Last 500 only Flashcards

Question

Imperturbability

Answer 1

Imperturbability quality of being calm and not easily disturbed [imperturbable (a)]

Answer 2

Figurehead symbol of power; nominal leader

Answer 3

Asperity using harsh or critical tone *Asperity* is the harsh tone or behavior people exhibit when they’re angry, impatient, or just miserable. When your supervisor’s "Late again!" greeting causes your entire future to pass before your eyes, he is speaking with *asperity*. The harshness that *asperity* implies can also apply to conditions, like "the *asperities* of life in a bomb shelter." Or even more literally to surfaces, like "the *asperity* of an unfinished edge." But, most often, you will see *asperity* used in reference to grumpy human beings.

Answer 4

Scabbard cover for a sword A *scabbard* is a sheath for a sword, dagger, or other type of knife. Some cooks wear their French knives in a *scabbard* so they'll be ready to chop no matter where they are in the kitchen. You’ve probably seen a *scabbard* in an older movie. The hero sheaths his sword in a long wooden, metal or leather scabbard hanging from his belt. The origins of the word, however, are not that manly. *Scabbard* comes from an old Germanic compound meaning "blade protector."

Answer 5

Enlist 1. sign up for the army; 2. obtain To *enlist* is to voluntarily join the military. You may have seen television commercials or posters encouraging people to *enlist*. There are various ways people end up in the military. Sometimes there's a draft, which selects people whether they want to go or not. Sometimes people enlist, which means they sign up on their own. *Enlisting* also refers to recruiting or hiring people for some purpose or organization. If you are moving, you might try to enlist your friends to help — good luck with that.

Answer 6

Sate satisfy Sometimes you're so hungry you feel like you could eat a ten-course meal. Other times it takes just a small salad to *sate* your appetite, or to satisfy your hunger. The verb *sate* comes from the Old English *sadian*, "to satiate," and can be applied to any situation regarding the satisfaction of a need or an appetite. If you have been craving something sweet, your craving might be sated by a bag of jellybeans. However, if it seems like you can never get enough jellybeans, your appetite for sweets might be described as *insatiable*, a word used to describe a person or entity whose appetites — literally or figuratively — are impossible to satisfy.

Answer 7

Cataclysmic violently disruptive [cataclysm (n)] Something that’s *cataclysmic* is violently destructive. The word often refers to natural disasters, like a *cataclysmic* earthquake, but *cataclysmic* can describe other events as well as long as they’re bad enough, like the *cataclysmic* failure you had making meatloaf. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, tornados, landslide . . . These natural disasters are often described as cataclysmic when they cause great devastation. *Cataclysmic* isn't just for describing natural disasters — personal disasters can be called cataclysmic as well if you want to emphasize just how badly something turned out. If your meatloaf is just so-so, it’s not so disastrous. But if it’s so spectacularly bad that no one can eat it? That’s a cataclysmic failure.

Answer 8

Amortize pay off a debt in installments

Answer 9

Impugned challenged; called into question To *impugn* means to call into question or attack as wrong. If your usually grumpy brother is suddenly nice and sweet, you'll impugn his motives if you're smart — he probably just wants something from you. The root of *impugn* is the Latin *pugnare* which means "to fight," so when you impugn, you are fighting or attacking, but by saying that something is false or wrong. If a candidate has a record that cannot be impugned, his or her opponent might go for a character attack. If you take pride in your work, you will be especially insulted if someone impugns your professionalism or integrity.

Answer 10

Virtuosity "skill, expertise [virtuoso (n); virtuosi (n.pl)]" Use the noun *virtuosity* to describe an impressive skill, such as a classical musician's *virtuosity* at playing the cello. Lots of people have talents, but only a select few, called virtuosos, have the superior quality of virtuosity. A piano virtuoso, for example, is able to play and improvise at the highest level possible. People can also display virtuosity in speaking, in writing computer code, in cooking, or in other skills. In the late fifteenth century, *virtuosity* specifically meant "manly qualities," from the Latin root *virtutem*, "manliness, valor, or excellence."

Answer 11

Hawser thick rope or cable

Answer 12

Caprices whimsies; fancies On a whim, he sold everything and left the city for the beautiful wilderness of Alaska, but his act of *caprice* felt a lot less whimsical when he realized how freezing cold Alaska is. The word *caprice* has its roots in the French for "whim," which comes from the Italian word *capriccio* for "fright" or "sudden start." A caprice can be just a fun impulsive act, but it also can be something done on a quick whim, without thinking it through or preparing for the change in direction. Having a sudden liking, or *caprice,* for someone or something can be short-lived too.

Answer 13

Resilience resistance; ability to spring back [resilience (a)] Truly, your *resilience*, or ability to bounce back, is not just admirable, but foolhardy, some might say; who else could have survived an attack by a rabid toucan and then gone on to become a world-renowned bird breeder? The noun *resilience* stems from the Latin *resiliens* "to rebound, recoil." As a character trait, *resilience* is a person’s ability to recover quickly from unfortunate circumstances or illness. Runners who fall during a marathon only to pop back up and dash through the finish line show some serious resilience. Or Silly Putty that can stretch and stretch without breaking, and then come back to rest inside its egg-shaped carrying case — that’s resilience, or elasticity, for you.

Answer 14

Moralistic concerned with morals [moralize (v)]

Answer 15

Dispatch 1. send?(v); 2. speed; celerity?(n) Anything that needs to be mailed, sent off, or quickly shipped needs to be *dispatched*. Letters, official reports, teams of police — if it has somewhere to be, you can *dispatch* it to get there. Sometimes spelled *despatch*, this word was first used in the early 1500s as a verb meaning "to send off in a hurry." These days we get hurried dispatches in noun and verb form, from journalists sending in their war zone stories to emergency squads getting dispatched to the scene of an accident. And in its most sinister sense, dispatch means to kill off without delay.

Answer 16

Extirpate wipe out totally The verb *extirpate* originally literally meant "to weed out by the roots." Now you'd use it when you want to get rid of something completely as if pulling it up by the root. Use the verb *extirpate* when you mean to destroy completely or get rid of completely. You can try to *extirpate* all the bedbugs that came home with you from your vacation, but you will probably be afraid that some resisted the exterminator to munch on you later.

Answer 17

Resolve firmness?(n) To *resolve* is to settle or make a decision about something — often formal. A college's board of directors might resolve to recruit more minority students. As a noun, *resolve* refers to a strong determination to do something. If you make a New Year's *resolution* to exercise every day, you'll need plenty of resolve to stick with your program. The verb descends from Middle English *resolven* "to dissolve," from Latin *resolvere* "to untie." In English, the obsolete sense of "to dissolve" can be seen in this line from Shakespeare: "O, that this too too solid flesh would melt, thaw, and *resolve* itself into a dew."

Answer 18

Probity uprightness; honesty Though *probity* sounds like what you might do with a sharp stick, it actually means being morally and ethically above reproach, having integrity. If you show fiscal probity, it means you are responsible and ethical with your money. The story of George Washington chopping down the cherry tree and refusing to lie about it is a story of probity. The story was first told by a pastor, who may have made the whole thing up according today's scholars, possibly to sell books –– no act of probity.

Answer 19

List 1. to lean to one side; 2. to write in order To make a *list* is to put things in order or to name them, like a grocery *list* or a wish *list*. Listing is also leaning over, creating a slant called a *list*. *List* can also be a verb used to describe what you do when you make a list. You could list all the state capitals, people's names, your favorite movies, or pretty much anything. Listing can be done numerically, alphabetically, or randomly. Also, a line or surface that leans or tilts has a list, like a sagging bookcase that's overloaded. To lean in this way is to list: the Leaning Tower of Pisa is listing.

Answer 20

Pluck courage To *pluck* is to pick or pull a single item out of many, like a flower or a hair. As a noun, *pluck* is energy or enthusiasm, even when things are looking grim. Don't *pluck* only the best cherries off the tree: that's cherry-picking! Before you cook a goose, you need to pluck its feathers. If it looks like your goose is cooked, however, then show some pluck, and figure out a way to save yourself. Some characters who are famous for showing pluck include the Artful Dodger, Little Orphan Annie, and Benji the dog. They all kept their chins up and kept on trying, even when things looked really dark.

Answer 21

Rebus puzzle in which pictures give clues A *rebus* is a puzzle that uses symbols or pictures to represent the sounds of words. A picture of an eye, a heart, and a ewe might be used to say "I love you." Isn't that sweet? A rebus uses pictures and symbols to convey a message in what may be considered a fun code. The letters *ICU* might be used to stand for the sentence "I see you." The word *rebus* could be depicted with the letters *RE* followed by a picture of a school bus. Some children's books use rebuses as a way of introducing kids to the reading process, but rebuses can also be quite challenging, even for the adult mind.

Answer 22

Discrete separate; discontinuous (not to be confused with?discreet?- prudent; diplomatic] *Discrete* means separate or divided. A *discrete* unit is a separate part of something larger. A room is a *discrete* space within a house, just as the transmission is a *discrete* part of a car engine. If something is discrete, it has its own space. An ice cube comes from an ice tray, but it has its own discrete compartment. A student government might have discrete committees for different projects. Don't confuse *discrete* with its close cousin *discreet*, which means "appropriately private." Billionaire Bruce Wayne, for example, is very discreet about his secret life as Batman. You could say Batman is a discrete, or separate, part of Bruce Wayne’s identity. Anything distinct and separated is discrete.

Answer 23

Curmudgeon grumpy person Old, cranky, and more than a little stubborn, a *curmudgeon* is the crusty grey haired neighbor who refuses to hand out candy at Halloween and shoos away holiday carolers with a "bah humbug!" As fickle and stubborn as the type of person it describes, *curmudgeon* comes to us without a history, its origins undisclosed. It was originally believed to have come from *coeur mechant*, the French phrase for "evil heart," but that theory has been long discarded. Don't worry though, you’ll know a curmudgeon when you see one: He’ll be ill-tempered and miserly, eager to shake his fist and spout disagreeable opinions.

Answer 24

Endow give gift; provide with money etc. To *endow* is to furnish, but not with furniture. If you've been *endowed* with something, it means you've been given a gift — most likely a gift that can't be returned or exchanged, like a sense of humor or athletic ability or trust. We usually use *endow* to refer to an ability or a quality, but you can endow someone with money, too. *Endow* is related to the word *dowry*, which is a gift that a man -– or sometimes a woman -– receives from his or her fiancé’s family before the wedding. The practice of giving dowries has fallen out of fashion in most Western countries, but there are still many parts of the world where it's common for the bride's family to provide the groom with an endowment of land and livestock.

Answer 25

Engendering causing; bringing into being [engender (v)] *Engender* is a fancy way of saying "to make happen," like when you *engender* the spirit of teamwork and cooperation by encouraging others and doing your share of the group's work. The verb *engender* has nothing to do with being male or female, though originally, it did mean "beget, procreate." Today, *engender* means "to produce or bring about." When students come to class prepared, meaning they've read their assignment, this engenders better class discussions, just as mutual trust and the desire to help each other engenders a meaningful friendship.

Answer 26

Trilogy set of three (literary works etc.);?tetralogy?= set of four If you’ve just started a *trilogy* of books, you’ll be reading for a while. A *trilogy* is something that has three parts, so you'll have three books to read. You can see the *tri-*, meaning "three," in *trilogy*. The word originates from the Greek word *trilogia*, meaning "series of three related tragedies performed at Athens at the festival of Dionysus." Today, you can use *trilogy* to describe three of anything, such as a trilogy of movies that has the same characters, settings, and themes.

Answer 27

Avaricious greedy for money Someone who is *avaricious* is greedy or grasping, concerned with gaining wealth. The suggestion is that an *avaricious* person will do anything to achieve material gain, and it is, in general, not a pleasant attribute. The Latin verb *avēre*, meaning "to crave" provides the groundwork for the word *avaricious* and its definition as "greedy or covetous." The adjective is applied to anyone who "craves" great wealth, and suggests that desire for personal gain is an overriding influence in the avaricious person's life. The widespread quality of this selfishness was cleverly noted by Voltaire, who wrote, "Men hate the individual whom they call avaricious only because nothing can be gained from him."

Answer 28

Minatory threatening * Minatory* means threatening. When you petition the school for higher academic standards––i.e. harder grading from teachers––you may receive some *minatory* looks, or even hate note, from the kids in your school. * Minatory* derives from the Latin *menatorius*, "menace," and has nothing at all to do with the Greek legends of the Minotaur. But think of the Minotaur anyway––it was half-man, half-bull, lived inside a labyrinth, and could only be appeased if it was being sent young women to devour. If that's not threatening, or minatory, behavior, nothing is.

Answer 29

Plaintive sad; mournful *Plaintive* is an adjective for describing someone or something with a pleading, sorrowful, desperate tone. If you have ever heard the plaintive howl of a wolf, then you know what we are getting at here. A *plaint*, as in *complaint*, is an expression of sorrow or grief. This word has also been bent a little at the ends to become *plaintiff*, or *complainant*—the sufferer—in a lawsuit. So, whether you are hearing a plaintive tone in a courtroom, at a funeral, or in the wild (as in an animal's plaintive howl), you can be assured that someone or something desires something desperately.

Answer 30

Toy to play with

Answer 31

Impropriety inappropriate behavior When the boss' wife shows up at a formal dinner party and proceeds to stuff her purse full of hors d'oeuvres, no one dares to mention her *impropriety* above a whisper, especially to the boss. *Impropriety* is a violation of a rule of behavior, manners, or etiquette. So while it is fitting and proper to wear a bikini top and a sarong to the beach, to do so at church would be considered an impropriety. Some find a bit of impropriety charming. Somerset Maugham went so far as to say, "*Impropriety* is the soul of wit."

Answer 32

Quixotic impractically idealistic Use *quixotic* for someone or something that is romantic and unrealistic, or possessed by almost impossible hopes. Your *quixotic* task is easy to understand, if difficult to achieve: establish world peace. What a wonderful word *quixotic* is! While it is most often used to mean equally impractical and idealistic, it also has the sense of romantic nobility. Its source is from the great Spanish novel "Don Quixote," whose title character is given to unrealistic schemes and great chivalry. In the middle of a recession and high unemployment, it would be quixotic to imagine that you could quit your job and find another easily.

Answer 33

Somatic concerned with the body * Somatic* is a fancy word that just means dealing with the body. You may be tired of hearing your great-grandfather's *somatic* complaints, but give him a break - his body has been working for 80 years! * Soma* means body in Latin, so *somatic* means of the body and is most often used in connection with one's health. You may be more familiar with the related word, psychosomatic, which describes a physical condition or illness caused by the mind rather than a virus or a sprain. If you don't want to go to school so much that you begin to feel sick, that is psychosomatic. But sometimes, your somatic symptoms mean you really do have a cold!

Answer 34

Personification 1. represent something as a person; 2. a concrete example of * Personification* means "giving humans qualities to an abstract idea," as in a movie villain who is the *personification* of evil. You can use the noun *personification* in two ways. In the first, a person who is known for a certain quality, like wisdom, is said to represent that quality in a way any can understand, like a patient, generous person who is the personification of kindness. On the other hand, *personification* can give human qualities to something that isn’t human. For example, you might say, "The sea is angry," assigning it a human emotion.

Answer 35

Intangible cannot be touched; abstract [intangibility (n)] You can't touch this word — it is *intangible.* You can grasp the meaning of the word in your head, but you can't close your hands around it; you'll just put fingerprints on your monitor. The Latin verb *tangere* means "to touch," and the 16th-century English word *tangible* comes from it. Something intangible can't be touched physically, but most of the time it is understandable or even felt in the heart. Sadness can't be picked up and thrown in the garbage can because it is intangible, but you can throw away the tissues wet with tears. Laughing is intangible too, but you can hold onto movies, pets, and friends that make you laugh.

Answer 36

Forbearing tolerant [forbear (v); forbearance (n)]

Answer 37

Lumber 1. walk in an ungainly way; 2. timber (wood) Do you move clumsily, heavily and slowly, without a shred of grace? Then it sounds like you might *lumber.* Sorry to hear that. Lots of other words and phrases are associated with our friend *lumber.* Particularly large or tall people are almost inevitably said to lumber, as the common phrase "lumbering giant," attests. You never hear of a tip-toeing giant, but some of them must. Lumberjack, meaning someone who cuts down trees, is another. Often *lumber*, in the sense of planks of wood, is interchangeable with the word *timber.*

Answer 38

Froward stubborn; wayward; disobedient

Answer 39

Foreshadowed indicated a future event [foreshadow (v)] To *foreshadow* is to predict something or to give a hint of what is to come. If you could take a stereo apart and put it back together at age five, it can *foreshadow* a successful career in electronics. The verb *foreshadow* is often defined as "warning" or has a suggestion of something bad to come, though sometimes it's more neutral or shows examples of both good and bad predictions. Dark gray clouds foreshadow a thunderstorm, just as spring showers foreshadow May flowers. What is foreshadowed doesn't always happen, though. A story might not foreshadow a happily-ever-after ending, but then it takes an unexpected twist, and the villain turns out to be a hero.

Answer 40

Feint pretended attack; a move intended to deceive Did you ever tell your parents you were going off to school, grabbed your book bag, and headed out the door... only to spend the rest of the day hanging out with your friends? Well, that was a *feint,* a super sneaky move designed to fool someone. Although military and political tactics are big on feints, their most common use is probably in sports — particularly boxing, where opponents are continually trying to fake each other out. As in Dundee's account of an Ali-Frazier match: "Ali feinted with a jab, and Frazier threw one of his own, missing." Not to be confused with *faint,* meaning "weak or feeble." However, a feint can be deliberately faint, as Ali knew and Frazier found out when the real right hook made contact.

Answer 41

Libertine dissolute person; prodigal If you drink a lot, eat a lot, and live a wild and unrestrained life, you might be called a *libertine*. A *libertine* is someone who lives life unencumbered by morals. Although it can be use neutrally, often if someone calls you libertine, they disapprove of your lack of morality. The city of New Orleans, where the drinking age is 18 and prostitution is legal, might be called a libertine city. While not all of the people who live there are libertines, they tend to have libertine attitudes and views, and do not mind when tourists spend their money on libertine activity.

Answer 42

Arduous hard Use the adjective, *arduous,* to describe an activity that takes a lot of effort. Writing all those college essays and filling out the applications is an *arduous* process! *Arduous* was first used in English to mean "steep" or "difficult to climb." If you're an outdoorsman, hiking up a mountain is a lot of fun, but if you're a couch potato, it's an arduous trek. Today, the word can be used figuratively for something that is difficult or takes a lot of work. If you spend an arduous week studying for your final exams, you'll do well because you've worked really hard!

Answer 43

Allure 1. attraction?(n); 2. to attract?(v) If you find yourself making eyes at that stranger across the coffee shop, chances are there is an *allure* about him or her — something mysteriously, powerfully attractive and tempting. You've probably noticed that *allure* contains *lure*, from the German word *luder* meaning "bait." A well-made lure is so alluring to a fish that it won't notice the hook. First used in the 15th century, this word has even landed its own fashion magazine — "Allure," which tries to tempt people to buy it by putting powerfully attractive people on the cover and hoping you'll believe that if you buy it, you'll have some allure as well.

Answer 44

Acolyte disciple; follower or attendant A person who helps with religious services is an *acolyte.* An *acolyte* is also a fan or follower of the famous, so you can find an *acolyte* in church or at a concert. *Acolyte* goes back to the Greek root *akolouthos,* meaning "follower," and it came into English in the 14th century. While an acolyte often serves in an earned and admired role within a religious ceremony, a second definition is "fan." Acolytes of movie star or pro athletes closely follow their careers — and with great admiration — and would love to be just like their heroes.

Answer 45

Slake quench; satisfy When you *slake* something, such as a desire or a thirst, you satisfy it. A big glass of lemonade on a hot summer day will *slake* your thirst. The word *slake* traces back to the Old English word *slacian*, meaning to "become less eager." If you *slake* something, like thirst, you become less eager to drink. In other words, you are less thirsty. Like *satisfy* and *quench*, close relatives of *slake* in meaning, the word is used to indicate that a craving is made less intense by getting whatever it is that you crave.

Answer 46

Dormancy state of inactivity

Answer 47

Plaque 1. surface deposit on teeth or in artery etc.; 2. decorative plate or sign A *plaque* is a sign that memorializes a person or event, such as the *plaque* on a building noting the person it's named after or the year it was built. *Plaque* comes from the French word for "plate," meaning not a dinner plate, but a little brass or tin plate that can be mounted on a wall. If you take a tour of Civil War battlefields, you'll find that historical societies often use plaques to commemorate soldiers or particular events. Plaque is also a hard buildup in the body, like the plaque on your teeth that the dentist likes to scrape off.

Answer 48

Presage forewarn of; indicate A *presage* is a sign that something bad is about to happen, like when you get that queasy feeling in your stomach because your mom found out you skipped band practice to go to the movies. *Presage*, pronounced "PREH-sige," can be a noun or a verb. As a noun, presage is a warning or omen of bad things to come, like a strange quiet and stillness in the air, presage to the coming tornado. As a verb, *presage* means "making a prediction or giving a warning of what's to come," like a terrible end-of-season football game's outcome game that *presaged* the struggles the team faced the next season.

Answer 49

Arresting attracting attention; striking Something *arresting* commands your attention. It's stunning, and you can't turn away. When the police arrest someone, they capture them. Likewise, when something is arresting, it captures your attention because it is so sensational. An arresting sight — like the Grand Canyon — makes you want to keep looking at it for hours. An arresting song is one you always want to hear. An arresting story is captivating and engrossing. Something arresting is not only entertaining; it's mesmerizing.

Answer 50

Toady sycophant; flatterer You can call the kid who is always really nice to the teacher in hopes of getting a good grade a brown-noser or, if you want to sound clever, a *toady*. The word *toady* has a gross, yet engaging history. Back when medicine was more trickery than science, traveling medicine men would come to a town. Their assistant would eat a toad (you read that right) that was assumed poisonous so that the medicine man could "heal" him. Who would want that job, right? So toad-eater, later shortened to toady, came to mean a person who would do anything to please his boss.

Answer 51

Hegemony political domination; complete authority * Hegemony* is political or cultural dominance or authority over others. The *hegemony* of the popular kids over the other students means that they determine what is and is not cool. * Hegemony* comes from the Greek *hegemon* "leader." Wealthy lender nations hoping to determine political outcomes and trade decisions have established hegemony over the debtor nations they lend to. As well as the dominance of one group or nation over others, *hegemony* is also the term for the leading group or nation itself. During the American Revolution, colonists fought to throw off the British hegemony.

Answer 52

Coda piece of music at the end of a musical work; finale; final part of document A *coda* is a concluding segment of a piece of music, a dance, or a statement. It's usually short and adds a final embellishment beyond a natural ending point. Like this. *Coda* comes from the Italian word *couda*, and it's good to think of it as a tail tacked onto something that in and of itself is already a whole. If you tell a story about your crazy experience getting lost in the country and sleeping at a farmer's house, you might add, as a coda, that the farmer ended up visiting you too, a year later.

Answer 53

Emboss decorate with a raised design * Emboss* means to carve with a design. A silver tray might be *embossed* with your initials and wedding date. You might give your teacher a plaque with "World's Best Teacher" *embossed* under their name. * Embossing* and engraving have similar effects––a raised surface. But *embossing* pushes the paper or metal up, working from behind, while engraving actually cuts into the surface, cutting away a bit of the media as it makes its mark.

Answer 54

Epigram short, witty saying An *epigram* is a short, clever remark. One of Oscar Wilde's many memorable *epigrams* is "I can resist everything but temptation." *Epigram* comes from the Latin word *epigramma*, which means "an inscription." If you've ever seen an inscription on, say, the back of a watch, you know the writing has to be brief. It won't surprise you, then, that epigrams are very short poems, sayings, or famous quotations, like Benjamin Franklin's "Little strokes fell great oaks," a memorable reminder to keep working toward big goals or to pay attention to little details, the opposite of an epigram from our era: "Don't sweat the small stuff."

Answer 55

Boor ill-mannered person [boorish (a)] A *boor* is a crude, rude person. *Boors* lack sophistication and manners. Boors are worse than boring; they’re offensive and repulsive. To be a boor is to be an obnoxious, unsophisticated oaf. A boor would swear in church. A boor would talk too loudly on the train. A boor would get too drunk at a wedding reception. Boors lack manners and taste. When a boor is around, other people want to leave. If you have self-control and culture, you’ll never be accused of being a boor.

