May 2014 WOTDs

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31 May 2014

gravitas

[grav-i-tahs, ‐tas]

noun

– seriousness or sobriety, as of conduct or speech. ‘His gravitas was captivating’.

Origin:
1920–25; < Latin gravitās ; see gravity

Anagram

rag vista
a vast rig

30 May 2014

picaresque

[pik-uh-resk]

adjective

1. pertaining to, characteristic of, or characterized by a form of prose fiction, originally developed in Spain, in which the adventures of an engagingly roguish hero are described in a series of usually humorous or satiric episodes that often depict, in realistic detail, the everyday life of the common people: picaresque novel; picaresque hero.
2. of, pertaining to, or resembling rogues.

Origin:
1800–10; < Spanish picaresco. See picaro, -esque

Related forms
un·pic·a·resque, adjective

Can be confused: picaresque, picturesque (see synonym study at picturesque).

Synonyms
2. prankish, rascally, devilish, raffish.

Anagram

risque cape
epic square
cirque apes
pace squire

29 May 2014

klutz

[kluhts]

noun Slang.

1. a clumsy, awkward person, ‘he’s such a klutz’.
2. a stupid or foolish person; blockhead.

Origin:
1965–70, Americanism; < Yiddish klots literally, wooden beam < Middle High German kloc ( German Klotz )

28 May 2014

anarchy

[an-er-kee]

noun

1. a state of society without government or law.
2. political and social disorder due to the absence of governmental control: The death of the king was followed by a year of anarchy.

Synonyms: lawlessness, disruption, turmoil.
3. anarchism – describes a number of political philosophies that generally promote stateless societies, ranging from extreme indivualism to collectivism.

4. lack of obedience to an authority; insubordination: the anarchy of his rebellious teenage years.

5. confusion and disorder: Intellectual and moral anarchy followed his loss of faith. It was impossible to find the book I was looking for in the anarchy of his bookshelves. Synonyms: chaos, disruption, turbulence; license; disorganization, disintegration.

Origin:
1530–40; (< Middle French anarchie or Medieval Latin anarchia ) < Greek, anarchía lawlessness, literally, lack of a leader, equivalent to ánarch ( os ) leaderless ( an- an-1 + arch ( ós ) leader + -os adj. suffix) + -ia -y3

Related forms
hy·per·an·ar·chy, noun
pro·an·ar·chy, adjective

Anagram

ya ranch

27 May 2014

involution

[in-vuh-loo-shuhn]

noun

1. an act or instance of involving or entangling; involvement.
2. the state of being involved.
3. something complicated.
4. Botany, Zoology .
a. a rolling up or folding in upon itself.
b. a part so formed.
5. Biology . retrograde development; degeneration.

Origin:
1605–15; < Medieval Latin involūtiōn- (stem of involūtiō ). See involute, -ion

Related forms
su·per·in·vo·lu·tion, noun

Anagram

violin unto
nut oil vino

26 May 2014

salient

[sey-lee-uhnt, seyl-yuhnt]

adjective

1. prominent or conspicuous: salient traits.
2. projecting or pointing outward: a salient angle.
3. leaping or jumping: a salient animal.
4. Heraldry. (of a beast) represented as leaping: a lion salient.

noun
5. a salient angle or part, as the central outward-projecting angle of a bastion or an outward projection in a battle line.
6. Physical Geography . a landform that extends out beyond its surroundings, as a spur projecting from the side of a mountain. Compare reentrant ( def 4 ) .

Origin:
1555–65; < Latin salient- (stem of saliēns, present participle of salīre to spring, jump), equivalent to sali- verb stem + -ent- -ent

Related forms
sa·li·ent·ly, adverb
un·sa·li·ent, adjective
un·sa·li·ent·ly, adverb

Synonyms
1. important; striking, remarkable.

Antonyms
1. inconspicuous, unimportant.

Anagram

entails

 

25 May 2014

ruction

[ruhk-shuhn]

noun

– a disturbance, quarrel, or row. e.g. Politician quits parliament after internal party ructions.

Origin:
1815–25; origin uncertain

Anagram

to incur
coin rut

24 May 2014

schism

[siz-uhm, skiz-]

noun

1. division or disunion, especially into mutually opposed parties.
2. the parties so formed.
3. Ecclesiastical .
a. a formal division within, or separation from, a church or religious body over some doctrinal difference.
b. the state of a sect or body formed by such division.
c. the offense of causing or seeking to cause such a division.

Origin:
1350–1400; < Late Latin (Vulgate) sc ( h ) isma (stem sc ( h ) ismat- ) < Greek, derivative of schízein to split, with -ma (stem -mat- ) noun suffix of result; replacing Middle English ( s ) cisme, sisme < Middle French < Late Latin, as above

Related forms
schism·less, adjective

23 May 2014

stipend

[stahy-pend]

noun

1. a periodic payment, especially a scholarship or fellowship allowance granted to a student.
2. fixed or regular pay; salary.

