that consists of a verb, which in English may agree with the subject in number, and of all the words governed by the verb or modifying it, the whole often expressing the action performed by or the state attributed to the subject, as is here in Larry is here.

9. Logic. that which is affirmed or denied concerning the subject of a proposition.

Origin:
1400–50; (noun) late Middle English (< Middle French predicat ) < Medieval Latin praedicātum, noun use of neuter of Latin praedicātus, past participle of praedicāre to declare publicly, assert, equivalent to prae- pre- + dicā ( re ) to show, indicate, make known + -tus past participle suffix; (v. and adj.) < Latin praedicātus; cf. preach

Anagram

I carpeted
aced tripe
reacted pi

17 June 2014

oneirataxia

[oh-nee-rah-tax-ee-uh]

noun

– the inability to differentiate between dreams and reality. ‘By the end of the 1960s, more than one hippy had developed oneirataxia from over-indulging in hallucinogens’.

Anagram

I ax aeration
Axe rain iota

17 June 2014

savvy

[sav-ee]
Informal.

verb (used with object), verb (used without object), sav·vied, sav·vy·ing.
1. to know; understand.

noun, savvy, savviness
2. practical understanding; shrewdness or intelligence; common sense: a candidate who seemed to have no political savvy.

adjective, sav·vi·er, sav·vi·est.
3. shrewdly informed; experienced and well-informed; canny.

Origin:
1775–85; < Spanish sabe, present 3rd singular of saber to know < Latin sapere to be wise; see sapient

16 June 2014

languish

[lang-gwish]

verb (used without object)

1. to be or become weak or feeble; droop; fade.
2. to lose vigor and vitality.
3. to undergo neglect or experience prolonged inactivity; suffer hardship and distress: to languish in prison for ten years.
4. to be subjected to delay or disregard; be ignored: a petition that languished on the warden’s desk for a year.
5. to pine with desire or longing.
6. to assume an expression of tender, sentimental melancholy.

Anagram

haling us
laughs in
slain hug

15 June 2014

debonair

[deb-uh-nair]

adjective

1. courteous, gracious, and having a sophisticated charm: a debonair gentleman.
2. jaunty; carefree; sprightly.

Also, deb·o·naire, deb·on·naire.

Origin:
1175–1225; Middle English debone ( i ) re < Anglo-French; Old French debonaire, orig. phrase de bon aire of good lineage

Related forms
deb·o·nair·ly, adverb
deb·o·nair·ness, noun

Synonyms
1. urbane, suave, elegant, polished.

Anagram

rabid one
be ordain
iron bead

13 June 2014

pompadour

[pom-puh-dawr, -dohr, -door]

noun

1. an arrangement of a man’s hair in which it is brushed up high from the forehead.
2. an arrangement of a woman’s hair in which it is raised over the forehead in a roll, sometimes over a pad.
3. a pink or crimson color.
4. Textiles.
a. any fabric, as cotton or silk, having a design of small pink, blue, and sometimes gold flowers or bouquets on a white background.
b. a fabric of the color pompadour, used for garments.

Origin:
1745–55; named after the Marquise de Pompadour

Anagram

puma droop
mop up road

13 June 2014

bon vivant

[bon vee-vahnt; French bawn vee-vahn]

noun, plural bons vi·vants [bon vee-vahnts; French bawn vee-vahn]

– a person who lives luxuriously and enjoys good food and drink. His reputation as a bon vivant preceded him.

Origin: French

12 June 2014

immanent

[im-uh-nuhnt]

adjective

1. remaining within; indwelling; inherent. He was unaware of the immanent power he had over his own life.
2. Philosophy . (of a mental act) taking place within the mind of the subject and having no effect outside of it. (Compare transeunt – producing an effect outside the mind).
3. Theology . (of the Deity) indwelling the universe, time, etc. (Compare transcendent – rise above or beyond the universe, time etc).

Origin:
1525–35; < Late Latin immanent- (stem of immanēns ), present participle of immanēre to stay in, equivalent to im- im-1 + man ( ēre ) to stay + -ent- -ent; see remain

Related forms
im·ma·nence, im·ma·nen·cy, noun
im·ma·nent·ly, adverb
non·im·ma·nence, noun
non·im·ma·nen·cy, noun
non·im·ma·nent, adjective

Can be confused: eminent, immanent, imminent.

Synonyms
1. innate, inborn, intrinsic.

Antonyms
1. extrinsic, acquired, superimposed.

Anagram

mean mint

11 June 2014

crapulous

[krap-yuh-luhs]

adjective

1. given to or characterized by gross excess in drinking or eating.
2. suffering from or due to such excess.

Origin:
1530–40; < Late Latin crāpulōsus. See crapulent, -ous

Related forms
crap·u·lous·ly, adverb
crap·u·lous·ness, noun

Anagram

usurp cola
usual crop

10 June 2014

ostracise / ostracize

[os-truh-sahyz]

verb (used with object), os·tra·cised, os·tra·cis·ing.

1. to exclude, by general consent, from society, friendship, conversation, privileges, etc, social rejection: His friends ostracised him after his father’s arrest.
2. to banish (a person) from his or her native country; expatriate.
3. (in ancient Greece) to banish (a citizen) temporarily by popular vote.
Also, especially British, os·tra·cise. American, ostracize.