Answer 56

Undercutting offering a lower price; undermining

Answer 57

Purist conservative; one who insists on correct forms of language etc. A *purist* is a person who insists on following certain rules exactly — to the letter. If you're a language *purist*, it upsets you to hear someone using bad grammar. Most purists are fans of tradition and traditional rules, always sticking to those rules themselves and often instructing other people to do the same. To be a purist is to be a kind of perfectionist — a baking purist might feel that cookies made without a certain brand of chocolate chips are vastly inferior, for example. The noun *purist* originally referred specifically to language use, and it comes from the Latin *purus*, "clean, clear, or unmixed."

Answer 58

Boycott refuse to have dealings with To *boycott* means to stop buying or using the goods or services of a certain company or country as a protest; the noun *boycott* is the protest itself. This noun comes from the name of Charles C. *Boycott,* an English land agent in 19th century Ireland who refused to reduce rents for his tenant farmers. As a result, the local residents did not want to have any dealings with him. Boycotts are an effective way to use your spending dollars to affect change.

Answer 59

Culpability guilt [culpable?= blameworthy] * Culpability* is a state of guilt or responsibility. A lot of lawsuits are about who has *culpability* for something that went wrong. * Culpability* is a fancy-sounding word, but it's a simple concept: guilt. You have culpability if you're responsible for something, usually something bad. If you left the door open and your house was robbed, you have some culpability (not as much as the robber, though). If a store owner doesn't salt the ice on the sidewalk and you slip, he has some culpability if you get injured. Figuring out culpability is about figuring out who's to blame.

Answer 60

Assay 1. try; 2. assess purity An *assay* is a breakdown of a material, examining the individual parts that make up the whole. When you *assay* a situation, you look at all the elements that created the problem in order to come up with a solution. The word *assay* comes from the French word *essai*, which means "trial," an appropriate sense for a word that means to examine for analysis. As a noun, *assay* means a test or appraisal to determine the components of a substance or object. As a verb, it refers to the act of analyzing, or of conducting that test. It is usually used in chemistry-related fields like metallurgy and pharmaceuticals, but you can also assay a poem.

Answer 61

Iniquitous evil; unjust [iniquity (n)] Something that is *iniquitous* is extremely immoral or wicked, such as an *iniquitous* political regime that assassinates its enemies. Use the adjective *iniquitous* to describe something that is truly bad, morally wrong, extremely wicked, or completely unfair. It’s a strong word — don't use it lightly. If you go see a movie that’s boring and too long, for example, it’s just a bad movie. But a movie that encourages people to take violent action against a minority group? That's *iniquitous* because the movie's message is grossly immoral.

Answer 62

Quibble 1.?(v)?to argue about minor matters; to play on words when finding fault; 2.?(n)?a minor verbal point in an argument A *quibble* is a small argument or fight. As a verb, it means to pick a mini-fight over something that doesn't really matter. "Let's not *quibble* over price," people will say, usually when they plan to gouge you. It's better to watch figure skating with the sound off, rather than listening to the announcers quibble over a not-fully-rotated knee or the slightly diminished altitude of a jump. Sometimes a quibble between neighbors over two feet of property can escalate into a major feud.

Answer 63

Epaulet shoulder decoration An *epaulet* is a decoration that is attached to the shoulders of a uniform. If you are a guard at Buckingham Palace, you have pretty nice *epaulets* on your uniform, but they aren’t as amazing as that hat. The noun *epaulet* comes from the Late Latin meaning of *spatula*, "shoulder blade." Any fancy extras attached on the exterior shoulders of a garment can be called an epaulet. Epaulets often have gold braided embroidery. Or stars. Some have fringe. The epaulets on the uniforms of airline pilots have four rows of braids, which distinguishes them as a higher rank than co-pilots, who wear three braids.

Answer 64

Esoterica obscure details

Answer 65

Vicissitude unexpected change in fortune or circumstances When you talk of the *vicissitudes* of life, you're referring to the difficult times that we all go through: sickness, job loss, and other unwelcome episodes. No one can escape the *vicissitudes* of life. While *vicissitude* comes from the Latin *vicis*, which means "change" and technically can mean a change of any kind, you'll find that *vicissitude* is almost always used to talk about an unfortunate event or circumstance. Losing a pet, crashing the car, being called in for jury duty: these are examples of vicissitudes — chapters in one's life that one would rather avoid but must get through. Some lives have more vicissitudes than others, to be sure, but no life is without events that test and challenge us.

Answer 66

Repine fret; be discontented The verb *repine* describes expressing gloom or discontent. Brooding, fretful, and sad — these are the traits of people who *repine* at their circumstances in life. Early American poet Anne Bradstreet used *repine* in her well-known poem, "Upon the Burning of Our House July 10th 1666," describing how the speaker got over the loss: "And when I could no longer look, / I blest His grace that gave and took, / That laid my goods now in the dust. / Yea, so it was, and so 'twas just. / It was his own; it was not mine. / Far be it that I should *repine*."

Answer 67

Discernment judgment; perceptiveness *Discernment* is the ability to make a smart judgment about something. If you're voting for Student Council President, you need to use *discernment* to pick the best candidate. The noun *discernment* describes a wise way of judging between things, or a particularly perceptive way of seeing things. If you can understand something that's somewhat hidden or obscure — if you figure out the themes of a confusing movie, for example — you're using discernment. It comes from the Latin word *discernere*, meaning "separate." Discernment separates what's important or true from what's not.

Answer 68

Proliferate grow and spread [proliferation (n)] When something *proliferates*, it's growing, spreading or multiplying really quickly. Bunny rabbits have a habit of *proliferating*, as do dandelions in untended gardens and funny YouTube videos on the internet. *Proliferate* was originally a biological term used to describe the growth of cells and producing offspring. It wasn’t until 1961 that we started to use *proliferate* more generally to talk about everything from the spread of nuclear weapons to the wide growth of Walmart. Other similar words include *expand*, *reproduce*, *snowball*, and *spawn*.

Answer 69

Foppish behaving or dressing like a dandy; excessively concerned with fashion A man who is constantly checking out his outfit in the mirror might be *foppish*, or someone who loves dressing up in fancy clothes. For some reason, *foppish* is almost always used to describe men (not women), and that's why the word might make you think of an elegant suit, vest, and tie, and probably some over-the-top details like a flower in a buttonhole and a polka-dotted handkerchief. The word *foppish* also implies that this guy probably thinks he looks pretty good.

Answer 70

Abscission cutting; process causing leaves to fall off When an apple ripens and then falls off a tree, it's called an *abscission*. It means the cutting off or removal of something, like an unsightly mole on the chin. You can remember that *abscission* is all about cutting when you see how close it looks to the word *scissors.* If you are a public speaker who habitually cuts yourself off, your speeches may suffer from *abscission*. If you’re wounded in the leg in battle and gangrene sets in, you will be faced with the *abscission* of a limb. Layoffs at work are the *abscission* of workers.

Answer 71

Saw 1. tool for cutting; 2. wise saying A *saw* is a tool that's used to cut wood. It can be a hand tool or a power tool, and it usually has either a blade or a disk with a jagged cutting edge. The verb *saw* means to cut through wood or another material using a saw or other tool. If you are going to build a bookcase, you have to saw the wood into the proper lengths. It's a good idea to measure it twice so you only have to saw it once. When you're faced with a tough piece of meat, you might have to saw at it just to cut off a bite.

Answer 72

Recondite obscure It's rather difficult to penetrate the meaning of *recondite*. Fitting, because it's an adjective that basically means hard for the average mind to understand. If it's really hard to comprehend, then it's safe to say it's recondite. In the same family as "abstruse," "esoteric" and "totally deep, man," *recondite* is a very serious word that you could use to describe obscure philosophy books, high level mathematical theory, and the series finale of The Sopranos — you know, things that make your brain hurt.

Answer 73

Damp (used of vibration) reduce in extent

Answer 74

Aver affirm To *aver* is to declare something is true or to state. This verb has a serious tone, so you might *aver* something on a witness stand or you might *aver* that you won't back down to a challenge. The verb *aver* comes to English via the Latin root words *ad*, meaning "to," and *verus*, meaning "true." The word can have the sense of formally declaring something is true, but it can also mean to report positively: "The grandmother *averred* that her granddaughter would make a fine veterinarian because of her love and caring for animals."

Answer 75

Fervid passionate *Fervid* can be used to describe something that is physically hot such as "a *fervid* day in August," but it is more often used to describe heated emotions like anger, love, or desire. When passions and emotions run wild, you should expect to hear some fervid language thrown about. The adjective *fervid* comes from the Latin *fervidus* which means "glowing, burning, or boiling." It is often used like the word *fiery*. You might hear a politician deliver a "*fervid* speech" if he or she is particularly worked up over an issue.

Answer 76

Stinting holding back; limiting the supply (of supplies/money etc.) [stint (v)]

Answer 77

Lacuna gap; missing part [plural =?lacunae] A *lacuna* is a gap or missing part. If you complain that there's a major *lacuna* in the bake sale, the lack of brownies is probably to blame. The noun *lacuna* means an empty space or a hole where something should be. It's used a lot to talk about missing parts of books or manuscripts, either because lost pages have created a lacuna, or because censors have blacked out or removed parts of them. In the study of anatomy, a lacuna is a hollowed-out place or a cavity within a bone. In Latin, *lacuna* means "pit or hole," and its plural is *lacunae*.

Answer 78

Importune beg; solicit [importunate (a)] Sure, to *importune* is to beg, but use it only when you're talking about going beyond mere begging into more urgent territory. The woman *importuned* the judge to release her innocent brother from jail. The original Latin term actually meant something closer "to bother." Bear that in mind when you're deciding whether to use *importune*, because that's the kind of begging you'd want to be talking about when you do. Imagine needing something so badly that you cannot stop asking for it: then you might importune someone to get it. After a year of being importuned, dad let me have the car.

Answer 79

Sinecure job which pays salary but requiring little effort If you have a cushy job — one that pays, but involves minimal work — then you have a *sinecure*. "Because he was the brother of the CEO, he was offered a *sinecure* in the company: he showed up each day and collected a pay check, but others actually did his work." The noun *sinecure* comes from the Latin root words *sine cura* meaning "without care." It originally was used to describe a church position that did not include caring for the souls of parishioners, but that meaning is considered archaic now. The word is now usually associated with political appointments.

Answer 80

Muse 1. think; meditate?(v); 2. a source of inspiration?(n)?[in mythology, a goddess who gives inspiration]

Answer 81

Impugn challenge; question someone?s honor etc. To *impugn* means to call into question or attack as wrong. If your usually grumpy brother is suddenly nice and sweet, you'll impugn his motives if you're smart — he probably just wants something from you. The root of *impugn* is the Latin *pugnare* which means "to fight," so when you impugn, you are fighting or attacking, but by saying that something is false or wrong. If a candidate has a record that cannot be impugned, his or her opponent might go for a character attack. If you take pride in your work, you will be especially insulted if someone impugns your professionalism or integrity.

Answer 82

Disabuse make someone aware of an error in thinking * Disabuse* means to free someone of a belief that is not true. Many teachers of health find that when they teach, they spend as much energy *disabusing* kids of false beliefs as they do giving them the facts. * Disabuse* is often connected to the word notion or idea. In singing lessons, you must disabuse young singers of the idea that they can sing better by singing louder. In the first year of college, many people are disabused of the idea that they way they are is "normal," by meeting so many people who represent other ways to be.

Answer 83

Intemperate excessive; immoderate [intemperance (n)] If a climate is *intemperate*, its temperatures might be extreme. If a person is *intemperate*, his moods might be extreme. Being *intemperate* is all about avoiding moderation. *Intemperate* is a combination of the prefix *in-* meaning "not" and the Latin *temperantia* meaning "moderation." When you are intemperate, you are not doing things in moderation; you lack self-control. It's often a word used when describing the tendency someone has to indulge excessively in liquor. An alcoholic is intemperate — overindulging and depending on alcohol.

Answer 84

Denigrate decry; criticize; belittle To *denigrate* is to say bad things — true or false — about a person or thing. Your reputation as a math whiz might be hurt if your jealous classmate manages to *denigrate* you, even though the accusations are unfounded. The verb *denigrate* comes from the Latin word *denigrare*, which means "to blacken." To sully or defame someone’s reputation, or to spread negative or hurtful information about a company or a situation, is to denigrate it. Your neighbors may denigrate your proposal for mandatory recycling in an attempt to stop your plan. *Denigrate* can also mean that you're making something seem less important, like when your brother tries to denigrate your athletic achievements.

Answer 85

Manipulative scheming A *manipulative* person uses passive, sneaky strategies to get what they want, such as saying "Aren't you lucky to have all that chocolate!" when what they really want is for you to offer them one. *Manipulative* comes from the Latin word *manus* for "hand," and originally the English words that sprang from it like *manipulate* and *manipulation* referred to skill in physically handling objects by hand. The psychological sense we now associate with *manipulative* came much later on, but as anyone who has been successfully manipulated well knows, it often feels like you've been brilliantly manhandled.

Answer 86

Equivocation "speaking ambiguously [equivocate (v), equivocal (a)]" If your boss asks you where all the merchandise went and you say, "someone took it," omitting that the "someone" in question is you, that's *equivocation*: using ambiguous language to hide the truth. *Equivocation* comes from the Latin for "equal" and "naming," and in equivocation, you use a word that could have a few different meanings, all technically equal, in order to mask what you really mean. It's a great way to not-quite lie, but still avoid taking the blame for something you did, which is why *equivocation* is never a good thing. You may recognize this kind of speech from watching (some) politicians on TV.

Answer 87

Enigmatic puzzling [enigma (n)] Something that's *enigmatic* is tough to figure out. It's puzzling and even mysterious, like those weird secret college societies, Mona Lisa's smile or the New York Times crossword. It's no mystery where the adjective *enigmatic* comes from: It's rooted in the Greek word for riddle. Something that's enigmatic is obscure, unclear and not an easy nut to crack. Translating the Rosetta Stone, with its ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs and mysterious foreign writings, was certainly an enigmatic challenge for the archaeologists that found it.

Answer 88

Accretion accumulation of matter; growth produced by adding from the outside The process of increasing can be called *accretion*. Although you may say that stalactites "grow" from the ceilings of caves, they actually form from an *accretion* of limestone and other minerals. So what's the difference between an *addition* and an *accretion*? *Addition* implies adding to something that already exists, such as an addition to the cast (when a new actor joins an existing show). The noun *accretion*, on the other hand, implies an accumulation that causes increase, such as "an *accretion* of frost on the windows" or "an *accretion* of plaque on your teeth." The latter, of course, is why the dentist always begs you to floss and brush.

Answer 89

Pedagogy science of education; teaching * Pedagogy* is another word for education, the profession and science of teaching. * Pedagogy* and *pedagogue* come from the Greek *paidos* "boy, child" plus *agogos* "leader." *Pedagogy* refers to the teaching profession as well as the science of education, for example as a college subject. This might be one reason that the word, *pedagogue,* is often used for a teacher who is overly interested in rules and details, hence the science of teaching, rather than actually getting through to his or her students.

Answer 90

Eschew shun; avoid If you *eschew* something, you deliberately avoid it. If you live the bohemian life in the city, then most likely you *eschew* the suburbs. *Eschew* comes from a word meaning dread, or shun. So to *eschew* something isn’t simply to avoid it, the way you would avoid walking in a puddle––it's stronger than that. You *eschew* things that you find morally or aesthetically wrong, or that you have chosen to find wrong. A dieter might *eschew* a chocolate sundae, not because he doesn’t like it, but because he’s afraid of what it will do to his waistline.

Answer 91

Compromised 1. damaged or put in doubt (esp. of reputation); 2. reached an agreement by giving up part of a claim A *compromise* is a way of settling differences by everybody making concessions. If you want to stay out until 10 and your friend wants to stay out until midnight, 11 is a good *compromise*. *Compromise* comes from the Latin *compromissum*, which means "mutual promise." It can be a noun or a verb. If you compromise with your lab partner over how to analyze the experimental data, you find the middle ground between your two ideas. *Compromise* can also mean to erode or diminish. If you never repair your brakes, you will compromise the safety of the car. If you cheat, you compromise your integrity.

Answer 92

Abysmal very deep; very bad If you want to say something is really, really bad — then call it *abysmal*. If one person shows up to your party, well then that is an *abysmal* turnout. The 1958 Ford Edsel? An *abysmal* failure. When someone describes the hole you just dug as abysmal, you may not know whether to take it as positive or negative feedback. That's because starting in the 1650s, *abysmal* simply meant "resembling an abyss in depth." By that definition you've just received a compliment on your deep digging skills. But since the early twentieth century, *abysmal* has been more commonly used to identify something as "extremely bad." So it's more likely that your hole has just been insulted.

Answer 93

Demagogue mob leader (who appeals to base instincts) [demagogy/demagoguery (n)] A *demagogue* is someone who becomes a leader largely because of skills as a speaker or who appeals to emotions and prejudices. Though the Greek root for *demagogue* literally means "a leader of the people," the word has for centuries had a negative connotation: it actually means a leader who has manipulated the emotions and prejudices of the rabble. The reason for the negative connotation is that in ancient Athens, "the people" were considered to be an uncivilized mob. Two of the most famous historical demagogues are said to be Adolf Hitler and Josef Stalin.

Answer 94

Cornucopia symbol (horn filled with fruit etc.) denoting natural abundance A grocery store with a large selection of fruits and vegetables could be said to have a *cornucopia* of produce. A *cornucopia* is a lot of good stuff. Around Thanksgiving in the United States, you'll often see cornucopias or horn-shaped baskets filled with fruit and other goodies as centerpieces. Originally, a cornucopia was a goat's horn filled with corn and fruit to symbolize plenty. Nowadays, a cornucopia is probably made of some kind of plaster or wicker, but it still symbolizes the same thing — a good harvest season.

Answer 95

Nostrum remedy Though you try many medicines that claim to cure your cold, none of them work. They turn out to be *nostrums*, or ineffective drugs. *Nostrum* refers to a cure-all, a drug, or a medicine that is ineffectual. Before drugs were regulated by the government, there were many nostrums sold to the public. "Snake oil" is one of the most well-known. Said to cure any ailment from achy joints to hair loss, snake oil concoctions could contain a number of ingredients — including camphor, red pepper, and turpentine.

Answer 96

Balm soothing ointment or anything soothing [balmy (a)] If your lips are cracked and dry, lip *balm* will make them feel better. A *balm* is a soothing substance with a consistency somewhere between solid and liquid. The ointment-like consistency is part of what the word *balm* means. It comes down from the word, balsam, which is a gummy substance that comes from trees. You can use the word metaphorically too. If your mother's cooking always makes you feel better no matter how bad things get, you can say her home cooking has been a balm for you in trying times.

Answer 97

Prominent 1. eminent; 2. protruding; 3. obvious If you're looking for an adjective that means "sticking out above the rest; famous," consider *prominent*. A *prominent* person might be the big cheese, the head honcho, the top dog — not just any Joe Schmo. A *prominence* is anything that juts out, like a bone or a mountain ridge. *Prominent*, then, means "sticking out" either in a literal sense ("a prominent nose") or a figurative one ("a prominent figure in the industry"). The metaphorical sense of "famous" is the most common one today, though references to the "*prominent* posterior" of Jennifer Lopez might fit both definitions.

Answer 98

Decimated kill or destroy a large part of (originally one tenth) If something is drastically reduced or killed, especially in number, you can say it was *decimated*. "The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico *decimated* the wildlife along the coast." The verb *decimate* originally referred to a form of capital punishment for Roman troops. If there was a rebellion, one out of every *ten* men (thus the *dec* in *decimate*) was put to death. So the word's first expanded usage was to mean a ten percent reduction or a ten percent tax. Modern usage gives the word *decimate* its "drastically reduced" meaning, but the verb can also be used to mean "to wipe out" or "to eliminate."

Answer 99

Synapse junction between two nerve cells A *synapse* is the tiny gap across which a nerve cell, or neuron, can send an impulse to another neuron. When all your *synapses* are firing, you're focused and your mind feels electric. *Synapse* is not an old word. It was coined in an 1897 physiology textbook, from the Greek *sun-* "together" + *haptein* "join" — it’s the space across which nerve cells can "join together" to communicate from one cell to the next or from a neuron to a muscle. When a chemical or electrical impulse makes that tiny leap across one of your synapses, which you have throughout your nervous system, your body can do what your brain tells it to do.

Answer 100

Quell suppress Meaning to suppress or overcome, *quell* is what you have to do with nerves before a big test and fears before going skydiving. When it first came into existence, the verb *quell* actually meant "to murder." That's a big more serious than our modern definition, but you can use that old definition to help you imagine offing your worries or putting a permanent end to criticism. These days *quell* is often used to mean "pacify," as in the police quelling an angry mob or a mom quelling a kid's temper tantrum.

Answer 101

Prudence caution; wisdom Use the noun *prudence* to describe sensible decisions about everyday life, like the *prudence* of people who spend their money wisely, saving as much as they can. *Prudence* can also describe the skill of side-stepping trouble or embarrassment, like having the prudence to avoid risks or the prudence to prepare for the unexpected, like packing a change of clothes in case the weather changes or your dinner reservations turn out to be at a fancy restaurant. *Prudence* comes from the Latin word *prudentia*, which means "foresight, sagacity."

Answer 102

Vituperate attack bitterly To *viturperate* is to speak or write in an extremely negative way about someone. Just as vituperation consists of negative, explosive, malicious outbursts, to vituperate is to communicate in this way. Negative political ads vituperate against opponents. When you insult someone and swear at them, you vituperate. People with a short temper tend to vituperate often — it's similar to railing, vilifying, and reviling. The root word is the Latin *vituperationem*, "blame or censuring," from *vitium*, "fault or defect."

Answer 103

Secure 1. to fix firmly; 2. to obtain * Secure* means safe, protected. Your money is *secure* in a bank. Supportive friends and family make you feel *secure*. Secure can also be used as a verb. You secure the sails before you take out the sailboat, which means you tie them down. If you secure someone a ticket to a popular Broadway play, you've found them a hard-to-find seat. On an airplane, you're told that in the event you need an oxygen mask, you should secure yours — get it in place — before helping someone else. Almost all meanings contain the idea of safety: making sure things are right.

Answer 104

Nadir lowest point If a highly forgetful person loses his phone, his wallet, and then his car keys in separate instances all in one day, you could say that he has reached an organizational *nadir*. This means "lowest point." This was originally strictly an astronomical term and is the opposite of the word *zenith,* which is the part of the sky located directly above a person’s head or, "high point." In fact, *nadir* is derived from the Arabic *nazir,* which means "opposite to." It is still used in astronomy to indicate the part of the celestial sphere located directly below an observer, but also more generally to describe the worst point of someone’s life or career.

Answer 105

Reconnaissance examination or survey conducted in advance [reconnoiter (v)] * Reconnaissance* is checking out a situation before taking action. Often it’s used as a military term, but you could also do *reconnaissance* on a new employee before you hire her, or a resort before you take a vacation. * Reconnaissance* is a noun, and it technically means "the act of reconnoitering." Whoa. Never heard that word before? *Reconnoitering* is just a fancy way of saying that you’re checking something out — sometimes in a sneaky way. If you like a girl in your Spanish class, you might ask a friend to do some reconnaissance to find out what she’s like. The word comes from the French *reconnaître*, which means "recognize."

Answer 106

Gall 1. bitterness (bad feeling); 2. confidence; 3. abnormal growth on a plant * Gall* describes something irritating, like someone very rude. If you barge into a bakery and cut in front of a sweet old lady, then you have *gall*. If someone has gall, they're irritating. In fact, as a verb, *gall* means "to irritate" like new tight jeans that gall your thighs. *Gall* is "bile," too, like what's in a gall bladder. Back in the days of Hippocrates, if the four humors of the body were out of whack, it affected your spirits. If you had too much bile, or gall, then you'd be aggressive or depressed. It's also a noun for "deep feeling of ill will."

Answer 107

Extirpation wiping out; complete destruction [extirpate (v)] Use the noun *extirpation* to describe the wiping out or elimination of some specific thing. If your summer project is the *extirpation* of the dandelions in your yard, you intend to pull up every last one. If a bird species is forced into extinction by a logging company cutting down trees in the rain forest, that activity can be said to have caused the birds' extirpation. The word is even more often used to talk about the deliberate removal of something, like one army's extirpation of every enemy soldier. The Latin root word, *extirpationem*, means "root out."