Origin:
1400–50; late Middle English stipendie < Latin stīpendium soldier’s pay, syncopated variant of *stipipendium, equivalent to stipi-, combining form of stips a coin + pend ( ere ) to weigh out, pay (see pend) + -ium -ium

Related forms
sti·pend·less, adjective

Synonyms
1, 2. See pay

Anagram

pits end

22 May 2014

vastitude

[vas-ti-tood, -tyood, vah-sti-]

noun

1. vastness; immensity: the vastitude of his love for all humankind.
2. a vast expanse or space: the ocean vastitude.

Origin:
1535–45; < Latin vastitūdō. See vast, -i-, -tude

Anagram

Dave Titus

21 May 2014

soporific

[sop-uh-rif-ik, soh-puh-]

adjective

1. causing or tending to cause sleep.
2. pertaining to or characterized by sleep or sleepiness; sleepy; drowsy.

noun
3. something that causes sleep, as a medicine or drug.

Origin:
1655–65; < Latin sopor sopor + -i- + -fic; compare French soporifique

Related forms
sop·o·rif·i·cal·ly, adverb
an·ti·sop·o·rif·ic, adjective, noun
non·sop·or·if·ic, adjective, noun
un·sop·o·rif·ic, adjective

Anagram

coifs or pi

snollygoster

[snol-ee-gos-ter]

noun Slang.

– a clever, unscrupulous person.

Origin:
1855–60; origin uncertain

Anagram

Trolley songs
try lone gloss

19 May 2014

ponderous

[pon-der-uhs]

adjective

1. of great weight; heavy; massive.
2. awkward or unwieldy: He carried a ponderous burden on his back.
3. dull and labored: a ponderous dissertation.

Origin:
1375–1425; late Middle English (< Middle French ponderos, pondereuse ) < Latin ponderōsus. See ponder, -ous

Related forms
pon·der·ous·ly, adverb
pon·der·ous·ness, pon·der·os·i·ty [pon-duh-ros-i-tee], noun
non·pon·der·os·i·ty, noun
non·pon·der·ous, adjective
non·pon·der·ous·ly, adverb

Synonyms
3. heavy, boring, dreary, plodding, tedious.

Antonyms
3. lively, exciting.

Anagram

dour opens
proud nose
rodeo puns

18 May 2014

expound

[ik-spound]

verb (used with object)

1. to set forth or state in detail: to expound theories.
2. to explain; interpret.

verb (used without object)
3. to make a detailed statement (often followed by on ).

Origin:
1250–1300; Middle English expounen, expounden < Old French espondre < Latin expōnere to put out, set forth, explain, equivalent to ex- ex-1 + pōnere to put

Related forms
ex·pound·er, noun
pre·ex·pound, verb (used with object)
un·ex·pound·ed, adjective

Synonym Study
2. See explain.

17 May 2014

castigate

[kas-ti-geyt]

verb (used with object), cas·ti·gat·ed, cas·ti·gat·ing.

1. to criticize or reprimand severely.
2. to punish in order to correct.

Origin:
1600–10; < Latin castīgātus literally, driven to be faultless (past participle of castigāre to chasten), equivalent to cast ( us ) pure, chaste + -īg-, combining form of agere to drive, incite + -ātus -ate

Related forms
cas·ti·ga·tion, noun
cas·ti·ga·tive, cas·ti·ga·to·ry [kas-ti-guh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee], adjective
cas·ti·ga·tor, noun
non·cas·ti·gat·ing, adjective
non·cas·ti·ga·tion, noun

Anagram

static age
aces tag it

16 May 2014

prodigy

[prod-i-jee]

noun, plural prod·i·gies.

1. a person, especially a child or young person, having extraordinary talent or ability: a musical prodigy.
2. a marvelous example (usually followed by of ).
3. something wonderful or marvelous; a wonder.
4. something abnormal or monstrous.
5. Archaic. something extraordinary regarded as of prophetic significance.

Origin:
1425–75; late Middle English prodige < Latin prōdigium prophetic sign

Can be confused: prodigy, protégé.

Anagram

God I pry

15 May 2014

nebulous

[neb-yuh-luhs]

adjective

1. hazy, vague, indistinct, or confused: a nebulous recollection of the meeting; a nebulous distinction between pride and conceit.
2. cloudy or cloudlike.
3. of or resembling a nebula or nebulae; nebular.