Origin:
1640–50; < Greek ostrakízein, equivalent to óstrak ( on ) potsherd, tile, ballot (akin to óstreion oyster, shell) + -izein -ize

In the ancient city-state of Athens, ‘ostracism’ was an annual voting process to expel citizens who were considered to be a threat to the state or a potential tyrant. To be ostracised, meant to be exiled for 10 years from Athens. Ostraka referred to pottery shards that were used as voting tokens. Broken pottery was in abundance and was used as a kind of scrap paper as papyrus was too costly. Each year, Athenians would vote on whether to hold an ostracism. If ‘yes’, then names of nominees was scratched on the ostraka and submitted to the scribe in the Agora (assembly) and deposited in urns. Presiding officials then counted and sorted the shards into piles. The person with the biggest pile was ostracised if it met certain criteria. According to Plutarch, the vote was valid if the total number of votes cast was 6,000. According to Philochorus, the vote was valid if the ‘winner’ obtained at least 6,000 votes. Ostracism was outside of the justice process; there was no charge and no defence.

Related forms
os·tra·cis·a·ble, adjective
os·tra·ci·sa·tion, noun
os·tra·cis·er, noun

Synonyms
1. shun, snub, blacklist.

Antonyms
1. accept.

Anagram

I Socrates
coarse sit
ciao tress
orca sites
tacos rise

9 June 2014

germane

[jer-meyn]

adjective

1. closely or significantly related; relevant; pertinent: Please keep your statements germane to the issue.
2. Obsolete . closely related.

Origin:

variant of german

Related forms
ger·mane·ly, adverb
ger·mane·ness, noun
non·ger·mane, adjective
un·ger·mane, adjective

Synonyms
1. related, applicable, apposite, appropriate, fitting, apt, suited.

Anagram

anger me

8 June 2014

mores

[mawr-eyz, -eez, mohr-]

plural noun Sociology .

– folkways of central importance accepted without question and embodying the fundamental moral views of a group. ‘Social mores have changed significantly over the last century‘.

Origin:
1905–10; < Latin mōres, plural of mōs usage, custom

Synonyms
customs, conventions, practices.

7 June 2014

panopticon

[pan-op-ti-kon]

noun

– a building, as a prison, hospital, library, or the like, so arranged that all parts of the interior are visible from a single point.

Example:

‘Snowden showed us just how big the panopticon was’

– Headline from the Guardian, 5 June 2014

Origin:
1760–70; pan- + Greek optikón sight, seeing (neuter of optikós; see optic)

Anagram

no panic top
contain pop

6 June 2014

maleficent

maleficent

[muh-lef-uh-suhnt]

adjective

– doing evil or harm; harmfully malicious: maleficent destroyers of reputations.

Origin:
1670–80; back formation from Latin maleficentia maleficence; see -ent

Can be confused: maleficent, malevolent.

Anagram

Lift menace
fiance melt
manic fleet
iceman left
flat icemen
face melt in
infect meal

5 June 2014

goad

[gohd]

noun

1. a stick with a pointed or electrically charged end, for driving cattle, oxen, etc.; prod.
2. anything that pricks or wounds like such a stick.
3. something that encourages, urges, or drives; a stimulus.

verb (used with object)

4. to prick or drive with, or as if with, a goad; prod; incite.

Origin:
before 900; Middle English gode, Old English gād; compare Langobardic gaida spearhead

Related forms
goad·like, adjective
un·goad·ed, adjective

Synonyms
4. spur, push, impel.

anagram

a god

4 June 2014

caprice

[kuh-prees]

noun

1. a sudden, unpredictable change, as of one’s mind or the weather.
2. a tendency to change one’s mind without apparent or adequate motive; whimsicality; capriciousness: With the caprice of a despotic king, he alternated between kindness and cruelty.
3. Music. capriccio ( def 1 ) .

Origin:
1660–70; < French < Italian; see capriccio

Synonyms
1. vagary, notion, whim, fancy.

Anagram

rice cap
care pic

3 June 2014

kitsch

[kich]

noun

– something of tawdry design, appearance, or content created to appeal to popular or undiscriminating taste.

Origin:
1925–30; < German, derivative of kitschen to throw together (a work of art)

Related forms
kitsch·y, adjective

2 June 2014

pander

[pan-der]

noun Also, pan·der·er.
1. a person who caters to or profits from the weaknesses or vices of others.
2. a go-between in amorous intrigues.

verb (used without object)
3. to act as a pander; cater basely: to pander to the vile tastes of vulgar persons.
verb (used with object)
4. to act as a pander for.

Origin:
1325–75; earlier pandar ( e ), generalized use of Middle English name Pandare Pandarus

Related forms
pan·der·age, noun
pan·der·ing·ly, adverb
pan·der·ism, noun
pan·der·ly, adjective

Can be confused: panda, pander.

Anagram

end rap

1 June 2014

liminality

[lim-uh-nal-i-tee]

noun Anthropology .

– the transitional period or phase of a rite of passage, usually during the middle stage of ritual, in which the participant lacks social status or rank, remains anonymous, shows obedience and humility, and follows prescribed forms of conduct, dress, etc. ‘Liminality is that awkward period in adolescence; no longer a child but not yet an adult’.

noun

– the condition of being on a threshold or at the beginning of a process. ‘Their first album took the band through a form of liminality, introducing break-through concepts to a market saturated with commercialised repetition’.

Origin:
< Latin līmin- (stem of līmen ) threshold + -al1 + -ity

Anagram

lay limit in

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