Answer 108

Levee 1. raised bank of a river; 2. morning reception held by a monarch A *levee* is an embankment, like a dam, constructed to prevent the overflow of a body of water. It can also mean a formal reception. How do these two words relate? Read on... In French, *lever* means to lift and *se lever* means to rise, literally "lift yourself." When the king rose from his bed and received visitors, that was a levee. When you raise up dirt or other materials to build a dam or levee, that's also a levee. Now, official levees don't involve kings––but you might hear of "a governor’s *levee* at the state capital." And *levee* can be used as a verb, meaning to make an embankment, or shore up.

Answer 109

Noisome disgusting If you accidentally leave half a sandwich under your bed for a few days, cover your nose while you sleep because it will probably become quite *noisome*. This is a fancy way of saying that it will stink. Despite that first syllable, this adjective doesn’t have root origins in the word *noise,* but is related to the word *annoy*. Noisome can refer to anything unpleasant or anything that makes you nauseous. However, it is most often used to describe bad smells. So spray some air freshener, open the windows, and clean out under your bed!

Answer 110

Inerrancy infallibility; inability to make mistakes [inerrant (a)] Something that has *inerrancy* is completely accurate and cannot be wrong. Many Christians believe in the *inerrancy* of the Bible. You're most likely to come across the noun *inerrancy* in a religious context. It usually describes Christian religious writing — particularly the Bible — and the word of God. People who believe in a literal interpretation of the Bible are most likely to emphasize its inerrancy. In other words, they think that everything in the Bible is the literal truth. *Inerrancy* comes from *inerrant*, which originally referred to stars in the sky, and which is rooted in *inerrantem*, "not wandering" in Latin.

Answer 111

Untoward unexpected The adjective *untoward* describes something offensive or inappropriate, like the rumors of *untoward* behavior that can shatter a Hollywood icon's reputation. *Untoward* also describes things that are not good for you, such as *untoward* advice from someone your parents always said was a bad influence. Think about what you do when you move toward something: you get closer to it. Suppose you're moving toward a goal. You are, as they say, "on the right path." But when you add the prefix *un-* you reverse that, and you're no longer on the path to that goal — you're *untoward*.

Answer 112

Posture to put on an act *Posture* is the way you position your body or arrange your limbs. So stand up straight, put your shoulders back, and lift that chin up. Ballerinas have an elegant, graceful posture, and soldiers tend to display a rigid, strong posture. If you sit hunched over your desk every day you'll end up with terrible posture. This noun describes the way you carry yourself, but can also describe a certain body position you take, like the different postures in yoga. If you're accused of posturing though, that's a different story — that means you're behaving unnaturally to impress someone.

Answer 113

Hyperbole exaggeration [hyperbolic (a)] Praising your favorite sports team is one thing, but if you call the team the most incredible group of humans ever to walk the earth, then you're going overboard and indulging in *hyperbole*. The *hyper-* in *hyperbole* means "beyond," so it's a good sign that the word has to do with going above and beyond what's necessary. Someone who gets hyperactive about something and ends up hyperventilating (breathing too hard) might be prone to the exaggerated style of speaking known as *hyperbole*. If you find yourself talking about the absolutely best (or worst) thing of all time, it's time to take it down a notch and cut down on the hyperbole.

Answer 114

Peer 1. an equal; 2. to stare at; 3. nobleman A *peer* is someone at your own level. If you are a 10th grader, other high school students are your *peers*. *Peer* comes from the Latin *par* which means equal. When you are on par with someone, you are their peer. If kids your age are pressuring you to do something you don't want to do, that's peer pressure. In the sport of basketball, Michael Jordan was without peer, no one could equal his talent. When he switched to baseball, he found himself to be among peers again.

Answer 115

Expiate atone; make amends for In the fairy tale, the baker must *expiate* his father’s sins by bringing the witch three ingredients for a magic potion: a cow, a cape and a slipper. *Expiate* means to make amends or atone for a wrong you or someone else has committed. After the incident on the hill, a mortified Jill *expiated* her guilt by buying Jack a brand new crown. The shiny new crown served as compensation, or *expiation*, for the broken one. That it cost her so dearly made the *expiatory* gesture especially meaningful to poor Jack.

Answer 116

Purchase 1. grip; 2. buy When you *purchase* a pair of shoes, you buy them. If you want to gain *purchase*, or favor, with new friends, you might tell them about your recent *purchase* of chocolate, and offer to share. *Purchase* can refer to the act of buying or the thing you bought. In 1803, the United States paid France approximately $15,000,000 for 800,000 acres of land which was called Louisiana, in a transaction known as the Louisiana Purchase. In this transaction, the purchase nearly doubled the size of the U.S. –– the territory purchased comprises about 23 percent of current US land.

Answer 117

Churlishness rudeness; ill-mannered behavior

Answer 118

Sinewy vigorous; having well-developed muscles [a?sinew?is a tendon] Something muscular, with a tight and stretched toughness, is *sinewy.* Tennis players' lean arms have a *sinewy* beauty, all the muscles showing as they hit their smoking serves. A *sinew* is a tendon that attaches muscles to bones, and something *sinewy* has a lot of sinew or shows a lot of built-up tissues. If you're a carpenter or a piano player, you probably have well-exercised, sinewy hands and fingers. Lines in nature, such as tree limbs and roots, can be sinewy too. Being sinewy is attractive when it's in good health, but it can also make you look too stretched or thin, even scrawny. Tough meat can be sinewy and unchewable.

Answer 119

Veracious true [veracity (n)] Someone who is *veracious* speaks the truth — like your brutally honest friend who always lets you know what she thinks about your outfits, your hairstyle, your lasagna recipe, and your taste in movies. Think of a veracious person as someone who is like a witness under oath in a court of law, someone who speaks "the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth." Don’t ask a question of a veracious friend unless you really want to know the answer. The adjective *veracious* can be applied not just to people but also to things that are true or accurate, such as "a *veracious* story" or "a *veracious* statement."

Answer 120

Malapropism use of similar sounding but incorrect word A *malapropism* occurs when you say one word but you mean another, like instead of saying a certain restaurant is prosperous, you say it is preposterous. As you can tell, *malapropisms* are often humorous, though sometimes the joke is on the speaker. The word *malapropism*, pronounced "mah-luh-PRAH-pih-zum," comes from the French phrase *mal à propos*, which means "ill-suited." Playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan must have been thinking of the French phrase when he created his character Mrs. Malaprop, who made audiences howl with laughter when she used the wrong word. Examples include saying "allegory" instead of "alligator," and "illiterate him from your memory" instead of "obliterate."

Answer 121

Limerick short amusing poem

Answer 122

Latent hidden; real but undeveloped *Latent* is an adjective that you use to describe something that is capable of becoming active or at hand, though it is not currently so. The adjective *latent* is a tricky word to define because it refers to something there but not there. That is, *latent* means something that is capable of becoming active or at hand but has not yet achieved that state. The word arrived in Middle English from the Latin word *latēre* which means "to lie hidden." It can have somewhat negative connotations because it is often used in a medical context, as in a *latent* illness or infection, but it can also mean good things, such as someone discovering they have *latent* talents or capabilities.

Answer 123

Amalgamate join; consolidate [amalgamation (n)] To *amalgamate* is to combine different things to create something new. Institutions — such as banks, schools, or hospitals — often join forces and *amalgamate* with one other. But other things — like musical genres — get *amalgamated* as well. The verb *amalgamate* original referred specifically to the mixture of metals, now however, it refers to any mixing or blending. A school board might decide to amalgamate two schools into one school due to a decrease in the student population, but amalgamating their mascots would be impossible.

Answer 124

Millinery hats and hat-making

Answer 125

Apposite fitting; suitable Something *apposite* is fitting or relevant. It is *apposite* that radio stations play Christmas carols on Christmas Eve, and that your tax accountant takes vacation after April 15th. It all makes sense. The adjective *apposite* is derived from the Latin terms *appositus* and *apponere*. *Ponere* means to place, and thus *apponere* is "well-placed or well-put." Don't confuse *apposite* with *opposite*; they have almost opposite meanings!

Answer 126

Approbation approval [opp. disapprobation] *Approbation* is an official, important-sounding, and somewhat old-fashioned word for approval or praise. A princess, for example, might only consider marrying a prince that is met with her father's, the King's, *approbation*. How is it possible that *approbation* means approval when *probation* is a form of being in trouble in school? Remember that probation is a testing period, to see if you can be good. *Approbation* means it's all good. Or you can remember this rhyme: "Filled with *approbation*, the audience gave a standing ovation."

Answer 127

Malevolent having evil intentions [malevolence(n)] If someone is *malevolent*, they wish evil on others. If you find yourself approaching someone with a *malevolent* look in her eye, best to run the other way. *Malevolent* comes from the Latin word *malevolens*, which means "ill-disposed, spiteful"; its opposite is *benevolent*, which means "wishing good things for others." A malevolent person might display satisfaction at someone else's problems. But it's not only individuals who can be malevolent. If you think that television violence influences viewers to violence, you see television as a malevolent force. The stress is on the second syllable: muh-LEV-uh-lent.

Answer 128

Roster list of names If you see your name on the *roster* of players for the new softball team, then congratulations! Better start practicing, because you’re on the list of players who made the team. The word *roster* originally meant a list of the names, duties, and schedule of members of the military. That meaning is still in use, but today, a roster is more likely to be a list of players on your favorite team, a list of artists whose artwork appears regularly in a certain gallery, or a list of participants, such as an airline that posts its roster of flight crew members for the red-eye to Phoenix.

Answer 129

Plausibility believability [plausible (a)] Something's *plausibility* is how likely it is to be true. You might, for example, question the *plausibility* of your brother's story about seeing a UFO land in the back yard. The noun *plausibility* means "likelihood" or "believability." You're most likely to come across the word in a negative or questioning context, as when someone doubts the plausibility of an action movie's plot or questions the plausibility of a debater's claims and arguments. If you aren't sure you believe something, you'll question its plausibility. The Latin root is *plausibilis*, "deserving applause or acceptable."

Answer 130

Admonitory scolding [admonition (n)] Something that's *admonitory* is meant to correct or scold. If you're caught throwing paper airplanes in class, your teacher will probably give you an *admonitory* lecture. Use the adjective *admonitory* to describe something that's done in a warning or reproachful way. When kids are loud in the library, the librarian might shush them in an admonitory way. If your piano teacher always finds fault with your playing, she is consistently admonitory. The root of *admonitory* is the verb *admonish*, which means "to scold or reprimand." The Latin origin of both is *admonere*, "remind or suggest," but also "warn or urge."

Answer 131

Rekindle relight; revive Use the verb *rekindle* when you're trying to get something started again, like a fire or a romance. If your campfire goes out while you're getting the marshmallows out of your tent, you'll want to rekindle it. Likewise, if you've lost touch with a childhood friend, you might try to rekindle your relationship when you meet again as adults. *Re* means "again," and *kindle* means "start a fire," probably from the Old Norse *kynda*, "to light a fire." *Rekindle* has been used in the figurative sense from around 1300.

Answer 132

Calibrate mark an accurate scale on a device The word *calibrate* means making precise measurement. For example, you might want to *calibrate* your bathroom scale now and then to be sure it’s adjusted for exact weight. Or *calibrate* it to read five pounds light. We won't tell. To find the origin of *calibrate*, we must look at its root, *caliber*, which appeared in the late 15th Century Middle French as *calibre*, meaning "a degree of importance." Linguists trace that word to an Arabic beginning, the word *qalib*, which referred to a mold for making bullets. That meaning seems to have carried over to our word, the verb *calibrate*, which first meant to measure the range of a projectile such as a bullet or shell.

Answer 133

Canonical orthodox [canon (n) = set of accepted works] If something's *canonical*, it follows a principle or rule, usually in a religious or church-related situation. It is also used in mathematics, music and can refer to something reduced to its most basic form. The word *canonical* is from the root *canon*, with both evolving from the Latin *cononicus*, or "according to rule," a meaning applied to religion during the Middle Ages. However, the definition of "rules" also applies in other areas as well. In mathematics, the word is used to describe an equation reduced to its most basic form. In canonical music, a melody line is repeated at intervals throughout a piece. Perhaps the most familiar of these is Pachebel's "Canon in D."

Answer 134

Chorales simple hymns A *chorale* is the melody of a Christian hymn, or religious song. You're most likely to hear a *chorale* in a church. You can use the noun *chorale* to talk about a church song, or more specifically, the tune which the voices sing. Most chorales are sung in harmony, blending higher and lower voices, and are fairly simple melodies that are relatively easy to sing along with. The word comes from the German *Choralgesang*, "choral song," with its Latin root of *cantus choralis*, "song belonging to a choir."

Answer 135

Halcyon peaceful and happy; calm (esp. of summer weather)

Answer 136

Don put on (esp. of clothes)

Answer 137

Umbrage 1. shadow; 2. offence; sense of injury When someone takes *umbrage* at something, they find it offensive, and it probably makes them angry. *Umbrage* comes from the same source as *umbrella*, the Latin *umbra*, "shade, shadow." The umbrella was invented to keep you in shade, and when you take umbrage at something, you're casting a shadow over the person or thing responsible for the offense. I take umbrage at the suggestion that I'm not a nice person: it's offensive and infuriating. After having devoted my life to helping animals, I might take umbrage at the notion that I've been doing it for publicity purposes: I resent the idea that it was for any other reason than my love of animals.

Answer 138

Diaphanous transparent; thin and delicate If a dress is so see-through that light shines through it revealing the goods beneath, it's *diaphanous.* Also known as "sheer," "transparent," or just plain "sexy," but *diaphanous* is so much classier. If you want a classic example of *diaphanous* clothing check out all those nineteenth century Romantic paintings of voluptuous Goddesses clad in clearly insufficient lightweight gowns flouncing around in the middle of forests at night or storm-tossed fields. Those gowns are *diaphanous* all right, but because it's a classical allusion there's obviously nothing naughty about it. From the ancient Greek word *diaphanes,* meaning "transparent" — a style the Greeks were much in favor of.

Answer 139

Puissance power * Puissance* is the power to influence what other people do or believe. A celebrity who is extremely popular with teens has *puissance* to help end problems like bullying just by talking about it in interviews. * Puissance* is a French word that describes being powerful. When you have a strong influence over someone, you have *puissance*, which is pronounced "PYOO-uh-sens." It's an uncommon but poetic way to describe power, especially the power to convince someone to do something, like an older sibling's puissance. Another meaning of *puissance* is a show jumping horse's ability to jump large hurdles.

Answer 140

Agog amazed; wide-eyed with enthusiasm The word *agog* means with great excitement and interest. When you’re falling over yourself with excitement and curiosity to see who’s coming up the red carpet next, you’re *agog* about celebrities. At Christmas time, you are probably agog to see what's in all the beautiful presents. An easy way to remember what *agog* means is to think of it as goggle-eyed, which it sounds a bit like. When you’re agog, you’re goggle-eyed with excitement about something, whatever that happens to be. In truth, the word has nothing to do with goggle-eyes, but instead relates to the Middle French word *en gogues* which means "full of mirth, good humor, and joyfulness."

Answer 141

Gambit opening move; transaction A *gambit* is a strategic move, often in chess but also in politics or business, where a player sacrifices something up front for future gain. The noun *gambit* comes from an Italian word, *gambetto*, which means "tripping up." When you make an opening move, offer something, or start a conversation with something that seems self-sacrificing but is really a ploy for greater advantage in the long run, that's a gambit. In chess, a gambit is when you sacrifice a pawn early for better positioning, but when you offer to drive the morning carpool that’s might be a gambit to get the afternoon shift off.

Answer 142

Precipitate 1. hurried?(a); 2. insoluble product of a reaction in chemistry(n), 3. to instigate or speed up an action?(v) * Precipitate* usually means "bringing something on" or "making it happen" — and not always in a good way. An unpopular verdict might "*precipitate* violence" or one false step at the Grand Canyon could *precipitate* you down into the gorge. * Precipitate*, as a verb, can also mean specifically, "to fall from clouds," such as rain, snow, or other forms of precipitation. When used as an adjective, *precipitate* means "hasty" or "acting suddenly." If you decide to throw your class project in a trash masher just because someone in your class had a similar idea, then your actions might be described as precipitate. Or if you do that sort of thing regularly, you may be a precipitate person.

Answer 143

Occluded obscured; blocked

Answer 144

Lassitude lack of energy; weariness If you are feeling *lassitude*, you're weary and just can't be bothered. Couch potatoes make *lassitude* into an art form. *Lassitude* might sound like *latitude,* but the two words don't mean the same thing. *Latitude* describes the distance of a particular location from the equator. *Lassitude* is the weariness you'd experience after attempting to run a marathon around the equator. *Lassitude* can also describe a lack of interest, like deciding you'd rather lie on your couch rather than run that marathon along the equator.

Answer 145

Nugatory of minor significance; futile Something *nugatory* has no real value; it’s worthless. All your excuses for why you didn’t turn the bath tap off when you left the apartment are *nugatory*; they don’t change the fact that the tub overflowed and leaked into the apartment below. An adjective meaning "trifling, of no value," *nugatory* comes from the Latin *nugatorius* "worthless, futile," which in turn came from the also Latin *nugatory* — "jester, trifle." It’s a word you probably don’t hear too often, but it’s a fun and descriptive one to use. Describe something with no force or importance as *nugatory*. "Whether this rug is red or green is *nugatory* to someone who is colorblind."

Answer 146

Evanescent short-lived [evanescence (n)] A beautiful sunset, a rainbow, a wonderful dream right before your alarm clock goes off — all of these could be described as *evanescent*, which means "fleeting" or "temporary." *Evanescent* comes from the Latin *ex*, meaning "out of," and *vanescere*, meaning "to vanish." When pronouncing this word, emphasize the third syllable and note that the *c* is silent. You might want to practice saying *evanescent* a few times right now; if you stumble over pronunciation when you need this word the most, whatever you’re describing — be it a shooting star or a whiff of fragrant perfume — will be gone.

Answer 147

Travesty parody; ridiculous error A *travesty* is a cheap mockery, usually of something or someone serious, such as a *travesty* of justice. A *travesty* is a silly imitation, like a tall young man dressed up like a little old lady. *Travesty* and *transvestite* both come from French *travesti* meaning "dressed in disguise," so it helps to remember the definition of *travesty* by thinking of that football player in drag. A *travesty* can be more than that, though. A *travesty* of justice, for example, is a court case that makes a mockery of the system, or so you might think if the verdict isn't in your favor. There are lots of examples in literature: the book *Don Quixote* is a *travesty* of Medieval Romance.

Answer 148

Sullied made dirty or impure [opposite?unsullied; sully (v)] To *sully* is to attack someone's good name and to try to ruin his reputation. If you spread false rumors that there's chicken stock in the vegetarian entree at Joe's Diner, you would *sully* Joe's good reputation. *Sully* can also mean to tarnish or make spotty. It's easy to remember this meaning when you know that *sully* comes from the Middle French word *souiller*, meaning, "make dirty." For example, dripping chocolate sauce onto the table will sully your mother's new white tablecloth. Another meaning of *sully* is to corrupt or cast suspicion on. If an automaker recalls millions of vehicles due to safety problems, it doesn't exactly inspire confidence — in fact, it may sully their brand.

Answer 149

Debilitating weakening [debilitate (v)] Something that's *debilitating* seriously affects someone or something's strength or ability to carry on with regular activities, like a *debilitating* illness. *Debilitating* comes from the Latin word *debilis*, meaning "weak." That's why you'll often see the adjective used to describe *illness.* After all, serious diseases weaken the body. Other things that can be debilitating are those that can stop you from reaching a goal, like a debilitating snow storm that forces you to stay home, or debilitating shyness that keeps you from reaching out to the people you want to meet.

Answer 150

Effrontery daring; audacity (has a negative connotation) If you rudely behave as if you have a right to something that you have no right to, you're committing *effrontery*. When a couple stroll into a crowded restaurant, demand the best table, and threaten the staff unless they're seated right away, that's *effrontery*. People have been guilty of outrageously self-centered behavior at least since 1715, when *effrontery* was coined. Tracing to the French word *effronté*, meaning "shameless," the word *effrontery* is also connected to *brazen*, which means "of brass," and describes someone so accustomed to effrontery that he's hardened to it and has no concern for the harm done to others.

Answer 151

Tarnished made dull; spoil (reputation) To *tarnish* is to become dull or discolored. Silver tends to *tarnish* easily, which is why your mother is always having you polish the family silver. As a noun, a *tarnish* is the dull layer of corrosion that sometimes forms on metal items, usually the result of the metal reacting to oxygen in the air. Metals are most likely to tarnish, but so can anything that once felt sparkly and bright but has lost its luster — even you. If the new kid just beat you in chess, your reputation as the best chess player in your class has started to tarnish. Better not lose again!

Answer 152

Cognitive concerned with thinking or perceiving [cognition (n)] If it's related to thinking, it's considered *cognitive*. Anxious parents might defend using flashcards with toddlers as "nurturing their *cognitive* development." The adjective, *cognitive,* comes from the Latin *cognoscere* "to get to know" and refers to the ability of the brain to think and reason as opposed to feel. A child's cognitive development is the growth in his or her ability to think and solve problems. Many English words that involve knowing and knowledge have *cogn-* in them such as *cognizant* "aware of" and *recognize* "to know someone in the present because you knew them from the past."

Answer 153

Gist essence; main point When you need a quick summary of the essentials, rather than the whole story or a thorough explanation, you're looking for the *gist*. The word *gist* has had a variety of meanings in English, but most of them have become obsolete. The surviving sense of the word entered the language by way of the law: The *gist* of any legal action is the factor on which the action depends — that is, an alleged assault might be the *gist* of an indictment. The meaning of *gist* has evolved, though, and now it can be used to describe the core component of any matter, as in, "He watched the trailer, but he still didn't get the *gist* of the movie." Or, "She was having trouble writing a headline that conveyed the *gist* of her article."

Answer 154

Teetotalism total abstinence from alcohol *Teetotalism* is a noun, meaning staying away from alcohol. If you see someone drinking a soda at a bar, they might practice *teetotalism* or they might just be planning to drive themselves home. Since drinking alcohol is generally an accepted practice now, the word *teetotalism* has fallen out of common use. You might think the groups promoting teetotalism in the United States in the 1920s succeeded when laws were passed prohibiting alcohol (effective from 1920 to 1933). However, you would be wrong, because with the Prohibition era came underground bars and homemade moonshine.

Answer 155

Gainsay contradict * Gainsay*, a verb, means "contradict" or "speak out against." When you challenge authority, you *gainsay*, as in teachers don't like it when unruly students *gainsay* them. * Gainsay* comes from an Old English word that means "contradict" or "say against," as in, no one dared *gainsay* the principal, who is well-known for giving detention to students who so much as frown at him. If you know someone who constantly corrects others, tells them that they're wrong, and says, "That's not true," more than anyone else, you have first-hand experience with the art of the gainsay.

Answer 156

Falters hesitates *Falter* means to hesitate, stumble, or waver, and everything from faith to voices can do it. So if you want to keep your bride or groom happy, it's best not to *falter* when it's your turn to say "I do." Experts may falter if you ask them where *falter* came from, because the origins are pretty unclear. But everyone agrees on the current meaning: someone who falters is unsteady, wobbly, or unsure. You might falter while reciting a poem if you forget some of the lines, or falter crossing a rickety rope bridge when fear gets the most of you. But you certainly won't falter when someone asks you the meaning of this word.

Answer 157

Deferential showing respect [deference (n); defer (v)] When a young person shows respect and obedience to an older person, they’re being *deferential* to the elder’s wisdom and experience. To be obedient, courteous, or dutiful are all ways of being deferential. Bowing low to the Queen is a *deferential* act when visiting Buckingham Palace. On sports teams, rookies are usually deferential to the veterans and star players, while all players should be deferential to the coach. All employees are expected to be at least a little deferential to their bosses. Being deferential shows respect, but also means "I know my place, and it's lower than yours."

Answer 158

Labile changing rapidly; unstable *Labile* is an adjective used to describe something that is easily or frequently changed. Radioactive elements, such as uranium or plutonium, are *labile*. It is this *lability* that makes them unstable and dangerous. From the Latin verb *lābī*, "to slide or slip," *labile* is often found in a technical context, especially in science, to refer to some sort of instability. For example, in chemistry, a compound that can be easily broken down by heat is called *labile*. The term can also be used in psychology to describe someone who is emotionally unstable.