Origin:
1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin nebulōsus full of mist, foggy, cloudy. See nebula, -ous

Related forms
neb·u·lous·ly, adverb
neb·u·lous·ness, noun
non·neb·u·lous, adjective
non·neb·u·lous·ly, adverb
non·neb·u·lous·ness, noun

Anagram

blue onus

14 May 2014

monger

[muhng-ger, mong-]

noun

1. a person who is involved with something in a petty or contemptible way (usually used in combination): a gossipmonger.
2. Chiefly British . a dealer in or trader of a commodity (usually used in combination): fishmonger.

verb (used with object)
3. to sell; hawk.

Origin:
before 1000; Middle English (noun); Old English mangere, equivalent to mang ( ian ) to trade, act as a monger (≪ Latin mangō salesman) + -ere -er1 ; cognate with Old Norse, Old High German mangari

Related forms
mon·ger·ing, noun, adjective

Anagram

no germ

13 May 2014

arrant

[ar-uhnt]

adjective

1. downright; thorough; unmitigated; notorious: an arrant fool.
2. wandering; errant.

Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English, variant of errant

Related forms
ar·rant·ly, adverb

Can be confused: arrant, errant.

Synonyms
1. thoroughgoing, utter, confirmed, flagrant.

Anagram

ran rat

12 May 2014

subsume

[suhb-soom]

verb (used with object), sub·sumed, sub·sum·ing.

1. to consider or include (an idea, term, proposition, etc.) as part of a more comprehensive one.
2. to bring (a case, instance, etc.) under a rule.
3. to take up into a more inclusive classification.

Origin:
1525–35; < Medieval Latin subsūmere, equivalent to Latin sub- sub- + sūmere to take; see consume

Related forms
sub·sum·a·ble, adjective

Anagram

emus bus
be sum us

11 May 2014

incongruous

[in-kong-groo-uhs]

adjective

1. out of keeping or place; inappropriate; unbecoming: an incongruous effect; incongruous behavior.
2. not harmonious in character; inconsonant; lacking harmony of parts: an incongruous mixture of architectural styles.
3. inconsistent: actions that were incongruous with their professed principles.

Origin:
1605–15; < Latin incongruus inconsistent. See in-3 , congruous

Related forms
in·con·gru·ous·ly, adverb
in·con·gru·ous·ness, noun

Can be confused: congruous, congruent, incongruous, incongruent.

Synonyms
1. discrepant, unsuitable, ridiculous, ludicrous, absurd. 2. inharmonious, discordant. 3. contrary, contradictory. See inconsistent.

Antonyms
1. becoming, appropriate. 2. consonant. 3. consistent.

Anagram

unicorn go us
our snug icon
no coin gurus

10 May 2014

sashay

[sa-shey]

verb (used without object) Informal.

1. to glide, move, or proceed easily or nonchalantly: She just sashayed in as if she owned the place.
2. to chassé in dancing.

Origin:
1830–40, Americanism; metathetic variant of chassé

Can be confused: sachet, sashay, Sasha.

Anagram

has say

9 May 2014

tarantism

[tar-uhn-tiz-uhm]

noun

– a mania characterized by an uncontrollable impulse to dance, especially as prevalent in southern Italy from the 15th to the 17th century, popularly attributed to the bite of the tarantula. Also, tarentism. Compare tarantula.
Origin:
1630–40; < Neo-Latin tarantismus. See Taranto, -ism

Related forms
tar·ant·ist, noun

Anagram

Strait man
anti smart
Titan Mars

8 May 2014

duplicity

[doo-plis-i-tee, dyoo-]

noun, plural du·plic·i·ties for 2, 3.

1. deceitfulness in speech or conduct, as by speaking or acting in two different ways to different people concerning the same matter; double-dealing. Synonyms: deceit, deception, dissimulation, fraud, guile, hypocrisy, trickery. Antonyms: candidness, directness, honesty, straightforwardness.
2. an act or instance of such deceitfulness.
3. Law. the act or fact of including two or more offenses in one count, or charge, as part of an indictment, thus violating the requirement that each count contain only a single offense.
4. the state or quality of having two elements or parts; being twofold or double.

Origin:
1400–50; late Middle English duplicite < Middle French < Medieval Latin, Late Latin duplicitās, with -ite replacing -itās; see duplex, -ity

Related forms
non·du·plic·i·ty, noun

Anagram

lucid pity
cut idyl pi

7 May 2014

riposte

[ri-pohst]

noun

1. a quick, sharp return in speech or action; counterstroke: a brilliant riposte to an insult.
2. Fencing. a quick thrust given after parrying a lunge.

verb (used without object), ri·post·ed, ri·post·ing.
3. to make a riposte.
4. to reply or retaliate.

Also, ri·post.

