Word of the Day Flashcards
incorrigible \in-KOR-uh-juh-bul
1 : incapable of being corrected, amended, or reformed
2 : not manageable : unruly
3 : unalterable, inveterate
1 : incapable of being corrected, amended, or reformed
2 : not manageable : unruly
3 : unalterable, inveterate
incorrigible \in-KOR-uh-juh-bul
shell game \SHEL-GAYM
1 : thimblerig played especially with three walnut shells
2 : fraud; especially : a swindle involving the substitution of something of little or no value for a valuable item
1 : thimblerig played especially with three walnut shells
2 : fraud; especially : a swindle involving the substitution of something of little or no value for a valuable item
shell game \SHEL-GAYM
unfettered \un-FET-erd\
free, unrestrained
free, unrestrained
unfettered \un-FET-erd\
cognoscente \kahn-yuh-SHEN-tee
a person who has expert knowledge in a subject : connoisseur
a person who has expert knowledge in a subject : connoisseur
cognoscente \kahn-yuh-SHEN-tee
tempestuous \tem-PESS-chuh-wus
of, relating to, or resembling a tempest : turbulent, stormy
of, relating to, or resembling a tempest : turbulent, stormy
tempestuous \tem-PESS-chuh-wus
lookism \LOOK-iz-um
prejudice or discrimination based on physical appearance and especially physical appearance believed to fall short of societal notions of beauty
prejudice or discrimination based on physical appearance and especially physical appearance believed to fall short of societal notions of beauty
lookism \LOOK-iz-um
halcyon \HAL-see-un
1 : calm, peaceful
2 : happy, golden
3 : prosperous, affluent
1 : calm, peaceful
2 : happy, golden
3 : prosperous, affluent
halcyon \HAL-see-un
recidivism \rih-SID-uh-viz-um
a tendency to relapse into a previous condition or mode of behavior; especially : relapse into criminal behavior
a tendency to relapse into a previous condition or mode of behavior; especially : relapse into criminal behavior
recidivism \rih-SID-uh-viz-um
space cadet \SPAYSS-kuh-DET
a flaky, lightheaded, or forgetful person
a flaky, lightheaded, or forgetful person
space cadet \SPAYSS-kuh-DET
fugacious \fyoo-GAY-shus
lasting a short time : evanescent
lasting a short time : evanescent
fugacious \fyoo-GAY-shus
eschew \ess-CHOO
to avoid habitually especially on moral or practical grounds
to avoid habitually especially on moral or practical grounds
eschew \ess-CHOO
accoutrement \uh-KOO-ter-munt
1 a : equipment, trappings; specifically : a soldier’s outfit usually not including clothes and weapons — usually used in plural
b : an accessory item of clothing or equipment — usually used in plural
2 : an identifying and often superficial characteristic or device — usually used in plural
1 a : equipment, trappings; specifically : a soldier’s outfit usually not including clothes and weapons — usually used in plural
b : an accessory item of clothing or equipment — usually used in plural
2 : an identifying and often superficial characteristic or device — usually used in plural
accoutrement \uh-KOO-ter-munt
epitome \ih-PIT-uh-mee
1 a : a summary of a written work
b : a brief presentation or statement of something
2 : a typical or ideal example : embodiment
1 a : a summary of a written work
b : a brief presentation or statement of something
2 : a typical or ideal example : embodiment
epitome \ih-PIT-uh-mee
pervade \per-VAYD
to become diffused throughout every part of
to become diffused throughout every part of
pervade \per-VAYD
troubadour \TROO-buh-dor
1 : a lyric poet or musician who performed chiefly in southern France and northern Italy in the 11th through 13th centuries
2 : a singer especially of folk songs
1 : a lyric poet or musician who performed chiefly in southern France and northern Italy in the 11th through 13th centuries
2 : a singer especially of folk songs
troubadour \TROO-buh-dor
damask \DAM-usk
1 : a firm lustrous fabric (as of linen, cotton, silk, or rayon) made with flat patterns in a satin weave on a plain-woven ground on jacquard looms
2 : hard elastic steel ornamented with wavy patterns and used especially for sword blades; also : the characteristic markings of this steel
3 : a grayish red
1 : a firm lustrous fabric (as of linen, cotton, silk, or rayon) made with flat patterns in a satin weave on a plain-woven ground on jacquard looms
2 : hard elastic steel ornamented with wavy patterns and used especially for sword blades; also : the characteristic markings of this steel
3 : a grayish red
damask \DAM-usk
menagerie \muh-NAJ-uh-ree
1 a : a place where animals are kept and trained especially for exhibition