Answer 159

Fulminate 1. attack loudly in words; denounce thunderously; 2. explode noisily Watch a bomb *fulminate* or explode and hope you're under safe cover. Have your parents *fulminate* or blow up at you for coming home past curfew and hope you're not grounded for too long. The word fulminate is made up of the Latin root *fulmen* meaning "lightning flash." Look up at the sky during a violent thunderstorm and chances are you'll catch thunder and lightning *fulminate* or explode loudly and violently overhead. But you needn't look to the sky alone for this kind of intensity. If you find yourself in a room with passionate Republicans and Democrats debating, you might see them *fulminate* or severely rail against each other's beliefs.

Answer 160

Throwback "exhibiting primitive, or ancestral, traits"

Answer 161

Cumbersome bulky; difficult to carry [encumber?= to burden] You have to wrestle a bit with the longish word *cumbersome*; it's *cumbersome,* or kind of long and clumsy, to tumble out in a sentence. It's hard to use it gracefully. A "cumber" is something that slows you down, and though the words aren't related, "lumber" includes big pieces of heavy wood, which might slow down the person carrying them. Moving lumber is *cumbersome*, because it's a heavy and awkward job. Getting your laundry down the stairs or putting a Rottweiler in the bathtub can be cumbersome too.

Answer 162

Plumb measure depth of?(v); exact?(a. slang) To *plumb* a body of water, you measure its depth. To *plumb* a house, you connect all of its pipes. To make carpentry *plumb*, you get it exactly vertical. Originally, the verb *plumb* only meant "to measure the depth of water." These days, if you "*plumb* the depths" of something, you go in deep for knowledge and experience: your Heidegger seminar may plumb the depths of German Existentialism like Jacques Cousteau plumbed the depths of the ocean.

Answer 163

Phenomenology branch of science concerned with things as they are perceived; not directly derived from theory

Answer 164

Penchant inclination; leaning; tendency; predilection A *penchant* is a strong preference or tendency. If you have a *penchant* for pizza, you either eat it daily, or wish you did. *Penchant* borrows from French, in which *penchant* literally means inclined. It goes back to the Latin *pendere*, for hanging, which is also the source of *pendant*. In both French and English, speakers have long used the idea of *inclination* metaphorically: a hillside can be inclined in one direction or another, and so can a person's thoughts. But in English, *penchant* is only for desires.

Answer 165

Arboreal living in trees; concerned with trees If it has to do with trees, you can call it *arboreal*. Monkeys that live in trees are *arboreal*. The rings of a tree are an indication of *arboreal* age. The word *arboreal* comes from the Latin *arboreus*, which means "pertaining to trees." It's a word that refers not just to animals that live in trees, but also to anything that resembles the branching form of a tree — like a chandelier or a family geology drawn out. It even can be used to describe, as its Latin root suggests, something pertaining to trees. A Christmas tree shop is an arboreal wonderland. There are trees everywhere!

Answer 166

Parenthesis remarks deviating from the main point [parentheses?are round brackets in punctuation] A *parenthesis* is a tall, curvy punctuation mark used to set off material that isn’t fundamental to the main topic, like an afterthought or an aside (or a funny joke). Parenthesis marks come in pairs: the plural is spelled "parentheses." Parentheses look like this: ( ). When you use parentheses to set off material in a sentence, you say that the material is "in parenthesis." Put something in parentheses if it's a comment, an afterthought, or additional information that is possibly interesting but not essential to the subject. You can also describe something as a parenthesis, like a digressive story about horses in the middle of a political speech.

Answer 167

Epistemology theory of knowledge *Epistemology* is the study of knowledge: what we know, how we know it, how we know we know it, and how to keep track of it without driving ourselves crazy. You might be wondering if epistemology is just a hobby for people who know too much for their own good, but epistemology has a lot of uses. The study of knowledge leads to the study of learning, which leads to better methods of teaching. The study of knowledge helps us understand our cultural differences, which helps us all get along. Probably the coolest use of epistemology, though, is artificial intelligence: teaching computers how to learn.

Answer 168

Meretricious falsely attractive; tawdry Have you ever heard the phrase "fake it until you make it"? That is advice that encourages you to be *meretricious*, pretending to be something you aren't, like the *meretricious* flaunting of gigantic fake diamond earrings, pretending they are real — and that you can afford them. To correctly pronounce *meretricious*, accent the third syllable: "mer-uh-TRISH-us." Don't mistake something that is meretricious for having merit. In fact, it is just the opposite. From an expensive restaurant that looks expensively furnished but when the lights are turned up, you can see that "leather" chairs are just cheap vinyl or a woman who pretends her counterfeit handbags are designer originals, meretricious actions are meant to deceive.

Answer 169

Stanch to stop Use the verb *stanch* to describe stopping a liquid from spreading, like a bandage that *stanches* bleeding or thick towels that *stanch* the flow of water across the kitchen floor when you drop a full glass of water. The vowel sound in *stanch* most frequently sounds like *on*: "stonch." *Stanch* can also be pronounced to rhyme with *branch*. Though it's a verb mostly commonly associated with keeping blood from flowing from a wound, the origin is likely the Latin word *stagnum*, meaning "pond, pool." This word is related to *stagnate*, describing water that has no movement.

Answer 170

Satiate satisfy; fill completely [satiable (a); satiation (n)] If you just can't get enough popcorn, even the jumbo tub at the movie theater may not be enough to *satiate*, or satisfy, your desire. *Satiate* is often used in situations in which a thirst, craving, or need is satisfied. However, when *satiate* is used to describe eating, it can take on a more negative, or even disgusted, tone. If you comment that the diners at the world's largest all-you-can eat buffet were satiated, you might not mean that they were merely satisfied. You could be implying that they've been gluttons, and that they are now overstuffed with fried chicken wings and mac and cheese.

Answer 171

Indicted accused (of crime) If you accuse someone of committing an offense, you *indict* them. A book that *indicts* the entire education system might lay out all the reasons that schools are failing kids. In a legal sense, the verb *indict* means to bring formal charges against someone, especially in a court of law, as in a federal grand jury. The grand jury *indicted,* the man on 12 counts of murder. Although it's true the boy had stolen cookies from the cookie jar in the past, that is no reason to *indict* him out of hand in the present case. There were no witnesses and the crumb evidence would suggest someone else committed the crime.

Answer 172

Gerontocracy government by the aged A *gerontocracy* is a society governed by old people. Think: tribes where elders are esteemed for the perspective and wisdom they have acquired in long years on the planet. If your grandparents moved into your house and started telling everyone what to do, you might be outraged. Daily Metumucil doses for everyone! No loud music or reading of novels written after the First World War! A good thing then, that we live in a culture that worships youth––we're unlikely to be ruled by a *gerontocracy*.

Answer 173

Facetious not intended to be taken seriously Someone who is *facetious* is only joking: "I was being *facetious* when I told my mother I want Brussels sprouts with every meal, but she took me seriously!" *Facetious* is a useful word to describe something that's humorous, or meant to be humorous. If a joke falls flat, then you can back off from it by saying you're only being facetious. There are limits to this use of the word: if you stage an elaborate prank on your friend, making him run out into the street in his underwear because he thinks his house is on fire, calling the joke *facetious* will probably earn you a punch in the face.

Answer 174

Predilection leaning; interest; talent A *predilection* is a preference for or bias toward something. If you have a *predilection* for wool clothing, you should take up knitting. *Predilection* is based on the Latin verb *praediligere*, or to choose in advance, which breaks down to *prae*, in advance, and *diligere*, select. We often use predilection for tendencies that people seem to have been born with, also called *predispositions*. If you're a night owl, you probably have a predilection for cities, while morning people tend to prefer the country.

Answer 175

Arson "deliberate, criminal starting of fires" If you deliberately light logs on fire to roast marshmallows, you have camping skills. If you deliberately set your whole house on fire to collect the insurance money, you've committed *arson*. The noun *arson* comes from the Latin word *ardere*, meaning "to burn." *Arson* is the act of setting something on fire for a nefarious purpose, and it is, of course, illegal. If you live in a wildfire risk area, you know that sometimes wildfires are caused by natural causes like lightening, sometimes they're caused accidentally by carelessness, and sadly they're sometimes caused by a deliberate act of arson.

Answer 176

Pugnacious "aggressive, ready to fight [pugnacity (n)]" *Pugnacious* means ready for a fight. If you're a first year teacher, you probably don't know how to deal with the *pugnacious* kids in every class. Learn some discipline or they'll end up fighting you, or each other. Your brother is a pugnacious thug––always ready to use his fists to settle arguments, and he has the strength to do so. That’s the literal sense of *pugnacious.* You can use *pugnacious* figuratively, too. When two candidates face off in a debate during a close election, one or the other might be pugnacious. He looks to pick a fight with his opponent and is willing to say almost anything, no matter how outrageous, to make his opponent look bad.

Answer 177

Qualm hesitation or fear A *qualm* is a feeling of uneasiness, or a sense that something you're doing is wrong, and it sounds almost like how it makes your stomach feel. If you had *qualms* about taking candy from the bulk bins at the store, your conscience probably told you to go back to the cashier and pay. *Qualm* entered English in the 16th century, with meanings like "doubt" and "uneasiness." Usually a qualm comes from doubt about an action and a feeling that you are doing, or are about to do, something wrong. It isn’t a bad feeling about another person's behavior but about your own. If you have qualms about lying to get into the over-18 dance club, you might decide to follow your gut-check and meet your friends for coffee instead.

Answer 178

Pertain be relevant to [pertinent (a)] To *pertain* is to be relevant or somehow associated with something. If you're a lawyer, you try to find evidence that will *pertain* to the case and eliminate anything that is not connected. Behind the verb *pertain* lies the Latin verb *pertinēre*, which means "to be applicable" or "to hold through." If you think the rules of the road don't pertain to you, try explaining that to the state trooper when you get pulled over. Usage note: The word *pertain* often takes an *s* at the end, as in "That pertains to this matter," but loses it with a helper: "That doesn’t pertain to it."

Answer 179

Exemplar model type [exemplary (a)] A high school valedictorian is an *exemplar* of dedication and hard work. Most parents would love for their children to emulate a student with such excellent grades. Notice the similarity between the words *exemplar* and *example*. This word can mean both "perfect example" and "typical example." A fireman can be an exemplar of courage, and a building can be an exemplar of the architecture from a certain period.

Answer 180

Forage search for food To *forage* is to wander around looking for food. When it’s cold and snowy outside, birds may *forage* for food in your backyard, digging around for whatever they can find. The verb *forage* often describes animals searching for food, but it can also be applied to people. In those circumstances it retains the slightly desperate sense of coming up with whatever is available. For example, if you want to cook dinner but have no time to go to the grocery store, you might forage your refrigerator and cabinets to find good substitutes for ingredients in your recipe.

Answer 181

Descry to see (esp. at a distance); catch sight of If you spot something, you *descry* it. When you spy it, you *descry* it. It's a good verb to use when you catch a glimpse of a rare bird in the trees. Or when you finally spot Waldo in a "Where's Waldo?" book. *Descry* is very similar to "see" or "discern," but involves more than just keeping your eyes open. Usually you descry something after observing carefully for a while. Wrote Ovid, the Ancient Roman poet and author: "Time on time revolving we descry, so moments flit, so moments fly." Apparently, even in antiquity people complained about seeing the time go by too quickly.

Answer 182

Prone 1. vulnerable to; 2. horizontal The path of least resistance is where you'll find *prone*: it refers to whatever you're likely to do. The Latin root of this word is *pronare* which means to bend forward, and it's a handy way to remember both meanings. If you tend to wait to start your term paper until the night before it's due, you are prone to procrastination — you bend toward it. If you stay up so late you fall asleep face down in the book, you are now prone at your desk.

Answer 183

Whittle 1. carve with knife; 2. reduce step by step

Answer 184

Abeyance state of inactivity; disuse An *abeyance* is a temporary halt to something, with the emphasis on "temporary." It is usually used with the word "in" or "into"; "in *abeyance*" suggests a state of waiting or holding. The word *abeyance* has a legal ring to it, and for a good reason — appearing in English in the 16th century, it comes from the Anglo-French word *abeiance*, a legal term for waiting or hoping to receive property. Nowadays, the word is used in a similar way. Different legal rights, like property rights, can be held in abeyance until matters are resolved.

Answer 185

Incise cut into [incision (n); incisive (a)]

Answer 186

Anodized electroplated; coated with thin layer of metal

Answer 187

Squalid dirty and demeaning * Squalid* things appear neglected, or morally repulsive in nature, like a frat house after a semester of hard partying and zero cleanup. * Squalid* comes from the Latin word *squalare*, meaning to "be covered with a rough, scaly layer." A few word evolutions later and we have *squalid*, a word that describes something distasteful, dirty, unattractive, and as unkempt in appearance as the dry, scaly skin of an armadillo, or a room filled with pizza boxes, flickering light bulbs, and stained wallpaper. Squalid behavior is dirty, too, like cheating on a test and lying about it.

Answer 188

Hallow respect; worship To *hallow* is to bless, consecrate, or render holy by means of religious rites, especially significant religious places or the relics of saints. As a noun, *hallow* means "saint." The word for our popular holiday Halloween is a shortened form of "All Hallows' Eve," or "All Saints' Eve," which precedes All Saints' Day. In the verb form, the synonyms *bless* and *sanctify* are more commonly used these days, but *hallow* still appears in such phrases as "hallowed ground" (ground that's been blessed) and the Christian "hallowed be Thy name" (a phrase from "The Lord's Prayer," where *hallowed* means "revered").

Answer 189

Foible quirk; minor weakness If you repeat *foible* out loud enough times, it sounds so funny that you can laugh at it and maybe remember to laugh at the odd and distinctive weaknesses of others — the *foible* or two or a hundred that we all have. Sometimes a foible helps make a person who they are, even if the *foible,* or weakness ("feeble" is a close relative), is a little odd. Synonyms for *foible* in a negative sense are "failing," "shortcoming," and in a more positive sense "quirk," "eccentricity." It can likewise be annoying or endearing. Most people have a foible, or idiosyncrasy, that stands out to others, but interestingly, a person rarely sees his or her own characteristic foible.

Answer 190

Suborn bribe One of the reasons Mafia bosses are so good at avoiding prison is that they know how to *suborn* witnesses and jurors — that is, to bribe people to lie. After all, it wouldn't be nice if an accident were to happen on the way to court, right? Technically speaking, *suborn* doesn't just mean induce someone to conveniently "forget" something in the witness stand, or otherwise get creative with their imagination. An inducement to any kind of crime is suborning, but by far the most common use is in the legal sense above. Or "witness tampering," as the cops call it.

Answer 191

Prescience foreknowledge Do you already know what happens tomorrow? Next week? Next year? If you can see into the future, then you have *prescience*. The word *prescience* might look like *pre* + *science*, but it really comes from the Latin word *praescientia*, which means "fore-knowledge" — or knowledge you know before anyone else. Don't assume it's a crystal ball kind of power that lets someone with prescience see the future. It's more like a state of mind or level of expertise that allows for excellent foresight and planning.

Answer 192

Ready (used of wit) quick

Answer 193

Primordial present from the beginning of time * Primordial*, an adjective, describes something that has been around forever, like cockroaches. * Primordial* comes the Latin words *primus*, meaning "first" and *ordiri*, "to begin." So it is easy to see that this adjective means "first of all, original. When something is primordial, it has existed since the earliest time, like the primordial mud some scientists believe was the source of all life on Earth. Remember that is it a scientific term — don't call your teacher "primordial" just because she's been teaching at your school since it opened.

Answer 194

Abrasion 1. damage to skin caused by scraping; 2. process of scraping or rubbing [abrade (v)] An *abrasion* is a scrape. An *abrasion* can happen to a person, as in a skinned knee, or to an object, as in what you get when you apply sandpaper to wood. The noun *abrasion* comes to us from the Latin *abradere*, which means "scrape away" or "shave off." Any area that shows evidence of scratching or scraping can be called an abrasion, like that spot on the front bumper of your car from when you cut it too close pulling into the gas station. *Abrasion* can also mean the process of friction causing scratches, as in: "the *abrasion* of everyone sliding chairs on the floor left terrible marks."

Answer 195

Baleful evil *Baleful* means the foreshadowing of tragic or evil events. If no one's listening in class and your teacher reprimands you with a *baleful* glance, expect a pop quiz. If your car breaks down and you take refuge in a deserted mansion, you might huddle under a dusty blanket and find yourself thinking that the wind moaning at the windows sounds baleful — maybe it's really the voice of a young woman murdered in the very bed where you sleep?

Answer 196

Modest 1. bashful; unpretentious; 2. not excessive A person is *modest* if he or she is very successful but does not call attention to this. *Modest* generally means "big enough but not huge" — like a modest house or a modest income. An ambitious person will not be satisfied with modest progress. Around the turn of the 17th century, *modest* referred to proper or decent dress and behavior especially in women. Although this is considered dated today, *modest* is still used for people who are shy about showing their body. If you are modest, you might wear your t-shirt when you swim.

Answer 197

Preternatural unnatural; abnormal *Preternatural* describes something that seems oddly abnormal and out of sync with everything else. If you hear a *preternatural* dog's barking, maybe it sounds like a police siren instead of a howl. Note that *preternatural* contains the word *natural*. *Preter* comes from the Latin word *praeter* which means "beyond"; so something preternatural is beyond nature. It is less commonly used than *unnatural* or *supernatural* but means the same thing. If you lift a truck off the ground and hold it above your head, people will marvel at you and say you have preternatural strength.

Answer 198

Mettlesome spirited [mettle (n)]

Answer 199

Equivocal ambiguous; open to interpretation [equivocate (v), equivocation (n)] Try to remember that uncertain means *equivocal* and certain means *unequivocal.* That's a tricky movement the *un-* is making, and a lot of people get stumped. From the Latin *aequus* 'equal, the same' + *vocare* "to call," *equivocal* describes when something is too close to call. Whose hand first touched the last brownie on the plate? We asked everyone but the answers were *equivocal*.

Answer 200

Tare 1. weed; 2. allowance made for container when weighing The *tare* of a container is its weight when it's empty, which is important to know when you can't weigh something without putting it into something else. Since you can't measure the weight of, say, olive oil without putting it into a container, you need to find out how much the container weighs, its tare, so you don't add that to the weight of the olive oil. The same thing goes for cargo containers, trucks, airplanes, railroad cars. In chemistry, a tare is a counterweight used on this same principle. Tare is also a kind of weedy grass that grows in grain fields or that's raised for forage.

Answer 201

Paean praise; tribute (esp. in song) A *paean* is a hymn of praise or thanksgiving. You might sing a *paean* in church, where many hymns extol the greatness of God. *Paean* was originally a song of praise for Apollo, or Paian as he was sometimes called. You can now use *paean* to mean any song of praise, regardless of the deity, or to mean a formal expression of praise, like a eulogy. At your mother's birthday dinner, it might be nice for you and your brothers and sisters to write and sing a paean to her good-natured love and support of you over many years.

Answer 202

Rue regret [rueful (a)] To *rue* is to feel regret or remorse for something. If that position at the deli ended up involving a reality TV show that made everyone famous, you may *rue* the day you turned down the job. *Rue* comes from the Old English word *hreowan*, meaning "to make sorry," and *rue* can still sum up a lot of sorrow in one small syllable. *Rue* is a modern verb that often looks back on the past. Shakespeare made famous the phrase "*rue* the day," meaning you bitterly regret a moment. For example, you might rue the day you had your first coffee if you become hopelessly addicted to it.

Answer 203

Seminal essential; formative Call something *seminal* when it's so original, so groundbreaking and awesome that it will influence everything that comes after it. Picasso probably produced more than a few *seminal* works of art, for example. Technically, *seminal* means something related to semen or seeds. But these days people more often use the word to describe something that plants the seed for creative growth. An innovative piece of music or literature, a fresh new idea, or an invention that changes everything could each be called *seminal*. Synonyms include *critical*, *fundamental*, *original*, and *primary*.

Answer 204

Ferrous concerned with iron or its compounds

Answer 205

Flag 1. to lose energy; 2. to signal Stopping for a snack may help when your energy or attention begin to *flag*, meaning you are getting tired or losing your focus. *Flag* describes a person’s waning energy level after a sustained effort. For example, you may begin to flag after a long afternoon sightseeing in a strange city. It can also be used to describe diminishing success, such as a movie career that seems to flag after the actor stops landing big roles, *flag* can also refer to something that seems to drop off, like gym attendance that flags — along with those New Year's resolutions.

Answer 206

Partiality bias * Partiality* is the habit of favoring something — taking its *part*. If your parents always seem to let your little sister off the hook while you get grounded, you could accuse them of *partiality* in their parenting. They favor your sister over you. * Partiality* is like bias. It means that your favorite person, type of food, or way of operating tends to get priority when you’re making up your mind. A synonym for *partiality* is favoritism. For this reason, anyone who’s not directly benefiting from your *partiality* will not appreciate it. It’s unfair!

Answer 207

Misconstrue put a wrong interpretation on something *Misconstrue* means something is interpreted the wrong way. If you see your brother walking your best friend home, you may *misconstrue* the situation and think they're dating when really he's only picking up your birthday present. The verb *misconstrue* originates from the words *mis-*, meaning "wrong," and *construe*, meaning "construction." Combined they mean "to put a wrong construction on" — in other words, something is given the wrong interpretation. You may misconstrue your brother's intentions when he takes your bike without asking. Sometimes people can intentionally allow others to misconstrue something for personal gain. A politician may let voters misconstrue his voting record to get elected.

Answer 208

Drabness dullness

Answer 209

Temperate moderate *Temperate* means mild, moderate. If you're a *temperate* person, you are calm, reasonable. If you live in a *temperate* climate it's warm and sunny, but not too hot. Like other words that sound similar, *temperate* has to do with measurement and range. Temperatures measure how hot and cold things are and someone with a temper is hot-headed or intemperate, the opposite of this word. A temperate person's life motto is summed up by Goldilocks: not too hot and not too cold, just right.

Answer 210

Natty neat; dapper; smart * Natty* means current in style, both of dress and manners. A *natty* dresser is someone who is very stylish and has a snappy attitude. He may even be wearing a *natty* fedora. * Natty* is an adjective that comes from the 18th century. Originally it was a slang term, perhaps related to the adjective *neat*. These days, if you say someone "looks neat," it might sound like they look clean, but it also can mean that they look fashionable and put together. That’s what *natty* means, too. Someone who is natty is wearing fashionable clothes and is generally hip.

Answer 211

Ostracism shunning; social isolation [ostracize (v)] If you banish someone from society, you've caused that person's *ostracism*. Quakers, for example, faced *ostracism* by Puritans in colonial Massachusetts and many of them fled to the nearby colony of Rhode Island. *Ostracism* comes from the Greek word *ostrakon*, a broken shard of pottery. Athenians used pieces of pottery as a paper substitute in an annual vote in which citizens chose to banish someone from Athens for a period of ten years. The banished person had to leave (or face death) but was allowed to keep his property and could return when his ostracism was up. The vote was often used to get rid of potential tyrants and political rivals.

Answer 212

Inchoate undeveloped; nascent * Inchoate* means just beginning to form. You can have an *inchoate* idea, like the earliest flickers of images for your masterpiece, or it can be a feeling, like the *inchoate* sense of anger toward your new neighbor’s talking parrot. * Inchoate* comes from a Latin word for beginning. When something is inchoate, although you don’t yet understand what it is fully, you have a strong sense that it is indeed coming. It’s stronger than the wisp of an idea that never turns into anything. But it’s hard to really find the language to describe an inchoate idea. That’s the whole point: you don’t have the words for it yet!

Answer 213

Filibuster delaying tactics As a verb, *filibuster* means "to obstruct legislation by talking at great length." As a noun, it can refer to that oppositional speech. "The Senator prevented a vote on the bill by reading the dictionary from *aardvark* to *zyzzyva*." As a parliamentary tactic, the *filibuster* dates back to at least the first century B.C.E. The rules of the Roman Senate required that all business must be completed by nightfall, and, on more than one occasion, the senator Cato the Younger spoke until dark to delay a vote. In the Parliament of the United Kingdom, a minister may "talk out" a bill, but his speech must pertain to the bill. In the United States, by contrast, a Senator may forestall action on a bill by speaking on any topic.