Origin:
1700–10; < French, variant of risposte prompt answer < Italian risposta, noun use of feminine past participle of rispondere to answer < Vulgar Latin *respondere for Latin respondēre; see respond

Anagram

pie rots
stop ire
so tripe
sir poet

6 May 2014

paradigm

[par-uh-dahym, -dim]

noun

1. Grammar .
a. a set of forms all of which contain a particular element, especially the set of all inflected forms based on a single stem or theme.
b. a display in fixed arrangement of such a set, as boy, boy’s, boys, boys’.
2. an example serving as a model; pattern. Synonyms: mold, standard; ideal, paragon, touchstone.
3.
a. a framework containing the basic assumptions, ways of thinking, and methodology that are commonly accepted by members of a scientific community.
b. such a cognitive framework shared by members of any discipline or group: the company’s business paradigm.

Origin:
1475–85; < Late Latin paradīgma < Greek parádeigma pattern (verbid of paradeiknýnai to show side by side), equivalent to para- para-1 + deik-, base of deiknýnai to show (see deictic) + -ma noun suffix

Anagram

drama pig
a map grid

5 May 2014

brood

[brood]

noun

1. a number of young produced or hatched at one time; a family of offspring or young.
2. a breed, species, group, or kind: The museum exhibited a brood of monumental sculptures.
verb (used with object)
3. to sit upon (eggs) to hatch, as a bird; incubate.
4. (of a bird) to warm, protect, or cover (young) with the wings or body.
5. to think or worry persistently or moodily about; ponder: He brooded the problem.
verb (used without object)
6. to sit upon eggs to be hatched, as a bird.
7. to dwell on a subject or to meditate with morbid persistence (usually followed by over or on ).
adjective
8. kept for breeding: a brood hen.
Verb phrases
9. brood above / over, to cover, loom, or seem to fill the atmosphere or scene: The haunted house on the hill brooded above the village.
Origin:
before 1000; Middle English; Old English brōd; cognate with Dutch broed, German Brut. See breed

Related forms
brood·less, adjective
un·brood·ed, adjective

Can be confused: brewed, brood (see synonym study at the current entry).

Synonyms
1. Brood, litter refer to young creatures. Brood is especially applied to the young of fowls and birds hatched from eggs at one time and raised under their mother’s care: a brood of young turkeys. Litter is applied to a group of young animals brought forth at a birth: a litter of kittens or pups. 2. line, stock, strain.

Anagram

Do rob

4 May 2014

brunt

[bruhnt]

noun

– the main force or impact, as of an attack or blow: His arm took the brunt of the blow.

Origin:
1275–1325; Middle English; perhaps orig. sexual assault; akin to Old Norse brundr, German Brunft heat, ruttish state, Old English brunetha heat, itching; cognate with Old High German bronado. See burn1

Synonyms
thrust, stress, burden.

Anagram

burnt

3 May 2014

hellion

[hel-yuhn]

noun Informal.

– a disorderly, troublesome, rowdy, or mischievous person.

Origin:
1835–45, Americanism; hell + -ion, as in scullion, rapscallion

Anagram

hell ion
eon hill

2 May 2014

niggardly

[nig-erd-lee]

adjective

1. reluctant to give or spend; stingy; miserly.
2. meanly or ungenerously small or scanty: a niggardly tip to a waiter.

adverb
3. in the manner of a niggard.

Origin:
1520–30; niggard + -ly

Related forms
nig·gard·li·ness, noun

Synonyms
1. penurious, miserly, mean, tight, avaricious, mercenary, illiberal, close. 2. poor.

Antonyms
1. generous.

Anagram

lying drag

1 May 2014

lavish

[lav-ish]

adjective

1. expended, bestowed, or occurring in profusion: lavish spending.
2. using or giving in great amounts; prodigal (often followed by of ): lavish of his time; lavish of affection.
verb (used with object)
3. to expend or give in great amounts or without limit: to lavish gifts on a person.

Origin:
1425–75; late Middle English lavas profusion (noun), profuse (adj.) < Middle French lavasse downpour of rain, derivative of laver to wash < Latin lavāre

Related forms
lav·ish·er, noun
lav·ish·ly, adverb
lav·ish·ness, noun
o·ver·lav·ish, adjective
o·ver·lav·ish·ly, adverb

Synonyms
1, 2. unstinted, extravagant, wasteful, improvident; generous, openhanded. Lavish, prodigal, profuse refer to that which exists in abundance and is poured out copiously. Lavish suggests (sometimes excessive) generosity and openhandedness: lavish hospitality; much too lavish. Prodigal suggests wastefulness, improvidence, and reckless impatience of restraint: a prodigal extravagance. Profuse emphasizes abundance, but may suggest overemotionalism, exaggeration, or the like: profuse thanks, compliments, apologies. 3. heap, pour; waste, squander, dissipate.

Antonyms
1, 2. niggardly.

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