b : a collection of wild or foreign animals kept especially for exhibition
2: a varied mixture
1 a : a place where animals are kept and trained especially for exhibition
b : a collection of wild or foreign animals kept especially for exhibition
2: a varied mixture
menagerie \muh-NAJ-uh-ree
proficient \pruh-FISH-unt
well advanced in an art, occupation, or branch of knowledge
well advanced in an art, occupation, or branch of knowledge
proficient \pruh-FISH-unt
boniface \BAH-nuh-fuss
the proprietor of a hotel, nightclub, or restaurant
the proprietor of a hotel, nightclub, or restaurant
boniface \BAH-nuh-fuss
hypnagogic \hip-nuh-GAH-jik
of, relating to, or occurring in the period of drowsiness immediately preceding sleep
of, relating to, or occurring in the period of drowsiness immediately preceding sleep
hypnagogic \hip-nuh-GAH-jik
shanghai \shang-HYE
1 a : to put aboard a ship by force often with the help of liquor or a drug
b : to put by force or threat of force into or as if into a place of detention
2 : to put by trickery into an undesirable position
1 a : to put aboard a ship by force often with the help of liquor or a drug
b : to put by force or threat of force into or as if into a place of detention
2 : to put by trickery into an undesirable position
shanghai \shang-HYE
gazette \guh-ZET
1 : newspaper
2 : an official journal
3 British : an announcement in an official gazette
1 : newspaper
2 : an official journal
3 British : an announcement in an official gazette
gazette \guh-ZET
maffick \MAF-ik
to celebrate with boisterous rejoicing and hilarious behavior
to celebrate with boisterous rejoicing and hilarious behavior
maffick \MAF-ik
verjuice \VER-jooss
the sour juice of crab apples or of unripe fruit; also : an acid liquor made from verjuice
the sour juice of crab apples or of unripe fruit; also : an acid liquor made from verjuice
verjuice \VER-jooss
benevolent \buh-NEV-uh-lunt
1 a : marked by or disposed to doing good
b : organized for the purpose of doing good
2 : marked by or suggestive of goodwill
1 a : marked by or disposed to doing good
b : organized for the purpose of doing good
2 : marked by or suggestive of goodwill
benevolent \buh-NEV-uh-lunt
catch-22 \KATCH-twen-tee-TOO
1 : a problematic situation for which the only solution is denied by a circumstance inherent in the problem or by a rule; also : the circumstance or rule that denies a solution
2 : an illogical, unreasonable, or senseless situation
1 : a problematic situation for which the only solution is denied by a circumstance inherent in the problem or by a rule; also : the circumstance or rule that denies a solution
2 : an illogical, unreasonable, or senseless situation
catch-22 \KATCH-twen-tee-TOO
mandarin \MAN-drin
1 : of, relating to, or typical of a public official in China
2 : marked by polished ornate complexity of language
1 : of, relating to, or typical of a public official in China
2 : marked by polished ornate complexity of language
mandarin \MAN-drin
ahimsa \uh-HIM-sah
the Hindu and Buddhist doctrine of refraining from harming any living being
the Hindu and Buddhist doctrine of refraining from harming any living being
ahimsa \uh-HIM-sah
exigent \EK-suh-junt
1 : requiring immediate aid or action
2: requiring or calling for much : demanding
1 : requiring immediate aid or action
2: requiring or calling for much : demanding
exigent \EK-suh-junt
exiguous \ig-ˈzi-gyə-wəs
excessively scanty : inadequate
excessively scanty : inadequate
exiguous \ig-ˈzi-gyə-wəs
ashram \ash-ˌram
- : a secluded dwelling of a Hindu sage; also : the group of disciples instructed there
- : a religious retreat
- : a secluded dwelling of a Hindu sage; also : the group of disciples instructed there
- : a religious retreat
ashram \ash-ˌram
sotto voce \ˌsä-tō-ˈvō-chē\
1: under the breath : in an undertone; also : in a private manner
2: very softly —used as a direction in music
1: under the breath : in an undertone; also : in a private manner
2: very softly —used as a direction in music
sotto voce \ˌsä-tō-ˈvō-chē\
divertissement \dih-VER-tiss-munt
1 : a dance sequence or short ballet usually used as an interlude
2 : an instrumental chamber work in several movements usually light in character
3 : diversion, entertainment
1 : a dance sequence or short ballet usually used as an interlude
2 : an instrumental chamber work in several movements usually light in character
3 : diversion, entertainment
divertissement \dih-VER-tiss-munt
alfresco \al-FRES-koh
Taking place or located in the open air; outdoor.
Taking place or located in the open air; outdoor.
alfresco \al-FRES-koh