Answer 214

Exacerbated made worse [exacerbate (v); exacerbation (n)] For a formal-sounding verb that means to make worse, try *exacerbate*. If you're in trouble, complaining about it will only *exacerbate* the problem. *Exacerbate* is related to the adjective *acrid*, often used to describe sharp-smelling smoke. Think of *exacerbate* then as a sharp or bitter thing that makes something worse. A drought will exacerbate a country's food shortage. *Worsen*, *intensify*, *aggravate* and *compound* are similar, but *exacerbate* has the sense of an irritant being added in to make something bad even worse.

Answer 215

Taunt mock; tease A short list of people not to *taunt*: your big brother, cops, nightclub bouncers, dragons. *Taunts* are insulting comments, and, unless you are a really, really fast runner, keep them to yourself. *Taunting* is often associated with large groups picking on an individual. A mob might call out a hated king from his castle with *taunts* and jeers. *Taunting* the weak is a high-school phenomenon that teachers, administrators, parents, and students are working together to stop.

Answer 216

Sere withered; old You can describe something that is dried up, withered, or without moisture with the adjective *sere*. The desert climate, for example, is *sere*, as is your skin after a day in the wind. Sere’s shriveled and withered meaning crops up in things like Shakespeare's Macbeth (My way of life Is fall’n into the sere, the yellow leaf; 5:III), or in archaic reference to Sere-month (August), but it isn't frequently used in normal modern conversation. The variant spelling of sere is sear, which has other meanings that see more modern use.

Answer 217

Gouge cut or dig out *Gouge* means stealing by overcharging. If your local gas station puts the price of gas way up because a storm is coming, you may say that the station owner *gouges* prices — and that's illegal. The verb *gouge* means to cut or carve. You can use special chisels to *gouge* linoleum for interesting design in printing. As a noun, a gouge is the tool you would use — instead of a flat-head chisel, a gouge has a trough — to make the gouge marks of the design. Another meaning of the verb *gouge* is an indentation in the surface of something. If you're not careful with the screwdriver, you'll accidentally gouge a hole in the wall.

Answer 218

Reproof scolding; criticism [reprove (v)] Let's say you are not pleased with the way someone handled a situation. In that case, you would offer a *reproof*, or a criticism, of what they did. So if you *reproof* someone, you pretty much chew them out. From the Late Latin *reprobāre*, which means "to disapprove of," the word *reproof* has a pretty clear meaning. The added meaning of "shame or disgrace" came later. *Reproof* is a not feel-good word, as you know if you've ever been on the receiving end of a verbal reproof. English Poet Walter Savage Landor described, once wrote "An ingenuous mind feels in unmerited praise the bitterest reproof." Poets are so hard to please.

Answer 219

Daguerreotype forerunner of the photograph

Answer 220

Atonement making amends for sin or crime [atone (v)] When you apologize for doing something wrong, that’s an act of *atonement.* Many religions have rituals of *atonement,* such as Yom Kippur, the Day of *Atonement*, on which people of the Jewish faith repent for their sins. As a religious act, atonement is an effort to make up for wrongdoings so you can be in harmony with a higher power. Look closely at the word: you can break it down to "at," "one," and "ment." *Atonement* first appears in English in the 1510s, when it meant "the condition of being at one (with others)." About ten years later, the word shows up with a meaning that included "being at one with God."

Answer 221

Pine 1. type of evergreen tree; 2. grieve If you *pine* for someone, you desperately want to see them, be with them, or perhaps smother them with kisses. If you're texting your ex-boyfriend over 50 times a day, there's a pretty good chance that you still *pine* for him. In Old English, *pine* meant "to torture or cause to experience pain," which seems quite fitting if you've known what it's like to pine for something or someone. The verb *pine* should not be confused with the noun *pine*, as in the evergreen tree. If you are from the Northeast and find yourself living in the Caribbean, you may pine for the sight of a pine tree, but the lovely weather should ease the pain.

Answer 222

Refulgent glowing; radiant If someone tells you that you have *refulgent* eyes, they mean that your eyes shine brightly, like the stars. This suggests that your special someone is the poetic type, since *refulgent* is a literary way of saying "bright." The adjective *refulgent* comes from the Latin *fulgere*, meaning "to shine." *Refulgent* is used both literally and figuratively. On a bright day, the sun can be described as refulgent, and the beautiful, sunny weather might cause you to break into a refulgent smile. *Refulgent* shines brightly among its synonyms: *radiant*, *dazzling*, and *luminous*. You'll typically encounter *refulgent* in literature and poetry, but using this word is a great way to show off your refulgent mind.

Answer 223

Hapless unlucky Use the adjective *hapless* to describe someone unlucky and deserving of pity, like the *hapless* used car buyer who gives in to the fast-talking salesperson. The word *hapless* traces all the way back to the Old Norse word *happ*, meaning "chance, good luck." Combine this with the suffix *-less* ("lacking") and *hapless* means "unlucky" or "ill-fated." A traveler who goes to Moscow and briefly gets lost on the subway? Just a tourist. A traveler who goes to Moscow, accidentally eats food he is allergic to, somehow loses all his money, and by chance gets on a train destined for Mongolia? Definitely *hapless*.

Answer 224

Fusillade long burst of gunfire When you watch an action movie, the hero's deadly *fusillade* often results in at least one of his enemies being shot. The noun *fusillade* describes a quick round of gunfire. To correctly pronounce *fusillade*, say "FEW sill ahd." The word probably reminds you of *fuselage*, the part of an aircraft where crew members and passengers sit. But the words only sound alike. *Fuselage* gets its name from its cylinder shape, while *fusillade* comes from the French word *fusil*, meaning "musket." *Fusillade* also can be used in a figurative sense to describe a rapid series of anything, such as a fusillade of punches or a fusillade of questions.

Answer 225

Symphony type of musical composition A *symphony* is the name of a type of classical music (a long, complex sonata) and the large orchestra that plays that music. If you go to a concert hall to see a piece of Beethoven or another composer, you're going to hear a symphony — a type of complicated, orchestral music played by a symphony orchestra. A symphony usually includes strings, horns, drums, piano and has a conductor to lead the group by waving a baton. You can also use this word as a comparison: A gorgeous spring day could be called a symphony of beauty and new life.

Answer 226

Cardinal "1. high ranking church official; 2. major, important" In Catholicism, a *cardinal* is a high-ranking bishop. In math, you use *cardinal* numbers to count. A *cardinal* rule is one that is central and should not be broken. Okay, that's a lot of definitions. How exactly are they related? In all cases, *cardinal* means central or essential. It's a cardinal principle that you use it to describe words of behavior like rule or sin. In the Church, cardinals form the central governing body, and in math the cardinal numbers (one, two, three) are the numbers you learn and use first.

Answer 227

Conniving cunning; scheming [connive (v)] Someone *conniving* is calculating, scheming, and shrewd — in other words, sneaky and up to no good. Do you know anyone who is always trying to get away with things? Do they constantly look for ways to get out of trouble or work? Those kind of people are conniving. This is a word for secretive, shifty behavior. However, being conniving isn't the worst thing in the world — it's negative, but you probably wouldn't say a murderer is conniving. It's usually reserved for con men, shady business moguls, and manipulative social climbers.

Answer 228

Inefficacious ineffective

Answer 229

Consternation worry and concern *Consternation* is a noun that can stop you in your tracks because it means "a sudden, alarming amazement or dread that results in utter confusion; dismay." If you have a sense of *consternation* you have become afraid, disoriented, or completely befuddled. It comes from the Latin roots *con*- and -*sternare*, which means "spread out." Picture all of your thoughts strewn about, nothing makes sense and you might experience a state of *consternation*. Like the nightmare about the class you forgot to go to in high school and now you have to take the final exam!

Answer 230

Duplicity cunning; deception; double dealing Though he said he didn't know anything about the footprints in the new sidewalk, his *duplicity,* or deceitfulness, was obvious from the cement caking his shoes. His mouth said one thing, his feet said another. Many words with "du" have meanings with "two" or "duo." *Duplicity* is from a Latin word meaning "twofold, having two parts." Someone who shows duplicity is two-faced — maybe showing one side in public and another in private — or is just a liar, saying something known to be untrue or misleading. A fraud uses duplicity to gain something with false promises, and someone described as "fake" might use duplicity just to fit in or be accepted.

Answer 231

Encomium praise An *encomium* is a fancy word for a formal speech or piece of writing that warmly praises someone or something. *Encomium* comes from the Greek word *enkomion* which, in a nutshell, is to honor someone or something at a party in a poetic speech. It used to refer to the song for the winner of the Olympic Games, sung at a victory celebration. You might hear an encomium at a retirement party, after you publish a fabulous book, or even at a funeral (a eulogy, or speech at a funeral about the person who died, is a kind of encomium). It's pronounced with a long O, *en-CO-mium*.

Answer 232

Quotidian daily; routine *Quotidian* is a fancy way of saying "daily" or "ordinary." *Quotidian* events are the everyday details of life. When you talk about the quotidian, you're talking about the little things in life: everyday events that are normal and not that exciting. Going to the store, doing chores, working or going to school, and brushing your teeth are all quotidian. If you take a spaceship to Mars, that would be unusual and extraordinary: the opposite of quotidian.

Answer 233

Hortatory encouraging; exhorting * Hortatory* is a word used to describe a behavior or action that is encouraging. In the face of great economic crisis, the president's speech takes on a *hortatory* or encouraging tone, at a time when people most need the reassurance. * Hortatory,* pronounced hawr-tuh-tawr-ee, is probably not a word you hear a lot, but what it describes is common. Teachers often give hortatory speeches when students are most overwhelmed. Coaches scream hortatory remarks to their team in the locker room to keep the players motivated. When you're lying in bed in the morning ignoring your alarm, look for that little hortatory voice in your head, encouraging you to get up so that you're not late.

Answer 234

Dote be excessively fond of [doting (a)] Who doesn't love to have someone *dote* on them? If you *dote* on someone, you shower them with love and attention. Sounds like the life! Parents that dote on their children too much might find themselves in trouble down the road; all that unadulterated devotion is a surefire way to spoil your kid. The problem is that those who are doing the doting are often too smitten to see when the object of their affection is acting like a complete jerk. No wonder *dote* is related to a German word that means "to be foolish." That connection might also explain the use of *dote* to mean acting senile in one's later years.

Answer 235

Usury lending money at high interest rates *Usury* means lending money at exorbitant interest rates. Credit-card companies charging annual interest rates of 29% are guilty of *usury*, as far as I'm concerned. A good way to remember the meaning of *usury* is that you can hear the word *use* in there. Think of charging too much interest as a way of "using" someone. The sad thing about high interest is that it's always the people who can least afford it who are charged rates so high that it amounts to *usury*. In the old days, if someone was found guilty of usury, they'd be flogged in the town square. Too bad the credit-card companies can't be dragged out of their holes, because they'd surely get a similar beating.

Answer 236

Stomach to tolerate The *stomach* is the organ of your body — kind of a big sac — that digests food. We also say people have a *stomach* for something unpleasant when they can handle it. Without a stomach, you'd be in trouble: that's where your food gets digested and turned into useful material your body can use for energy. If you ever got punched in the stomach or had a stomach ache, it can hurt a lot. Also, *stomach* can mean having a hunger, or at least tolerance, for something. If you can't stomach watching football, then you can't stand watching it. If you have a stomach for something, you can swallow it.

Answer 237

Fledge 1. grow feathers; 2. leave nest [fledgling (n)?= an inexperienced person or a baby bird] When baby birds *fledge*, they grow feathers that are big enough for flying. Just after they *fledge*, birds take their first practice flights. You can use the verb *fledge* in several ways — first, to describe what happens when a bird's feathers grow in. A mother bird — or human — who cares for and raises a young bird can also be said to fledge it. You can also talk about the process of putting feathers on something, especially a hunting arrow, this way: "Once you *fledge* the arrow, you can use it with your bow." The Old English root word is *flycge*, "having feathers, or fit to fly."

Answer 238

Fervent passionate Use *fervent* to describe a person or thing that shows very strong feelings or enthusiasm. If you have a *fervent* desire to become an actress, you'll stop at nothing to realize your dream. The adjective *fervent* and the noun *fervor* are often associated with the feelings aroused by patriotism, religion, or a belief that you support or oppose. A near synonym for the adjective is *ardent*. *Fervent* is from Middle English, from Old French, from the Latin verb *fervēre* "to boil, glow."

Answer 239

Odometer instrument to measure distance covered

Answer 240

Soliloquy solo speech Ever see someone talking to himself while on a stage? That's what you call a *soliloquy* — a character's speech voicing his or her own thoughts as if to himself. Shakespeare's plays are full of *soliloquies*. The noun, *soliloquy,* comes from the Latin roots, *solus* "alone" plus *loqui* "speak" meaning "a talking to oneself." A soliloquy is a speech a character gives of his thoughts and reflections. Some of the most famous lines in drama are taken from soliloquies. Take "to be or not to be..." and "Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, Creeps in this petty pace..." as two examples of lines from soliloquies that have tortured high school students around the globe. Not the Globe Theater, Silly.

Answer 241

Contiguous adjacent; touching; abutting [contiguity (n)] Use the adjective *contiguous* when you want to describe one thing touching another thing, or next to it but not actually touching. Things that are contiguous are near or next to but not actually touching and yet they are also defined as "touching, sharing a border." You can use this adjective to describe people or things related to and nearby others. It comes from the Latin word *contiguus*, which means pretty much the same thing, "bordering upon." Because the word has two meanings that are very similar but not always the same it can be a bit confusing. This is an example of what's called "semantic ambiguity," when something can mean more than one thing or a word or phrase is not precise.

Answer 242

Hack 1. chop roughly; 2. person who writes to earn money, 3. hired horse To *hack* is to cut or chop something with short strong blows, like if you *hack* your way through a thick jungle with a machete. To *hack* is also to illegally break into someone’s computer. The Old English root word is *haccian*, which means "to cut into pieces," but *hack* also means to cough frequently. A tickle in your throat can make you hack. If you call someone a hack, you mean they’re not great at what they do — especially writing. A mediocre writer is called a hack. Once upon a time *hack* was short for "an ordinary horse," and now it’s an insult for writers. No one wants to be a hack!

Answer 243

Fracas fight; disturbance If your marching band gets into a fight with another school's pep squad, your principal might say the *fracas* was uncalled for and undignified. A *fracas* is a noisy quarrel. *Fracas* comes from an Italian word meaning uproar or crash. Two people in a quiet little spat is not a fracas, but a schoolyard rumble definitely qualifies as one! Sometimes *fracas* means the large amount of outraged discussion that an event causes. Imagine the fracas if your school decided to ban sneakers!

Answer 244

Doff take off (esp. of a hat) Use the verb *doff* to describe removing something. You probably always *doff* your cap before the playing of "The Star-Spangled Banner." The word *doff* and its antonym *don* date to the mid-14th century. *Doff* is a contraction of "do (take) off," and *don* is short for "do (put) on." By 1755, these words were all but obsolete, but they came back into vogue thanks to Sir Walter Scott, author of works like *Ivanhoe*, *Rob Roy*, and *The Lady of the Lake*. The popular Scottish author used them frequently, and he and his readers kept *doff* and *don* alive.

Answer 245

Platitude unoriginal, obvious saying If an executive gives a speech that begins, "This business is all about survival of the fittest. You need to burn the midnight oil and take one for the team," his employees might get sick of listening to these meaningless clichés and tell him to cut the *platitudes.* The English language contains many old, worn-out clichés, or platitudes. Phrases like "ants in your pants" and "as American as apple pie" are so overused that they've almost lost their meaning. People rely on these tired old remarks when they can't think of anything original to say. Be warned: if you throw too many platitudes into your conversations, people are eventually going to get tired of listening to you.

Answer 246

Vulpine "like a fox [compare with?bovine?(cow-like);?porcine?(pig-like), etc.]" You may encounter a *vulpine* smile, a *vulpine* movie director, or a *vulpine* laugh — whatever it is, be on guard. The word *vulpine* describes something that is crafty like a fox. The word *vulpine* traces back to the word *vulpes*, the Latin word for "fox," and the word can be used literally to describe something directly related to a fox. Nowadays, however, you’re more likely to hear it used to describe something that has the characteristics of a fox. Many cultures associate the fox with cunning and shrewdness, and the word *vulpine* has come to be used to describe something that has a crafty, intelligent, slightly predatory quality.

Answer 247

Errant 1. wandering; 2. wrong; 3. straying from accepted standards Something or someone described as *errant* has gone astray or done wrong by going in an unexpected direction. An *errant* bird might end up in northern Canada while his friends fly to southern Mexico for the winter. Although *errant* is commonly used as a synonym for "misbehaving" or "naughty," it also refers to things that are just out of place. An errant bomb can hit a house instead of an army base, and an errant lock of hair can get in your eyes. *Errant* can be intentional, as in "the *errant* boys skipped school to go to the movies," or unintentional, as in "an *errant* snowball hit your neighbor instead of your arch enemy."

Answer 248

Raconteur person who relates a story *Raconteurs* are gifted storytellers, able to spin amusing tales from everyday life. Who is the biggest *raconteur* in your group? He or she's the one who always tells the best stories — or jumps in when another storyteller isn't being vivid enough. Do you make going to the store to buy groceries a fascinating experience? Do you offer witty observations of the people you pass on the street? If so, you're a raconteur, someone who can regale his or her listeners with riveting stories, usually funny, sometimes dramatic. *Raconteur* comes from the French word "raconter," meaning "to recount." Note its "eur" ending, signaling its French origin.

Answer 249

Savor enjoy Whether it’s a feeling of joy or a piece of pecan pie — when you *savor* something, you enjoy it to the fullest. When you savor something, you enjoy it so much that you want to make it last forever. With that in mind, *savor* carries a connotation of doing something slowly. If you savor that flourless chocolate tart, then you eat it slowly, bit by bit, deliberately picking every last crumb off the plate. The word is often applied to eating, but you can savor any pleasurable experience, whether it’s the winning touchdown or your moment in the spotlight.

Answer 250

Minutiae small details The tiny details of anything can be called *minutiae*. *Minutia* — which you'll usually see as *minutiae*, the plural version — is a little like trivia. Notice how *minutia* almost has the word *mini* in it? That's a good clue to the meaning, which is "small things or details." People who are sports fans tend to love minutiae — like what a player's batting average is, right down to the third decimal point. Anytime you're dealing with itty-bitty details, you're looking at minutiae.

Answer 251

Artless without effort; without trickery; simple Yes, *artless* could mean lacking in art, but more often it means lacking in superficiality or deceit. An *artless* person could never make a living as a con artist. Originally meaning "unskillful" or "uncultured," *artless* evolved into meaning not skilled or cultured in the art of deceit. If you are artless, you are natural and uncontrived. Young people, animals, the socially inept — these can all be artless in the way they express themselves. They seem to mean exactly what they say.

Answer 252

Jamb door post

Answer 253

Armada fleet of ships If an *armada* is looking for you, that's not good news — it's a fleet of warships. Even though *armada* sounds a little old-fashioned, they still exist. In fact, some armadas look for pirates — another old-fashioned-sounding group that still exists. Though an armada is part of a navy, *armada* sounds similar to "army,", and it should: they both come ultimately from the same source, the Latin word *armata,* "armed." Armies and navies are two of the oldest branches of a military power, and an armada is a military fleet — another word for a group of boats or ships.

Answer 254

Dally waste time; flirt *Dally* means "to waste time." When you *dally*, you will cause a delay because of your dawdling. You have probably heard the expression "to dilly-*dally*" — which means "to dawdle." Well, if you take the *dilly* out of dilly-dally to get just *dally* — you still have pretty much the same meaning. *Dally* has other common definitions, such as "to flirt" (especially without care of the result) or "to play." The light tone is probably an echo of its origin, which is likely the French word *dalier*, meaning "to amuse oneself."

Answer 255

Diatribe tirade; violent denunciation; stream of criticism It's totally overwhelming when you ask someone a seemingly innocuous question, like "Do you like hot dogs?" and they unleash a *diatribe* about the evils of eating meat. A *diatribe* is an angry speech that strongly criticizes a person or thing. This noun is from Latin *diatriba* "learned discourse," from Greek *diatribē* "pastime, lecture," from *diatrībein* "to waste time, wear away," from the prefix *dia-* "thoroughly" plus *trībein* "to rub." So the origin of the word *diatribe* is connected to both serious study and the spending or wasting of time. In English, the original meaning of *diatribe* was a long and formal debate or discussion.

Answer 256

Venturing 1. hazarding; risking; putting forward; 2. going somewhere [venturesome?means courageous or willing to take risks] A *venture* is a risky undertaking. If your latest *venture* is a dog food store, you hope there are some hungry dogs around. Also, to *venture* is to go somewhere possibly dangerous, like if you *venture* out into a snowstorm. *Venture* is a shortened form of *adventure*. This happened sometime between 1100 AD and 1400 AD during the time that Middle English was spoken. While the two words are similar in meaning, when you subtract the "ad," you lose a teaspoon or two of fun, and add a heaping tablespoon of risk.

Answer 257

Barrage extended gunfire to cover an attack; dam across river; deluge or information etc. A *barrage* is something that comes quickly and heavily — as an attack of bullets or artillery, or a fast spray of words. Sometimes in movies or news footage, the audience gets a glimpse from behind a mounted weapon and sees a heavy rain of bombs or bullets — called *a barrage* — going toward a target, sending as much POW! as possible to hit a wide area. Words become a barrage when spoken or written in uncontrollable anger or with overflowing emotion: "Her human-rights speech was a *barrage* of passion. It was hard to keep up with, but we felt the intensity of her cause."

Answer 258

Testiness irritability; irascibility [testy (a)]

Answer 259

Efficacy effectiveness The degree to which a method or medicine brings about a specific result is its *efficacy.* You might not like to eat it, but you can't question the *efficacy* of broccoli as a health benefit. *Efficacy* is a more formal way to say effectiveness, both of which stem from the Latin verb *efficere* "to work out, accomplish." The effectiveness, or efficacy, of something is how well it works or brings the results you hoped for. A scientist does research to determine the efficacy of a vaccine or medicine under development. If it is efficacious, it will cure or prevent a disease.

Answer 260

Table put down for future discussion The flat surface people sit around when they eat together is a *table*. If you clear the *table*, I'll do the dishes. A *table* can also be a chart full of information. When doing your taxes, you might use a tax table to determine how much you owe. If you "have a seat at the *table*," you're involved in a discussion. If an offer is "on the *table*," it's up to you to accept or reject it. If you made money "under the *table*," don't bother looking that up when you do your taxes.

Answer 261

Debacle disaster Use *debacle* to refer to a violent disaster or a great failure. If the flower gardens come toppling down during prom, strangling some students and tripping others, you might call the evening a *debacle*. *Debacle* is often used to describe a military defeat. If your army retreats, that's one thing. If your army is outmaneuvered and ends up huddled in a valley, surrounded on all sides by the enemy, forced to sing 70s sitcom theme songs by their savage captors––that's a debacle. *Debacle* comes from French *débâcler* "to clear," from Middle French *desbacler,* from the prefix *des-* "completely, utterly" plus *bacler* "to block."

Answer 262

Seine type of fishing net

Answer 263

Ironclad cannot be altered; firm Something *ironclad* is either covered in iron for protection or protected in a different way. An *ironclad* guarantee can’t be broken or taken back. Originally, this word was very literal: an ironclad battleship was clad (covered) in iron. Since then, this word is more metaphorical, though it still applies to things you can trust. An ironclad contract is unbreakable. An ironclad promise can be believed wholeheartedly. If you were arrested on ironclad charges, you’re going to be found guilty.

Answer 264

Cant insincere talk *Cant* is language repeated so often and so mechanically that it's essentially empty of meaning. *Cant* can also mean the specialized jargon of a particular group — like the "*cant* of piracy" (e.g., Ahoy! Lubber! Arrr!). Possible sources for *cant* exist in both Irish Gaelic and Latin, and the meanings of both are similar: *caint* is "speech," while *cantare* is "to sing." In broader English, the word was first used to mock the singing of monks (who makes fun of monks?). As it evolved, *cant* became the whining of beggars and then the secret language of thieves, and the negative connotations persist in modern usage. Just think of the clichés and catchphrases parroted by politicians during election season!

Answer 265

Dexterity "skill, esp. with hands [dexterous (a)]" If you fall asleep with your heavy head on your arm, you might not have the *dexterity,* or control of your hand, to hit the OFF button on the alarm clock in the morning. Very small children do well with mittens, because their dexterity, or skill in using their hands, isn’t as developed as in older kids and adults, who wear gloves to separate their fingers. Dexterity helps fingers and hands to coordinate for completing fine tasks like writing, sewing, and playing string instruments. "Mental *dexterity*" means a sharpness of mind, or skill in thinking creatively and understanding and expressing something quickly and easily.

Answer 266

Torrid hot and steamy If you’re having a *torrid* romance, that means it's steamy and emotionally charged. If you’re listening to a *torrid* band, then you’re listening to a band that has a lot of energy. *Torrid* is an adjective that describes something that's extremely hot — in both the literal and the figurative senses. It also describes something that's very energetic, or something that has an extreme emotional charge — which is why people often apply *torrid* to love affairs. *Torrid* comes from the Latin word *torrere*, meaning "parch or scorch." Being scorched can sometimes be exciting, but when you’re parched, you need water — and maybe a break from dating.

Answer 267

Expatiate speak or write at great length The verb *expatiate* means "to add details to in order to clear up." If your story is confusing to everyone who hears it, certain key parts must be missing. Better *expatiate* so that people can understand it. To pronounce *expatiate* correctly, accent the second syllable: "ex-PAY-she-ate." When you expatiate, you add details, usually to something you are writing. The goal is to make your ideas clearer to readers, perhaps by offering an example to help them understand. Teachers can tell when you are expatiating and when you are just adding to what you've written, say, reach a certain length requirement. That's usually called "padding."

Answer 268

Pied multicolored * Pied* means colorfully jumbled. If you're looking at kittens, you may see solid black ones, solid white, or ones with lots of different patches of color. You'd call a patchy one *pied*. * Pied* was first used to refer to magpies’ black and white plumage. Later, *pied* came to refer to an order of friars known for their black and white robes, and even later, *pied* came to refer to a jumble of typefaces in a printed document. Now, *pied* can indicate anything having two or more colors. Someone with multicolored articles of clothing can be said to be pied, as in the Pied Piper of Hamlin.

Answer 269

Emollient softening?(a); something which softens?(n) An *emollient* is a cream or ointment with a thick, gooey texture. When your hands are dry and cracked in the winter, you probably apply an *emollient* to make them softer. *Emollient* comes from a Latin word with the same spelling, which means "to make soft." The noun form of *emollient* refers to a substance that makes something soft. However, *emollient* can also be an adjective used to describe something with a softening or soothing effect. For example, the annoying child on the airplane might be soothed by the emollient sound of the pilot’s voice over the intercom.

Answer 270

Liturgy form of worship

Answer 271

Sibyl prophetess

Answer 272

Renege go back on promise or retract statement To *renege* is to go back on your word or fail to keep a promise. Not quite lying, *reneging* is more a sin of omission — failing to do what you said you would. The Latin *negāre* means "to deny," so by reneging on your word, you are denying someone whatever you promised them. In card games, you are said to renege if you play against the rules. To renege may be wrong, but it's not necessarily a punishable offense (unless you put that promise legally binding in writing). Still, it certainly doesn't make you look good!

Answer 273

Syncopation type of musical rhythm with missed beats If no one's dancing at the school dance, it might be time to ask the DJ to play some music with more *syncopation*, or a strong, distinct rhythm that makes you want to move. Jazz is the musical genre best known for syncopation, using rhythm and beats in unexpected ways to make exciting, finger-snapping music. Syncopation has been around for a lot longer than that, though — it pops up in works by Bach and Mozart, for example.

Answer 274

Elegy poem concerned with death; praise of a dead person An *elegy* is a sad poem, usually written to praise and express sorrow for someone who is dead. Although a speech at a funeral is a eulogy, you might later compose an *elegy* to someone you have loved and lost to the grave. The purpose of this kind of poem is to express feelings rather than tell a story. Thomas Gray's "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard" is a poem that reflects on the lives of common people buried in a church cemetery, and on the nature of human mortality. The noun *elegy* was borrowed in the 16th century from Middle French *élégie*, from Latin *elegīa*, from Greek *elegeia*, from *elegos* "mournful poem or song."

Answer 275

Adumbrate outline; indicate To *adumbrate* something is to outline it. In an English essay, you could *adumbrate* the themes in a novel; or, in a letter to Santa, you could *adumbrate* all the ways you have been behaving. *Adumbrate* is built on the Latin root *umbra*, "shade," and the image it evokes is of a shadow being cast around something. Your outline is like a shadow of something bigger — like the themes in that novel or the ways you have been behaving. You can also use *adumbrate* to mean "foreshadow": "The scene where the princess dreams of the vampire *adumbrates* her later discovery that her little brother is, in fact, a vampire."

Answer 276

Centurion roman soldier (commander of a company of 100 soldiers) A *centurion* is a kind of soldier in the Roman army responsible for the command of a *century*, or one hundred, men. *Centurion* lives on in common language as the typical Roman soldier––countless generations of fifth graders have been asked to sketch their costumes. Their resilience in popular imagination may be ascribed to the role the *centurion* soldiers played in the Christian gospel story of the life of Jesus Christ.

Answer 277

Derision mockery [deride (v)] If people are laughing at you, making fun of you, and acting as if you're worthless, they're treating you with *derision*. *Derision* is mean and attacking — it's a form of contempt. *Derision* is more than just making fun of someone — it's mocking someone so forcefully and with such venom that you discredit the person completely. Derision can include literally laughing at someone or just treating a person like a joke. You know how celebrities and politicians do embarrassing things from time to time? They're usually treated with derision afterward: people mock them, treat them with contempt, and try to make the person who messed up seem completely worthless.

Answer 278

Alleviated made less severe [alleviation (n); alleviate (v)]

Answer 279

Aisle corridor; passageway (esp. between rows of seats) An *aisle* is a passageway, often between seating areas or shelves. Brides walk down *aisles* in between church pews, while you might head to the cookie *aisle* in the supermarket. An *aisle* is essentially a passageway between something. You have to walk down an aisle to reach your seat at a theater or concert hall, to get to your seat on a crowded airplane, or to reach the produce at your local supermarket. The *ai* in *aisle* is pronounced like a long *i*, so the word sounds like *isle* rather than *ail*.

Answer 280

Extemporize speak without preparation or rehearsal [extemporaneous (a)] To *extemporize* is to improvise, especially without preparation. When you *extemporize*, you’re making it up as you go along. In some situations, you’re prepared and know exactly what you’re going to do. In others, you have to extemporize. A stand-up comedian who makes up jokes on the spot is extemporizing. If a football play breaks down, the quarterback has to scramble and extemporize by coming up with a new play. A public speaker who throws away notes and takes questions is extemporizing. Jazz musicians often extemporize. When you extemporize, even you’re not sure what you might end up doing.

Answer 281

Heterodox unorthodox *Heterodox* is from the Greek root words *heteros*, meaning "the other," and *doxa*, meaning "opinion." The adjective *heterodox* was first applied to people who held a different religious opinion from the standard beliefs and teachings. Today, although the religious meaning remains, the adjective *heterodox* can describe someone who adheres to any atypical beliefs, such as scientists who buck the current thinking or politicians who do not toe the party line. The word can be a synonym of *heretical*, which describes someone with contrary beliefs. If you are a teacher with a *heterodox* teaching style, you may win over students but alarm your more traditional colleagues.

Answer 282

Sedulous persevering; eager and thorough A *sedulous* person is someone who works hard and doesn't give up easily. If you make repeated and *sedulous* attempts to fix a leaky pipe and it only makes things worse, it might be time to go online and find the number of a plumber. There are a couple of words that basically mean the same thing as *sedulous* but are a little more common, namely *assiduous*, *painstaking*, and *diligent*. Like *sedulous*, all of these adjectives can be turned into adverbs by adding the suffix *ly*: "He *assiduously* tried to fix the pipe, but to no avail."

Answer 283

Condescension talking down to someone [condescending (a)] *Condescension* is an insulting way of talking to other people, as if they were stupid or ignorant. *Condescension* is rude and patronizing. Treating someone with condescension is the opposite of treating them with respect. Condescension is full of arrogant and snooty attitude, and people who practice condescension treat others like inferior idiots. Sarcasm goes well with condescension if you're trying to be a jerk. You can almost hear the word *descent* in *condescension*, so think of someone acting all high and mighty, looking down at everyone else.

Answer 284

Desultory aimless; inconsistent in effort If you lack a definite plan or purpose and flit from one thing to another, your actions are *desultory*. Some people call such *desultory* wanderings spontaneous. Others call it "being lost." The adjective *desultory* comes from the word *desultor*, which was a circus rider who would leap from the back of one galloping horse onto another. From this literal sense of jumping from one thing to another, we get the modern meaning of *desultory* as jumping between things without a logical purpose.

Answer 285

Aberration deviation from the normal An *aberration* is a noun that means something that is not normal or is very typical at all. An example of an *aberration* is when the temperature hits 90 degrees in January — it's nice and warm, but it's really strange. The noun *aberration* often refers to something that doesn't fit with current moral standards, or is something that shows a mental lack of control. *Aberration* comes from the Latin word that means "to wander, go astray." Today, you'd say it was an aberration to send little children to work in coal mines and factories and not to school, which was common in the nineteenth century. There's a very old poem called "The Chimney Sweep" about a boy who cleans chimneys and is only about five years old!

Answer 286

Maculated spotted If your little sister has a *maculate* appearance, she either needs a good wipe with a damp towel or you should take her to the doctor straight away. A fairly technical word little used now, *maculate* means "spotted" or "blotchy." There's another meaning for *maculate,* that of "having a blemished or impure moral character." Now your little sister doesn't have that, does she? You can also maculate something by either physically or metaphorically polluting it — like a river or a relationship.

Answer 287

Inveigle coax; cajole; wheedle; entice When you tell your boyfriend he’s not just the best boyfriend ever but also the world's best driver, and this makes him offer to drive the whole way on your upcoming road trip, then congratulations. You know how to *inveigle*, or use charm to coax someone into doing something. If you successfully *inveigle* your sister to doing something for you, she must be so caught up in your flattering that she is blind to your true intention. In fact, *inveigle* comes from the Middle French word *aveugler*, meaning "delude, make blind," which can be traced back to the Medieval Latin word *ab oculis*, or "lacking eyes." The people you inveigle don't see what you are really up to.

Answer 288

Inscrutability quality of being difficult to comprehend [inscrutable (a)]

Answer 289

Fa�ade 1. front elevation of building, 2. false appearance or demeanor

Answer 290

Monolithic united in purpose; forming a single unit When something is *monolithic* it's big, and made of one thing. A large piece of stone jutting from the earth is a *monolith*, and Detroit's economy when it depended entirely on the auto industry was *monolithic*. Broken into its roots *mono* and *lithic*, *monolithic* means simply "one stone." When *monolithic* is used to describe something societal — like a religion or an organization — it has a slightly negative connotation. This is because anything made up of different people with different beliefs and goals is unlikely to be able to maintain *monolithic* status for long without force or oppression.

Answer 291

Limpid transparently clear The adjective *limpid* describes something (often liquid) that is clear, serene and bright. Nature calendars often feature glamour shots of a *limpid* stream or a *limpid* lake. The adjective *limpid* may also describe language that is easily understandable. Your teacher might ask you to give an answer in a single limpid sentence. But he probably won't because *limpid* is a word that's fallen out of use. Maybe because it sounds too much like *limp*. Or maybe because it's associated with the king of all clichés: "Her eyes were like *limpid* pools."

Answer 292

Fallible capable of making mistakes [fallibility (n)] As humans we are all *fallible*, because *fallible* means likely to make errors or fail. Nobody's perfect, after all. Fall down on the job and you're *fallible*. It's a forgiving way to say you screwed up. If a scientific experiment's data is *fallible*, that means you can't trust the numbers. More than just locking your keys in the car, *fallible* can allude to a lack of moral strength. If in addition to locking your keys in the car, you kissed your best friend's husband, you might try using "I'm *fallible*" as your defense.

Answer 293

Jockeying maneuvering; struggling to get ahead of others [jockey (v)]

Answer 294

Plodding walking slowly and heavily; uninspired

Answer 295

Scurvy 1. disease due to lack of vitamin C; 2. contemptible; rascally If you are a pirate who doesn't get to shore very often to shop for fresh fruits and veggies, you might suffer from *scurvy*, a disease caused by vitamin C deficiency. Scurvy has some alarming symptoms: your gums become soft and tender and your teeth fall out. Scurvy has become a rarity in most parts of the world, but in regions where food is scarce and malnutrition common, it's still a problem. The unpleasant associations of the word also make it a colorful (and archaic) way to describe something low-down and miserable, as in "that was a *scurvy* trick you played on me, you dastardly cur!"

Answer 296

Skiff small boat A *skiff* is a small boat. If you decide to purchase a *skiff* instead of giant yacht, you're probably someone who prefers the quiet, simple life. (Or maybe you just didn’t want to spend the money on a yacht.) A skiff may be powered by oars, sails, or a motor, but in any of these cases, a typical skiff can carry only a few passengers. *Skiff* originally referred to a small boat attached to a large ship; the skiff would have been used for communication with and transportation to other large ships and the shore. Winslow Homer, a 19th-century American artist, often portrayed skiffs in his depictions of marine scenes.

Answer 297

Pedantic over-insistent on matters of book-learning [pedant (n)] There's nothing wrong with focusing on the details, but someone who is *pedantic* makes a big display of knowing obscure facts and details. *Pedantic* means "like a pedant," someone who's too concerned with literal accuracy or formality. It's a negative term that implies someone is showing off book learning or trivia, especially in a tiresome way. You don't want to go antique-shopping with a pedantic friend, who will use the opportunity to bore you with his in-depth knowledge of Chinese porcelain kitty-litter boxes.

Answer 298

Lien right to sell property held as a security; legal hold on job etc. A *lien* is a claim against the property of someone who owes money. It's pronounced like "lean," which might also describe your meager finances if a *lien* has been placed on your home. When someone doesn't make payments on a loan, the bank may put a lien on that person's property, claiming ownership of that property until the overdue payment is received. The word *lien* derives from the Latin *ligāre*, which means "to bind," and you can see that "binding," or tying up a person's property, really does put the owner in a "bind."

Answer 299

Macerate soften or break up by soaking; weaken When you *macerate* something, you soften it by soaking it in a liquid, often while you're cooking or preparing food. To macerate strawberries, all you have to do is sprinkle sugar on them, which draws out their juices so they become soft and sweet and deliciously saucy. *Macerate* is sometimes also used to mean "cause to grow thin or weak," or in other words, to make someone feel like a soft, squishy strawberry.

Answer 300

Apprehension slight fear; sense of something unfavorable Lucky you! *Apprehension* has three meanings: 1) the capture of a criminal; 2) the understanding of an idea; 3) a fear, doubt, or misgiving. Given the crook's record of evading arrest, the chief had real apprehensions about being able to catch him again. Eventually though, he lost those misgivings and activated the whole police force in an effort to ensure the felon's apprehension. And it paid off! They caught him red-handed. But it wasn't until he saw the video of the crime in progress that the guy apprehended just how much trouble he was in. It was that apprehension that led him to make a deal with the district attorney.

Answer 301

Antipathy hatred An *antipathy* is a deep-seated dislike of something or someone. Usually it's a condition that is long-term, innate, and pretty unlikely to change — like your *antipathy* for the Red Sox. If you look at the Greek roots of this word — *anti-* (meaning "against") and *pathos* (meaning "feeling"), you can see that *antipathy* is a feeling against someone or something. In general, antipathies are considered feelings that are kept at least somewhat under wraps and are not out on the surface.

Answer 302

Divest remove; take off It could be your wine portfolio, your stake in a mining company, or even the extra coats that are taking up space in your closet. Whatever it is, when you *divest* something, you get rid of it. *Divest* is sort of a fancy way to say "dispose of." It’s often used in a business context to describe companies or governments that divest some of their holdings by selling them off. It can also be used in the sense of taking something away from someone. For example if your boss becomes insane and power mad, his handlers may divest him of his title, meaning his position is taken away from him.

Answer 303

Ellipsis omission of essential words An *ellipsis* is punctuation that is used to show where words have been left out. The *ellipsis* is usually formed by three periods (four if the *ellipsis* comes at the end of a sentence). The word *ellipsis* comes to English via a Greek word, *elleipein*, meaning to fall short or leave out. The plural of the noun is *ellipses*. In the sentence, "'What the . . . !' she exclaimed.", the ellipsis replaces an expletive. The severity of the expletive is left to the reader's imagination.

Answer 304

Talon long pointed nail or claw A *talon* is a large, hooked claw. Although *talons* are usually associated with eagles, hawks and other birds of prey, you can also use the word to describe the flesh-tearing claws or fingernails of raptors, werewolves or even enraged preschoolers. *Talons* typically belong to predators — the word implies bloody attack. An owl uses *talons* to stab and kill its prey. A chicken, however, uses claws to pick at its feathers and scratch around in the dirt. You can also pull *talons* into the conversation to be funny or sarcastic: "Hey! Get your *talons* off that piece of cake. It’s mine."

Answer 305

Propitiate appease; try to gain favor [propitiation (n)] If you forgot flowers on your Mom's birthday, you can still *propitiate* her by sending a bouquet the next day. *Propitiate* means to appease someone or make them happy by doing a particular thing. Handy strategy for lovers, too. One of the most common uses of *propitiate* historically was in the sense of appeasing the Gods, often with a gift in the form of an animal or human sacrifice. Fortunately, for most people today flowers and candy will do the trick. But then again, some Moms can be tough to appease.

Answer 306

Shirk avoid (esp. work) To *shirk* your responsibilities is to avoid dealing with them — like when you watch four consecutive hours of infomercials instead of facing your homework. A verb is an action word, so it's ironic that the verb *shirk* suggests inaction in the avoidance of work. To *shirk* carries with it a negative connotation of laziness. When Eleanor Roosevelt was asked how she conquered her shyness to become a powerful public figure, she responded, "I faced each problem as it came along. . . . I never tried to *shirk*. I tried never to evade an issue. When I found I had something to do — I just did it." Ah, Eleanor, why can't we all be a bit more like you?

Answer 307

Dissident person who disagrees [dissidence (n)] If you are a *dissident*, you are a person who is rebelling against a government. *Dissidents* can do their work peacefully or with violence. *Dissident* is closely related to the word, dissent, which means objecting. People who are dissidents show their dissent. Catholic priests who advocate allowing women into the priesthood could be called dissidents, as could the Puritans who left England to live in colonial America. As an adjective, a dissident member of a group is one who disagrees with the majority of members.

Answer 308

Patronize 1. to talk down to; condescend; 2. to be a customer of If you *patronize* a business, you shop there regularly. But if someone *patronizes* you, it's not so pleasant — they talk to you as if you were inferior or not very intelligent. *Patronize* comes from Latin *patronus* "protector, master," related to *pater* "father." So if you patronize a person, you talk down to them like a father might do to his child or a master to his apprentice. If you want to take an advanced class and your advisor warns you of all the hard work, you can tell him to stop patronizing you — you know a hard class involves hard work. This sounds much better than saying, "I'm not stupid!"

Answer 309

Cloistered isolated

Answer 310

Incubus encumbrance; nightmarish thing An *incubus* is someone or something that really drags you down, like a so-called friend who only calls you to complain about her life or a job that you can't stand. *Incubus* comes from the Latin word *incubo*, meaning "nightmare, one who lies down on (the sleeper)," which describes an evil spirit that crushes people in their sleep, triggering terrible nightmares and making them feel like they're suffocating. In the Middle Ages, not only did people believe incubi (yes, that's the plural) were real, they passed laws against these terrifying spirits.

Answer 311

Slight 1. minor?(a); 2. perceived insult?(v)?and?(n) If you *slight* someone, you deliberately ignore her, or treat her with indifference. If your best friend walks past you in the hall without so much of a word, she has *slighted* you. All the meanings of *Slight* stem from the old Norse for small, or flimsy. If you have a slight build, you're slim with small bones. A slight deviation from your plan, is a tiny adjustment. As a verb, *slight* means to ignore or be indifferent toward someone; it's also the noun for the act of ignoring. If you directed a movie and the starlet doesn't thank you in her award acceptance speech, you'll be offended at the slight.

Answer 312

Sidereal of or related to stars Far out, man. I mean really far out — as in related to the distant stars of the universe. That's what *sidereal* means. *Sidereal* is an adjective that first popped up in the 17th century, and stems from the Latin word *sidereus*, which means "star." Anything that's sidereal has something to do with stars and constellations. And if you measure the days and weeks by the movement of the stars across the sky, that's called sidereal astronomy or sidereal time. But if you've got someplace to be, you'd be better off with a good calendar and a wristwatch.

Answer 313

Chronic long lasting (often used for diseases in which case the opposite is?acute) If you smoke a cigarette once, you've simply made a bad choice. But if you're a *chronic* smoker, you've been smoking for a long time and will have a hard time stopping. The word *chronic* is used to describe things that occur over a long period of time and, in fact, comes from the Greek word for time, *khronos.* If you have chronic asthma, it is a recurring health issue for you. No one likes a chronic liar! A problem that cannot be solved can also be called chronic - think of the chronic food shortages in certain parts of the world.

Answer 314

Psychosis severe mental disturbance If your Uncle Marvin starts talking to his furniture and sewing his own clothes out of newspapers, he may be suffering from *psychosis*, which is a serious psychiatric illness in which a person loses touch with reality. The Greek *psykhe*, or "mind" combines with the Latin suffix -*osis*, "abnormal condition," to form the word *psychosis*. An "abnormal condition of the mind" sounds like it could describe a lot of mental conditions, and in fact *psychosis* is a broad term that covers many different disorders. The symptom that those who suffer from psychosis have in common is that they don't experience reality in the same way that most people do; they may hallucinate, or see and hear things that aren't really there.

Answer 315

Malign slander If you *malign* someone, you badmouth them — just like the jilted girlfriend who tells the whole school her ex has bad breath and head lice. It's no surprise that *malign* comes from a Middle English word that means "to attack." Because when you malign someone you're attacking their character or reputation with a lot of trash talk. That would actually make it appropriate to then describe you as "a *malign* influence" — in other words, evil and full of malignant purpose.

Answer 316

Disingenuous crafty Use the adjective *disingenuous* to describe behavior that's not totally honest or sincere. It's *disingenuous* when people pretend to know less about something than they really do. *Disingenuous* combines *dis-*, meaning not, with *ingenuous* (from the Latin *gen-*, meaning born) which was originally used to distinguish free-born Romans from slaves, and later came to mean honest or straightforward. So *disingenuous* means dishonest. *Ingenuous* is less common now than *disingenuous*, but we still use it for someone who is sincere to the point of naiveté. A good synonym is *insincere*.

Answer 317

Deign condescend * Deign* means to reluctantly agree to do something you consider beneath you. When threatened with the loss of her fortune, an heiress might *deign* to get a job, but she might look down her nose at the people she'd have to work with. * Deign* has the same origins as *dignity*. Both descend from the Latin word, *dignare*, meaning "to deem worthy." If you deign to do something, you don't feel it's worthy of your lofty stature, but you do it anyway — it's like you're doing someone a really big favor. Instead of admitting his wrongdoing, the politician who is accused of taking bribes might indignantly declare, "I won't deign to dignify your ridiculous accusations with a response!"

Answer 318

Runic mysterious; magical *Runic* writing consists of ancient characters that are tough to decipher. These days the word might better fit a doctor's signature or a confusing instruction manual. Runes were the symbols used by Germanic people for writing in the Middle Ages. In those days, writing was rare, and people tended to look at it is as magical and a little threatening. Runic inscriptions continue to have an air of mystery about them, because they're so hard to read.

Answer 319

Bent inclination; aptitude If you have a knack or aptitude for doing something, you can say you have a *bent* for it. Perhaps you have a *bent* for woodworking, creating fabulous desserts, or writing poetry, you are good at it. The noun *bent* can also refer to a strong inclination to react to something in a specific manner. If you have a strong scientific bent, you won't be inclined to believe reports of alien spaceship landings and Loch Ness Monster sightings. As an adjective, *bent* describes someone very determined, and in this case, the word is usually followed by "on." You may be bent on the kids going to bed early, but they may have other ideas: party in the living room!

Answer 320

Lope run with long strides Some words are fun to say: *lope* is one of them. It's also fun to think about, as it means to move with a casual, striding gait. Imagine a horse cantering along with an easy *lope*. A pleasant image indeed. Before 1825, the meaning of *lope* was in the line of a leap or springy jump. This comes from the Old Norse word *hlaupa*, which sounds like its English meaning, "to leap." This is similar to the Old Dutch *lopen*, "to run," and the Old English *hlēapan*, "leap," as well as the Scots *loup*, all related to the modern meaning: a long, striding gait with a little bounce to it.

Answer 321

Wag a witty person

Answer 322

Idyll story or incident in peaceful or ideal setting [idyllic (a)] An *idyll* is a short period in which everything is wonderful. You could say a cruise you took with your family was an *idyll* in an otherwise difficult year. In its more formal sense, *idyll* describes a pastoral interlude or a poem set in nature––an idealized, or *idyllic*, version of nature where you are drinking champagne under the apple trees, and no one has stepped in cow manure or walked through poison ivy.

Answer 323

Milk to squeeze; obtain by application of pressure

Answer 324

Pundit expert Beware the *pundit,* a supposed expert who imparts deep knowledge to us more ignorant folks. *Pundits* are often blowhards, mere hacks, and you might well want to take what they say with a pinch of salt. Why not call them simply *experts*? Because *pundit* is a lovely word that has a slightly mocking sense to it. Classic examples of the pundit are talk radio show hosts and professional sports commentators, all brilliant dispensers of hot air amongst the odd insight and statistic. Our modern day pundit is a far cry from the original meaning of the word, a "learned man, master, or teacher," from the ancient Hindi word *payndit.*

Answer 325

Fallow uncultivated Something that is *fallow* is left unused. If you’re smart but lazy, someone might say you have a *fallow* mind. We use the word to talk about any unused resource, it started as a work about land. *Fallow* comes from the old English word for plowing, and refers to the practice of leaving fields unplowed in rotation––when a field lies fallow, the soil regains nutrients that are sucked up by over-planting.

Answer 326

Minion underling; servant Your *minions*, if you are lucky enough to have any, are those people who are devoted to you and entirely dependent on you. If you borrow money from a bully and don't pay it back, he might send one of his *minions* after you. A *minion* is nothing more than a yes-man, a nameless faceless servant. It is a negative term implying that your only importance is from the person who orders you around. Corporate presidents may have minions to do their dirty work such as firing employees who have made a mistake. If a celebrity comes to town, minions will come ahead of time to make sure that everything is to the celebrity's liking.

Answer 327

Pastiche "work (usually artistic) which imitates, or is composed of parts taken from varied sources" The next time you see a movie that you think is a cheap imitation of an older, better movie, you can sound like a film critic by dismissing the picture as a thoughtless *pastiche*. A pastiche is an artwork that copies the style of another work or that combines various, distinct styles together into one work. A pastiche can also be a musical medley, or the piecing together of various songs. *Pastiche* comes from the Italian word *pasticcio*, which can refer to a pie containing a mix of ingredients, such as meat and pasta.

Answer 328

Apostrophe 1. punctuation mark; 2. appeal to someone not present (a figure of speech) An *apostrophe* is a punctuation mark used in contractions to replace missing letters. The contraction "we'll" stands for "we will," with the apostrophe replacing "wi." It can also show possession, as in "Mary's car." The *apostrophe* indicates the car belongs to Mary. To correctly pronounce *apostrophe*, accent the second syllable: "uh-POSS-truh-fee." In addition to being a punctuation mark, apostrophe can also be a literary device in which the speaker of a poem talks to someone who is not there. A famous example of this is Walt Whitman's "O Captain! My Captain!" in which he addresses the deceased Abraham Lincoln: "O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells."

Answer 329

Paranoia mental state characterized by delusions or excessive fear Something that happens to a person's thinking can lead to *paranoia.* You may believe that your friends no longer like you, but it's just that your *paranoia* makes you suspicious of everyone. *Paranoia* is from the Greek *para-,* "beyond, irregular," and *noos,* "mind." It is an irregularity of the mind, a mental disorder that distorts a person's perception of what is real. Someone with paranoia may believe that other people are out to get them or are watching them all the time. Doctors who treat paranoia look for causes, and while patients can develop the disorder gradually and sometimes due to life circumstances, such as abuse or neglect, the use and abuse of drugs can also cause paranoia.

Answer 330

Verbiage excessive or meaningless wordiness * Verbiage* is what it sounds like — a lot of words: verbs, nouns, adjectives and all the other parts of speech. Usually, *verbiage* means a few too many words — like the excessive *verbiage* in a legal document. * Verbiage* comes from the 18th-century French *verbier,* meaning "to chatter." *Verbiage* can mean just the words being used to communicate, or a bunch of empty words used to obscure communication. Someone long-winded might receive a sarcastic "compliment" about his verbiage, while another speaker might receive genuine applause for intelligent verbiage, or choice of words.

Answer 331

Ossified turned to bone; become rigid [ossification (n)] Use the adjective *ossified* to describe someone who's become stuck in his ways. You might feel that your uncle has become an *ossified* suburban soccer dad, set in his unbending view of the world and comfortable lifestyle. When your habits or views have solidified into inflexible patterns — especially if those views are conservative — you can describe yourself as ossified. It's not a compliment to call someone ossified, since it implies an inability to change or bend or even to consider another person's viewpoint. The root is *ossify*, "to turn into bone," from the Latin word for "bone," *os*.

Answer 332

Indigence poverty *Indigence* is a synonym for *extreme poverty*. If you experience *indigence*, you have a critical need for food, money, and other resources. To correctly pronounce *indigence*, accent the first syllable: "IN-dih-genz." It means "great lack of material resources," like money. *Indigence* a noun, and *indigent*, an adjective, are related words that have to do with need. If you are indigent — suffering from extreme poverty — you are living in indigence, the state of extreme poverty.

Answer 333

Dilettantism dabbling esp. in the arts [dilettante (n)?= person who dabbles]

Answer 334

Mitigation making less severe [mitigate (v)] * Mitigation* is the act of lessening or easing the harshness of a punishment, a fine, or someone's pain. In the legal world, a lawyer might ask a judge for *mitigation* of a particularly harsh sentence. * Mitigation* is the noun form of the verb *mitigate*, which means "to lessen in severity." After a natural disaster, the government might offer mitigation, in the form of aid, to ease people’s suffering. If someone tries to make an offense seem less serious by offering an excuse, that's also mitigation. If you miss your curfew, you might state in mitigation that you came home late because you were helping an old lady cross the street.

Answer 335

Sap 1. liquid inside plants?(n); 2. to drain; to undermine?(v); 3. a fool?(n) To *sap* something is to drain or deplete something over time. If you *sap* a maple tree, you drain the liquid inside it to make maple syrup. But if you *sap* a person of strength, you've rendered him defenseless. Whether used as a noun or verb, *sap* is rarely a good thing. If your energy or will is sapped, it’s not meant lightly; it means you have been exhausted of all your reserve energy, you’re reduced to a shell. If someone calls you "a *sap*," it suggests you lack strength and character. And if you get sap — the sticky liquid inside a tree — on your hands, good luck getting it off in the middle of a forest without a bar of soap and running water. Yuck.

Answer 336

Rent torn (past participle of the verb?to rend) To *rent* something is to pay money to use it, live in it, or borrow it. If you're not sure which musical instrument you'll stick with and enjoy playing, it's best to *rent* a few to try out before buying. *Rent* is both a verb and a noun for talking about things you don’t own. If you rent a house or an apartment, you pay money to live there, and the money you pay also is rent. You can rent just about anything, from skates at a roller park to furniture to fill the home you rent. One common thing about what you rent, though, is that you don't and won't own it. To rent is to pay for using something temporarily.

Answer 337

Obligate compulsory To *obligate* is to either force someone to do something or be compelled to do something. You’re *obligated* to get to work on time if you want to keep your job. Obligating has to do with responsibilities. When you have a job, you're obligated to show up and do your work. You could also say the job obligates you to do these things. *Obligate*, which is about obligations (duties), can be used another way – to commit as security. Money would be obligated, or put up as security. *Obligate* is not the same thing as *oblige*, which is like doing a favor. To obligate is meaner, it means "to force."

Answer 338

Stygian very dark

Answer 339

Expostulate offer strong objections; remonstrate The verb *expostulate* means to reason with someone against an intended course of action. Your parent you always *expostulate* about your really cool money-making ideas. They just don't understand! *Expostulate* comes from the Latin word *expostulare*, meaning to demand urgently. The English word has lost its sense of demanding insistence. Synonyms for *expostulate* include object, protest, and remonstrate. Only *expostulate*, however, has the sense that the objection to the action and the argument against the action are offered in a friendly, reasonable manner. To *expostulate* is not to harangue into a different course of action, but to persuade.

Answer 340

Abut to adjoin When something borders something else, it is said to *abut* it. The term is often used in real estate to refer to a lot line. Wouldn’t it be nice to have your back yard *abut* a forest preserve or park? The Old French word *but* meant "end" — think of "butt" for a crude way to remember that! — and it was joined to *a-*, from the Latin *ad-* "near to." The result was *abuter*, which meant "to touch at an end." The word eventually became *abouter*, meaning "to join at the ends, or border on." The idea of *abut* suggesting a common boundary comes from the late Middle English, and today we use the word when anything touches something else.

Answer 341

Strut 1. supporting rod?(n); 2. to walk in an arrogant manner; show off?(v) When you *strut*, you walk with a proud swagger that has a little arrogance thrown in, like the prance of a running back who has just flown past the 250-pound linebackers and planted the ball in the end zone. You can't strut and be shy about it — when you strut, you know people are watching you. The big boss in a gangster film, a model on the runway, and the rap artist whose album has just gone platinum all know how to strut. The noun form of *strut* has a little less flash and refers to a vertical or horizontal support that holds something up, like the long steel bars holding up a building.

Answer 342

Vitiate weaken; sap energy As some sneaky five-year-olds know, crossing one’s fingers while making a promise is an effective way to *vitiate*, or destroy the validity of, an agreement. *Vitiate* is often used when a legal agreement is made invalid, but it can also refer to the debasement or corruption of something or someone. If a malicious five-year-old on the playground teaches the other children to lie with their fingers crossed, she would be responsible for vitiating the playground community. The first syllable of this word is pronounced "vish," like the first syllable in *vicious*.

Answer 343

Exact to demand; extort If something's *exact* it means it's precise and completely accurate — as opposed to a guess, an estimate or an approximation. *Exact* also has the meaning of taking something from someone, often money, and generally only given up with reluctance under the threat of force. The Mob might exact a shakedown from unfortunate businessmen, for example. The word comes from the Latin *exactus* "exact or accurate," a form of the verb *exigere* — meaning "to force out or demand," like the Mob demanding its money.

Answer 344

Contentious causing argument [contention (n); contend (v)] A *contentious* issue is one that people are likely to argue about, and a *contentious* person is someone who likes to argue or fight. Some issues — like abortion, the death penalty, and gun control — are very controversial. They're also contentious, because people tend to argue about them, and the arguments will probably go on forever. Contentious issues get people angry and in a fighting mood. On the other hand, some people always seem to be in a fighting mood, no matter what the issue is. People like that are contentious too.

Answer 345

Glib slick; superficial esp. in speech A hiring manager might think you're being *glib*, or slick and insincere, if you say you've led a successful multinational corporation when you were actually in charge of flipping burgers for a fast-food restaurant chain. The word *glib* might be used to describe the slick car salesman who uses his polished sales pitch to talk his customers into buying lemons. In fact, the word comes from old German and Dutch words for "slippery," another word that could be used to describe the very same salesman. In addition to meaning "smooth" and "persuasive," *glib* can be applied to the kind of thoughtless comment that could get you into big trouble. Telling your boss that you had a "hot time" with his daughter is the kind of glib remark that could end your career.

Answer 346

Tempers moderates * Temper* can refer to a tendency to become unreasonably angry. If you’re not sure whether you have a *temper*, ask your friends — but don’t get mad if you dislike what they have to say. * Temper* has a number of related yet distinct meanings. In addition to describing a tendency to anger, *temper* can also refer to one’s mood in general; if you use the word in this sense, you might describe someone's temper as "angry" or "mild." *Temper* can also be used as a verb meaning "to restrain." If you have a nasty temper, you might try tempering your temper by counting to ten whenever you’re tempted to throw a "temper tantrum," or fit.

Answer 347

Tortuous indirect; winding *Tortuous* means twisting or complicated. "James Bond drove his custom BMW 120 mph on the road that was *tortuous* in its twists and turns. He had to stop the evil madman's plan for world domination that was so *tortuous* even 007 could not understand it." From Latin *torquere* "to twist," *tortuous* means something with twists and turns –– a path, an argument, a story. It is important not to confuse it with *torturous*, which means characterized by great pain. "The contemporary string quartet was *tortuous* in its tonal shifts, but only *torturous* at the point where the violinist ran her nails up and down a chalkboard."

Answer 348

Commingle mix

Answer 349

Nonplussed confused If a conversation with someone leaves you scratching your head and wondering what point they were trying to make, you are *nonplussed*: bewildered, puzzled, often speechless. Interestingly, there is no word *plussed*. You can only be nonplussed. People are nonplussed when they’re astounded, exasperated, or at a loss. "I'm *nonplussed*," you say when your mother tells you she's marrying her 25-year-old personal trainer. "I'm *nonplussed*," you say when your boss fires you, even though he tells you you’re the best employee he's ever had. Since so many things are confusing and odd, there’s a lot in life that can leave you nonplussed.

Answer 350

Elaborate 1. complex and detailed?(a); 2. to expand on?(v) Use the adjective *elaborate* when you want to describe how something is very detailed or especially complicated, like a devilish prank planned out weeks in advance. The adjective *elaborate* is used to describe when something is planned with a lot of attention to detail or when something is intricate or detailed itself. The word comes from the Latin *elaborare*, which means "to produce by labor" but it has come to mean a lot of labor, especially work that is very complicated and precise. To imagine this word, think of a painting with lots of flourishes or a story with many sub-plots and characters that all fit together in extensive ways.

Answer 351

Stipple cover with dots of paint etc. If you *stipple* something, that means you add tiny dots of color or texture, such as using a special painting tool to *stipple* a plain wall with dots of a different color to make it look more interesting. The verb *stipple* came into English from the Dutch word *stippelen*, meaning "to spot or dot." Artist stipple paint onto their canvases and from the distance, the dots look like a field of flowers. You can also stipple metal, by poking it with a tool that creates little circular dents — that look like dots — to give it an artistic look.

Answer 352

Resuscitation revival from unconsciousness [resuscitate (v)] *Resuscitation* is the action of bringing someone back to consciousness. Ambulance workers are skilled at *resuscitation*. To *resuscitate* is to revive someone who has passed out: this act is called *resuscitation*. If someone needs resuscitation, something serious has happened — the person has lost consciousness and may be on the verge of death. You've probably heard of "mouth-to-mouth *resuscitation*," which is one method of reviving. Medical professionals have many other techniques and gadgets that aid resuscitation. The Latin root word is *resuscitare*, "rouse again, or revive," from *re* and *suscitare*, "to raise."

Answer 353

Mince 1. chop into small pieces; 2. walk with tiny steps, 3. speak in an affected manner To *mince* is to chop into tiny bits. Your favorite soup recipe might include directions to *mince* four cloves of garlic. When you dice an onion into very small pieces, you mince it, and when you grind meat very fine to make sausage or mincemeat, you also mince. Another meaning of the verb is to soften, or to express something in a gentle way: "She does *mince* her words when she talks to shy kindergarteners." The Old French root, *mincier*, means "make into small pieces," and it comes from the Latin word for "small," *minutus*.

Answer 354

Dissemble avoid the truth To *dissemble* is to hide under a false appearance, to deceive. "When confronted about their human rights record, the Chinese government typically *dissembles*." *Dissemble* is a little more complicated than a straight lie or denial. When you *dissemble*, you disguise your true intentions or feelings behind a false appearance. To *dissemble* is to pretend that you don't know something, to pretend that you think one way when you act another way. "My boyfriend was *dissembling* the whole time. He was a married father of two."

Answer 355

Gaffe blunder; social mistake A *gaffe* is mistake that embarrasses you in front of others. If you run into a friend out with her grey-haired father, and you blurt out, "Oh, hi, you must be Tara's grandfather!" then you've made a *gaffe*. *Gaffe* rhymes with *laugh*, and you'll be lucky if that's how people respond to your social blunder. A gaffe seems to occur most often when you literally don't know your audience — you make a joke about the mayor; you didn't know you were talking to his sister. That's definitely a gaffe. And who knew your hosts come from a culture that takes offense if you refuse to try every dish?

Answer 356

Dissonance discord; disagreement Disagreeable sounds can be called *dissonance*. You know it's *dissonance* if you have the strong desire to cover your ears with your hands. Racket, noise, dissonance — all can describe sounds that are not pleasant. While some musicians purposely add a little dissonance into their melodies to create an unexpected sound, others, like someone who just started drum lessons, creates dissonance by accident. *Dissonance* can also be a conflict between people or opinions, like the dissonance you feel when you want to do something but your parents say "no."

Answer 357

Burlesque 1. comic play; 2. lampoon In contemporary usage, *burlesque* is a playfully nostalgic form of striptease — think fans and feather boas rather than explicit nudity — but this is just the latest form of an ironic style of entertainment dating back to medieval times. *Burlesque* comes from *burla*, Spanish for "joke." Comedy has always been an essential part of burlesque art, but it's comedy of a particular kind. Burlesque is satirical, and it uses exaggeration that can be extreme. Early examples of burlesque in English literature can be found in the Canterbury Tales. By the eighteenth century, the word was used to describe often risqué parodies of serious operas or plays. Burlesque became associated with striptease in the music halls and vaudeville theaters of nineteenth-century America.

Answer 358

Tutelary serving as a guardian [tutelage (n)] The adjective *tutelary* describes something that is supervising or guarding something else, like the *tutelary* duties of a babysitter who makes sure the kids don't hurt themselves at the playground. To correctly pronounce *tutelary*, say "TOO-tuh-leh-ree." *Tutelary* comes from the Latin word *tutus*, meaning "watch over." You see this root in words like *tutor* and *tutorial*, which also involve watching over, though in a more specific sense that applies primarily to instructing. *Tutelary*'s suffix *-ary* means "having to do with." So something that is tutelary has to do with keeping watch, like the tutelary presence of a parent supervising a child, or even a tutelary god in an ancient society.

Answer 359

Gavel judge?s hammer You know that wooden hammer a judge slams down on his desk when he's trying to bring order to the court? That's a *gavel*. Judges aren't the only ones who use gavels. They are common in governments large and small, where they are used to bring order to the often unruly rooms where government happens. But they are also a sign of who's in charge. The practice of turning control from one party, or one person, to another, is done by "passing the *gavel*." It's a big deal when the outgoing Speaker of the House of Representatives turns over the gavel to the incoming Speaker. Sometimes it looks like the hand-off won't happen — a gavel being the ultimate sign of authority and power.

Answer 360

Mannered stylized; pretentious If your grandmother describes you as *mannered,* she means you are very formal, observing all society’s mandates. She might mean this positively, approving of your actions, or negatively, thinking you too formal. *Manners* are the way we behave in society, how we speak and act with other people. Use *mannered* to say that someone has manners of a certain kind. You might be *well-mannered,* helping old ladies cross the street, while your brother is *ill-mannered,* throwing snowballs at passing cars. *Mild-mannered* means that your manners are gentle — kind and polite.

Answer 361

Imperative must be obeyed When something absolutely has to be done and cannot be put off, use the adjective *imperative*. *Imperative* is from Latin *imperare* "to command," and its original use was for a verb form expressing a command: "Do it!" is an *imperative* sentence. It's still used that way, but it's more commonly applied to something so pressing it cannot be put off: "Hiring new workers has become *imperative*." It has more immediate force than *pressing* but less than *urgent*.

Answer 362

Caret punctuation mark signifying omission A *caret* is a little mark that looks like a line drawing of a roof. You use a *caret* when you're editing a text, to show where something should be inserted. The word *caret* comes into English in the 17th century — from the Latin word "is lacking." It was originally used to indicate corrections to the typesetter, and it's not surprising that the word appears when printing presses were in full swing. Don't confuse this *caret* with its homonyms — the *karat* that measures the purity of gold, or the *carat* that tells you the weight of your diamonds, or the *carrot* that's a crunchy orange vegetable.

Answer 363

Caulk treat with substance such as tar to make water-tight * Caulk* is the sealant. It comes in a tube and is used commonly by plumbers and carpenters trying to seal up cracks where air or water might push through. When a plumber *caulks* a tub, he's applying caulk to its seams to make it watertight. * Caulk* can be used to describe both the process of applying caulk and the sealant itself. The word caulk comes from the Old Northern French *cauquer*, meaning "to press down." After you lay the caulk down over the seam you press it down by either running your finger over it or using a specific tool to force the caulk to settles into the hole you're trying to cover.

Answer 364

Undergird support; strengthen

Answer 365

Syllogism type of logical reasoning A *syllogism* is a type of logical reasoning where the conclusion is gotten from two linked premises. Here’s an example: An apple is a fruit. All fruit is good. Therefore apples are good. Used properly, syllogism can be a good way of reasoning, but it’s very easy to make sloppy syllogisms by messing up the middle term that links the premises together, as in: "President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was an Aquarius. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was great. Therefore all Aquariuses are great." Because so many are made poorly, the syllogism has a bad reputation. Poor, misleading, or tricky reasoning is often called "mere syllogism."

Answer 366

Intractability stubbornness; resistance [intractable (a)]

Answer 367

Jibe agree with; complement; match up with (in British usagejibe?means mock) To *jibe* with someone is to agree with them. *Jibe* can also mean "be compatible with or similar to." If two people *jibe*, they get along quite well. A *jibe* can also be an insulting remark as another way to spell *gibe*. If someone directs that kind of jibe at you, the best response is a really good comeback. And in nautical terminology, *jibe* refers to a particular manner of changing the course of a ship. How did this word come to have such different meanings? Your guess is as good as ours. Just try to remember that if you want to jibe with others, don’t insult them.

Answer 368

Prohibitive 1. prohibiting; 2. exorbitantly expensive If something's so expensive you can't touch it, it's *prohibitive*. That Ferrari in the showroom? You may want it, but its price is *prohibitive*. *Prohibitive* originally referred to something (often a law) that prohibits or forbids something, but came to mean conditions (often prices or taxes) so high or great they restrict or prevent something: "To some, the cost of child care is *prohibitive*." The stress is on the second syllable, just like the verb: pro-HIB-itive. If it's a matter of expense, a synonym is *exorbitant*.

Answer 369

Pique 1. annoyance?(n); 2. to stimulate interest; to annoy?(v) The verb *pique* means to make someone angry or annoyed. But when something *piques* your interest or curiosity, here the verb *pique* just means to arouse, stimulate, or excite. Both the noun and verb are pronounced "pēk" and were borrowed from a French word meaning "a prick, irritation," from Old French, from *piquer* "to prick." So you can see how something that pricks you could make you both excited and angry. But it's frustrating––enough to make you want to storm away from learning vocab. That storming away, by the by, might be called a "fit of *pique*."

Answer 370

Colander bowl with holes used to drain vegetables etc. Most cooks would agree that a *colander* is an essential piece of equipment for even the most basic kitchen. It's a bowl, usually made of plastic or metal, with holes in it to allow liquid to drain away from the food. Colanders are used for draining anything — for instance, if you're washing fruit, a *colander* would make the job quick and easy. If you're cooking pasta, you toss the pasta into a pot of boiling water, then when it's cooked, you pour the contents of the pot through a *colander*, and what's left behind in the *colander*, drained and ready to eat, is the pasta.

Answer 371

Quack charlatan; fake There are good *quacks* and bad *quacks*. A good *quack* is the sound a duck makes. A bad *quack* is someone pretending to be a doctor. (You'd be better off visiting the duck with your ailment.) If you ever get a chance to interview a celebrity duck, prepare to write the word *quack* in your notebook many, many times, because that’s all that ducks can say. The way you spell animal sounds changes depending what language you speak. In English a duck quacks, but in Danish a duck "raps," while Indonesian ducks "wek," and Romanian ducks say "mac." And that "MD" who isn’t really a doctor, but is good at pretending to be one? He's a quack. If you ever meet a quack that "quacks," please run.

Answer 372

Scotch to prevent; stop; disable

Answer 373

Riveting fascinating [to rivet?literally means to fix metal plates using metal pins] A rivet is a fastener that holds something closed or down, and something *riveting* keeps you glued to your seat and grabs your attention. Sometimes a movie is so *riveting* that not even free popcorn refills can lure you away. *Riveting* is an adjective for things that really draw you in, like a book you read in one sitting or a song you turn up so you can hear every lyric. Beautiful scenes are riveting, but terrible and ugly things are also riveting, like the site of an accident you can't stop looking at. Words from a teacher or actor have a riveting effect when they're full of impact and interest, and when you exaggerate a story for your best friend, that's riveting too.

Answer 374

Abjure renounce; swear to refrain from something * Abjure* means to swear off, and it applies to something you once believed. You can *abjure* a religious faith, you can *abjure* your love of another person, and you can *abjure* the practice of using excessive force in interrogation. * Abjure* is a more dramatic way to declare your rejection of something you once felt or believed. When you see its Latin roots, it makes sense: from *ab-* (meaning "away") and *jurare* ("to swear"). When you abjure something, you swear it away and dissociate yourself with it. You might abjure the field of astrology after receiving a bad fortune, or you might abjure marriage after a bitter divorce.

Answer 375

Supine lying flat on one?s back One can be described as *supine* when lying face up ("his favorite yoga poses were always the *supine* ones"); or, if one is very passive or lethargic ("*supine* in the face of their threats and insults"). The adjective *supine* comes from a Latin word, *supinus*, which means "thrown backwards" or "inactive." Whenever a person or animal is lying on its back, belly-up, it is *supine*. When your hand is open, palm-up, it is also *supine*. *Supine* can even describe a person who gives insufficient resistance, or who is lazy and ineffectual. "When Jack refused to object to the landlord’s repeated — and gouging — rent increases, he was *supine*."

Answer 376

Commensurate equal in significance The word *commensurate* has to do with things that are similar in size and therefore appropriate. Many people think the death penalty is a *commensurate* punishment for murder. In other words, the penalty fits the crime. When things are commensurate, they're fair, appropriate, and the right size. If you got a ticket for jaywalking, you shouldn't get ten years in prison — that penalty is not commensurate with the crime. The word *commensurate* is usually followed by *with* or *to*; one thing is commensurate with or to another.

Answer 377

Lint fluff; soft material used to cover wounds

Answer 378

Impeding hindering [impede (v); impediment (n)]

Answer 379

Ambidextrous able to use both left and right hands equally well *Ambidextrous* people have the ability to use both hands with equal dexterity. But the *ambidextrous* probably prefer to write with their right hands, since lefties always smudge what they've written as they drag their hand across the page. Coming from the Latin word *ambidexter*, which means "right-handed on both sides," *ambidextrous* describes someone who can use either hand to write, swing a bat or catch a ball. Lucky ducks. In a broader sense *ambidextrous* means "facile" or "skillful." But when it first came into use in the 1530's, *ambidextrous* had more sinister connotations with the practice of deceitful double-dealing.

Answer 380

Subliminal below the threshold of consciousness Each of your five senses constantly sends new information to your brain. And there’s another way your brain receives information: through *subliminal* messages. The unconscious mind picks up on things you don’t even realize. Faint humming might make you irritated. Red lights can raise your blood temperature. Usually, subliminal methods are used to control people, like flashing words quickly during a television program. If you’re worried, there’s not much you can do, because *subliminal* literally means "below the threshold" or surface of your conscious mind, and you probably will never even notice that you’re being controlled. Try reading only the capital letters of this definition for an example of a subliminal message.

Answer 381

Disarm 1. take away weapons; 2. win over to one?s side [disarming (a)]

Answer 382

Abate reduce in intensity Something that *abates* becomes fewer or less intense. Your enthusiasm for skiing might *abate* after falling off a ski lift and getting a mouthful of snow. *Abate* comes from the Old French verb *abattre,* "to beat down," and means to reduce or become less intense or numerous. As an intransitive verb, it is often used with something physically, emotionally, or figuratively violent, as in "the flood of fan mail began to *abate*." Using it transitively, if you take measures to abate pollution or noise, you reduce them. Pronounce *abate* with the stress on the second syllable (uh-BATE).

Answer 383

Enervate weaken When you *enervate* something, you disturb it, possibly weakening it mentally or morally. Perhaps knowing that its gambling and nightlife has been known to *enervate* some visitors, a certain desert city's slogan is a promise to keep their antics a secret. The verb *enervate* can mean "to faze or unnerve," like public speaking, which is known to enervate many people, or "make weak," like crazy bargains that enervate holiday shoppers. Don't confuse *enervate* with *innervate*. The words are antonyms: something that *enervates* saps your energy, while something that *innervates* stimulates, or gives you energy.

Answer 384

Diaphanous transparent; thin and delicate If a dress is so see-through that light shines through it revealing the goods beneath, it's *diaphanous.* Also known as "sheer," "transparent," or just plain "sexy," but *diaphanous* is so much classier. If you want a classic example of *diaphanous* clothing check out all those nineteenth century Romantic paintings of voluptuous Goddesses clad in clearly insufficient lightweight gowns flouncing around in the middle of forests at night or storm-tossed fields. Those gowns are *diaphanous* all right, but because it's a classical allusion there's obviously nothing naughty about it. From the ancient Greek word *diaphanes,* meaning "transparent" — a style the Greeks were much in favor of.

Answer 385

Fallacy wrong idea [fallacious (a)] A *fallacy* is a misleading argument or belief based on a falsehood. If you oppose state testing in schools, you think it is a *fallacy* that educational quality can be measured by standardized tests. *Fallacy* comes from the Latin *fallacia*, for deceit. It technically means a flaw in an argument that makes it deceptive or misleading. In poetry, the "pathetic fallacy" is the false idea that things like rocks or stars have human feelings (pathos). *Fallacy* can also be used more generally for any false statement or idea. Some synonyms are *misconception* and *error*.

Answer 386

Slew glut; excess Of all the many nouns referring to a large group of things, one of the most fun is *slew*, as in "I saw a whole *slew* of birds in the tree by the river." American English is constantly evolving, its richness coming from the many languages feeding into it. The noun *slew*, for instance, is from the Irish Gaelic *sluagh*, meaning "multitude." As an unrelated verb, it's the past tense of *slay*.

Answer 387

Touting advertising; supporting [tout (v)] To *tout* means to praise, boast, or brag about. If you like to *tout* your skill as a skier, you tell people you can go down expert-level hills. Sometimes parents will get into bragging wars about their children, each touting the accomplishments of his or her child. Sometimes the word means more of "to claim." The company touted the lotion as a solution to wrinkles. Broccoli has been touted as the cancer-fighting vegetable. In England, a tout is a person who gives advice about gambling. If you're looking to play some money on the ponies, go see the tout who hangs out at Jackie’s bar for a tip.

Answer 388

Palpate medical term meaning to examine with the hands To *palpate* is to examine with the hands, by pressing. Your doctor might *palpate* your abdomen if you have a pain in your stomach. You're most likely to come across the verb *palpate* in a doctor's office or another medical context. A veterinarian will palpate a limping dog to feel for broken bones or tight muscles, and it's common for a doctor to palpate the glands in your neck during a routine exam. The Latin root word is *palpatus*, which means "to touch."

Answer 389

Discountenance disallow

Answer 390

Underwrite "give guarantee, insure"

Answer 391

Brook 1. small stream; 2. tolerate A *brook* is a small stream, as in "burbling *brook*." It also a stuffy way of saying "put up with." The lord of the manor might say, "I will *brook* no trespassing on my land." *Brook* is tailor-made for talking about what you won't stand for—it's always "*brook* no..." If you brook no criticism of your friend, it means you won't let people speak ill of her. If you brook no brooks, it means you've developed a bizarre stream-hating fetish and will spend the rest of your days trying to stop their flow.

Answer 392

Waft drift smoothly?(v); whiff; smell?(n) When your grandmother cooks her famous spaghetti sauce, many wonderful smells may *waft* from the kitchen. In other words, the air will gently carry this familiar aroma throughout the house. Though the verb *waft* usually involves movement through air, it has watery roots. A "wafter" was a convoy ship in the 16th century, and these words may have derived from the similar looking *wave.* *Waft* can refer to scents, sounds, and even smoke. So, if your grandmother’s sauce begins to burn, smoke could waft from the kitchen as well.

Answer 393

Indigent poor; needy [indigence (n)] An *indigent* person is extremely poor, lacking the basic resources of a normal life. Often the *indigent* lack not only money but homes. *Indigent* comes from a Latin word meaning wanting, which we used to use to mean "lacking" and not just to describe desires. Homeless shelters, soup kitchens, free medical clinics and court-appointed lawyers are all institutions that our society has developed to help indigent people.

Answer 394

Orate speak in a pompous manner

Answer 395

Opprobrious expressing great scorn [opprobrium (n)] * Opprobrious* is a heavy-duty word to describe something taunting or shameful. *Opprobrious* words criticize in a mean, hurtful way. * Opprobrious* comes from the Latin *opprobare* which means "to reproach or taunt." If someone is being opprobrious, she's being abusive and mean. Insults are opprobrious, while constructive criticism is not. No one wants to be treated in an opprobrious way. We can also use this word for bad behavior that causes shame — someone cheating on a test is opprobrious. Opprobrious actions are disgraceful, ignominious, and inglorious.

Answer 396

Empirical found by experiment or practice If knowledge is *empirical*, it's based on observation rather than theory. To do an *empirical* study of donut shops, you'll need to visit every one you can find. *Empirical* looks like *empire* comes from a completely different origin: it is from the Greek *empeirikos*, meaning experienced. It was originally used in medicine for doctors making choices based on observation and experiment rather than theoretical ideas. It's now used for any kind of knowledge that comes from experience. Meditate all day on the origins of donuts, but until you visit the donut bakery you'll lack empirical knowledge of donut creation.

Answer 397

Luminary eminent person In scientific writing, Stephen J. Hawking is a *luminary*. People look up to this well-known scientist and author for his knowledge and insight. Although *luminary* can mean an object or celestial body that gives off light, you'll often hear people talk about parties at which there were many luminaries in attendance. In this case, *luminary* means celebrity or well-known person in sports or politics, science or the arts. Think of them as being bright lights that make a party sparkle.

Answer 398

Demur object; hesitate to accept Your mother asks you to pick up your room. You refuse: you *demur.* Your friend wants to go to the Death Metal Forever concert, but you hesitate: you *demur.* Whether you strongly object, politely disagree, or hesitate to agree, you *demur.* If Aunt Tilly offers to knit you a sweater, you might politely *demur,* being reluctant to accept. When she describes the bunnies she plans for the sweater, you would want to strongly *demur,* explaining that you plan to move to Texas next week and will no longer need sweaters. And if you find yourself the defendant in a civil suit, you might file a *demurrer* to object to the plaintiff’s complaint. When you file that demurrer, you *demur.*

Answer 399

Pyre ceremonial fire *Pyre* rhymes with *fire*. It's also a noun for a large pile of stuff for burning. Most times a *pyre* is part of a funeral — the body is burned on it. From the Greek *pura* or *pur*, meaning "fire," *pyre* came into English in the 17th century. *Pyr* is also the Czech word for "hot ashes." Remember, a pyre isn't the fire itself but the stuff that helps the fire burn, as firewood at a campfire. People and animals are burned on a pyre as part of a traditional funeral ceremony in some countries.

Answer 400

Vagary something unaccountable; freak A *vagary* is an unexpected and unpredictable change, and the word is usually used in the plural. You might know from experience that the *vagaries* of winter weather make planning a vacation in February a risky proposition. *Vagary* traces back to the Latin root meaning "wander," and you can think of a *vagary* as something that wanders. Events or situations that seem to change at random have *vagaries*. Whether the hottest new boy band will succeed or not is dependent on the *vagaries* of teenage enthusiasms. The *vagaries* of the real estate market will determine whether that swamp property you just bought is a gold mine or a disaster.

Answer 401

Seemly appropriate (of behavior); decorous You don't want to seem anything less than *seemly*, especially in the presence of the Queen. Only *seemly* behavior is allowed when she's around. Seemly behavior is polite, decent, upright, and appropriate. You'll need to get schooled in the ways of more seemly people before you can be allowed in the fanciest restaurant in town. At the moment, your ratty clothes, smelly feet, and bad manners can only be described as "unseemly" — which is, of course, the opposite of *seemly*. One way to remember the meaning of *seemly* is to think of how you'd like to "seem" to others. Chances are the answer is something like *seemly*. Unless you enjoy seeming like a big mess.

Answer 402

Nascent emerging; newly formed *Nascent* describes the birth or beginning of something, for example a civilization, a trend, an idea, or an action. It can also imply a future promise, like the *nascent* government of a new country. You’re in the future looking back at the first time you learned the definition of the word *nascent*. Your nascent efforts to use the word felt awkward, but you quickly felt comfortable with it, especially after you learned how to pronounce it: "NAY-sent." Now you use the word all the time: "the *nascent* hopes of your little sister;" your "*nascent* hula hooping gang;" and "a *nascent* confidence in your vocabulary."

Answer 403

Improbity lack of honesty or integrity

Answer 404

Recumbent reclining; lying down Bikes on which you recline rather than sit upright are *recumbent*. *Recumbent* means to leaning back in a reclining position. *Recumbent* starts like *recline*, which is an easy way to remember it. Your dad's position in his favorite La-Z-Boy reclining chair? Recumbent. Your position when you lay back on lounge chair at the pool? Also recumbent — and in both cases, these are both positions of comfort.

Answer 405

Solicitous kindly; expressing care and concern When you hear the word *solicitous*, think of your mom — attentive, caring and concerned. It's nice when your waiter gives you good service, but if he or she is *solicitous*, the hovering might annoy you. *Solicitous* comes from the Latin roots *sollus* "entire" and *citus* "set in motion." If someone is solicitous, they are entirely set in motion caring for you. Your neighbors are solicitous if they try to help your family out all the time. Use this word too if you're eager to do something. A good student will be solicitous to appear interested in what the teacher says — even when it's not that interesting.

Answer 406

Quintessential most typical; the perfect example of [quintessence (n)] If someone tells you you’re the *quintessential* rock musician, that means they think that everything about you screams "rock and roll." *Quintessential* means embodying or possessing the essence of something. Some people think that baseball is the quintessential American sport. (Others might think it's stock car racing.) We also call something *quintessential* if it’s absolutely necessary. A quintessential part of a lasting friendship is mutual respect. Good computer skills are quintessential if you want to become the world’s greatest hacker.

Answer 407

Foment 1. stir up; 2. bathe with hot liquids (medical) Stand outside the school cafeteria passing out flyers with nutritional details on school food, and you may *foment* a revolution––*foment* means stirring up something undesirable, such as trouble. You would never say, "Hooray, we *fomented* a revolution." Instead you'd say, "Those good for nothing scalawags fomented the rebellion." Don't confuse *foment* and *ferment*. *Ferment* can mean "to stir up" in a good way––a football game can ferment excitement in a town, or foment trouble through traffic tie-ups and litter.

Answer 408

Tender to offer If you're *tender*, it means you're fragile, sensitive, easily bruised or gentle. Young, easily cut beef and a sentimental heart can both be called *tender*. The many meanings attributed to *tender* developed over time. In the early 13th century, the word meant soft or easily injured. About a hundred years later, its meaning expanded to include kind and loving. Skip forward another century, and *tender* could also imply a lack of maturity.

Answer 409

Tendentious dogmatic; biased If you are writing a report on climate change, and ignore evidence that the earth is warming, the paper might be called *tendentious*. *Tendentious* means promoting a specific, and controversial, point of view. When something is tendentious, it shows a bias towards a particular point of view, especially one that people disagree about. It shares a root with the word, tendency, which means leaning towards acting a certain way. If you have the tendency to talk in a tendentious manner about politics, people might tend to avoid you at parties.

Answer 410

Proximate immediate; nearest

Answer 411

Pith center; soft part of stem; essence *Pith* is the central idea or essence of something. If you’re in danger, you could exclaim, "I would greatly appreciate it if someone would provide assistance." Or, you could get right to the *pith* of your point by shouting, "Help!" In botanical terminology, *pith* refers to a spongy, central cylinder of tissue found inside the stems of most flowering plants. If you know a lot about plants, that fact should help you remember the primary definition of *pith*. If not, just take our word for it. You can think about the pith of an argument like the pith of a plant: both lie at the heart or core of something.

Answer 412

Undermine subvert; attempt to overthrow To *undermine* literally means to dig a hole underneath something, making it likely to collapse. But we more often use the word to describe sabotage or the act of weakening someone else's efforts. Originally spelled with a ‘y’ instead of an ‘i’, *undermine* has Germanic roots and means to weaken, hinder, or impair. Accidentally *undermine* the foundation of a house by digging a tunnel to China beneath it and you might be forgiven. *Undermine* your teacher’s authority by speaking out of turn and throwing spitballs and odds are you’ll get in trouble.

Answer 413

Picayune insignificant; of little value The adjective *picayune* refers to those things that are so small, trivial, and unimportant that they're not worth getting into. Why focus on the *picayune* details, when it's the larger ideas that are the real problem? There are several newspapers in America called the *Picayune*, because they see it as their job to comb through even the minor details of the story to get to the truth. Hear the word "picky" in *picayune* (though they're not related)? That's one way to remember it. A picky person is picayune. Airline disaster investigators spend their lives rummaging through the debris, knowing that it might be the most picayune detail that leads them to understand the cause of a crash.

Answer 414

Transcendental supernatural; going beyond normal experience [transcendent (a)] *Transcendental* describes anything that has to do with the spiritual, non-physical world. You could describe the time you spend in the woods hiking as a physical and a *transcendental* experience. When something is transcendental, it's beyond ordinary, everyday experience. It might be religious, spiritual, or otherworldly, but if it's transcendental, it transcends — or goes beyond — the regular physical realm. The adjective *transcendental* is used to describe a particular kind of meditation, a specific school of philosophy, and even a type of number in mathematics. *Transcendental* and *transcend* come from the Latin word *transcendere*, or climb over or beyond.

Answer 415

Abraded worn away; eroded [abrade (v); abrasion (n)] When you *abrade* something, you scrub it vigorously. To clean your dirty bathtub well, you'll have to *abrade* it with a scrub brush and powdered bleach. When you scour something so vigorously that you remove dirt, grime, or even the surface of the thing you're scrubbing, you *abrade* it. You might need to abrade your fingers with a nail brush to get them clean after working on your oily car engine all afternoon. The word *abrade* is related to *abrasion* — a scrape on the skin — and both words come from the Latin root *abradere*, which means "to scrape off."

Answer 416

Aphoristic expressed tersely [aphorism (n) = short statement; maxim]

Answer 417

Cloture closure; terminating a debate by voting

Answer 418

Leaven to make light; modify; cause bread to rise using yeast etc. *Leaven*, as a noun, is that which causes transformation. It’s the source of yeast that makes your bread rise, it’s the risen bread, and it’s anything that changes the nature of something else. Coming from the French verb *levare*, which means "to raise," leaven changes everything. It makes dough go from flat to loaf, and it’s also the term to describe the risen dough before it’s baked. And leaven can be anything that causes transformation — "Winning the lottery will be the *leaven* that allows you to travel the world." Additionally it’s a verb: "When you bake bread, you *leaven* the dough to make it rise."

Answer 419

Shard fragment of pottery If you break a mirror, the thin sharp pieces you want to avoid are *shards*. A *shard* is simply a broken piece of metal, glass, stone, or pottery with sharp edges. Don't confuse *shard* with shred, meaning to cut into strips, or chard, a leafy green vegetable. You could use a shard of metal to shred chard into salad, but be careful that you don't cut your hands to shreds!

Answer 420

Panegyric speech praising someone; laudatory words A formal, high-minded speech can be described with a formal, high-minded word — the word *panegyric*, which is a very elaborate tribute to someone. You could consider most eulogies as *panegyrics*. It stands to reason that the original use of the word *panegyris*, from which *panegyric* derives, was to describe a public gathering in honor of a Greek god. The Latin, L. *panegyricus*, altered slightly to mean "public eulogy," which around the 16th Century shifted to the French *panégyrique*, which meant "laudation." In any case, the word today stands for high praise given in a speech or tribute as highfalutin as the word itself sounds.

Answer 421

Augury "prediction, looking for omens [augur (v)]" Is your team losing 15-0? Has your girlfriend just slapped your face? Dude, these are *auguries* — signs of how things are going to work out in the future. And these two examples don't look good. In fact, not every augury is an ill omen, as the common phrase "*augers* well for the future" suggests, but more often than not, it seems, an augury is a sign that the future will be none too rosy. Auguries are signs of what's to come, and it's wise not to ignore them.

Answer 422

Inured hardened; habituated If you have gotten so many mosquito bites in your life that they no longer bother you, you have become *inured* to them. This means you have become accustomed to tolerating them. This adjective is derived from the 16th-century phrase *in ure,* meaning "in use" or "in practice." When you are inured to something, you have probably had a lot of persistent exposure to it, and it’s usually something negative. People can become inured to pain, inured to violence, and even inured to the sound of a little yappy dog that won’t stop barking.

Answer 423

Conscript 1. person enlisted compulsorily into the armed forces; 2.?(v)to enlist compulsorily If you’re ever drafted into the Turkish army, then you could be called a *conscript*, someone who is forced to join the military. At the root of *conscript* is the Latin word *conscriptus*, meaning "enroll." *Conscript* does involve enrollment — but it’s a forced enrollment, used to describe someone who has been forced to join the military, such as someone who has been drafted. As a verb, *conscript* means "force to join," like a military that conscripts new soldiers. In contrast, those who choose to join are recruited; when they enter the service, they enlist.

Answer 424

Supplicant person who requests or begs for something [supplicate (v)] If you pray every night to be accepted to your dream college, you can call yourself a *supplicant*, or a person who asks humbly for something. A supplicant can be a fervently religious person who prays to God for help with a problem, and it can also be someone who begs earnestly for something he or she wants. A younger brother entreating his sister to be allowed in her tree house could be described as a supplicant. The Latin root word is *supplicantem*, "plead humbly."

Answer 425

Prune 1. to trim; 2. a dried plum To *prune* means to clip, crop, cut back, and weed out. *Pruning* usually happens to overgrown trees and bushes, but can also be helpful for wild eyebrows and guest lists that are too long. You may have also heard of another form of *prune*: the kind you eat. But other than dried plums, the word is generally used in verb form to describe giving something a much needed trim. Gardeners prune plants, cutting back dead branches and weak parts so they can thrive and grow better. Companies prune budgets to cut back on unnecessary spending. And you might need to prune your baseball hat collection if you're running out of places to put them.

Answer 426

Extant still in existence (opposite of extinct) Use the adjective *extant* to describe old things that are still around, like your *extant* diary from third grade or the only *extant* piece of pottery from certain craftspeople who lived hundreds of years ago. *Extant* is the opposite of *extinct*: it refers to things that are here — they haven't disappeared or been destroyed. Use *extant* to describe things that it may be surprising to learn are still around — you wouldn't say jeans you bought last year are extant, but a pair of jeans worn by Marilyn Monroe back in the 1950s? Definitely extant.

Answer 427

Statute law [statutory?(a)] A *statute* is a formal law or rule. Whether it's enacted by a government, company, or other organization, a *statute* is typically written down. Local governments can pass all kinds of *statutes*, or written laws, to govern their citizens. A city's government might try to restrict the consumption of alcoholic beverages in public, or make it illegal to pet cats on the weekends. Of course, silly statutes like no cat-petting on weekends can be pretty hard to pass.

Answer 428

Arbitrator mediator; person appointed to judge a dispute [arbitrate (v)]

Answer 429

Lugubrious sad; gloomy Funerals are *lugubrious*. So are rainy days and Mondays. Anything that makes you sad, gloomy, or mournful can be called *lugubrious*. *Lugubrious* comes from the Latin verb *lūgēre*, "to mourn." You can also listen to the sound of the word: *lugubrious* sounds slow, heavy, and sad. Sometimes, just the "feel" of a word is enough to clue you in to its meaning, and *lugubrious* is one of those words. I was feeling great when I got to the concert, but the lugubrious music left me in a terrible mood.

Answer 430

Coerce force [coercion (n); coercing (a)] You can bring a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. You can *coerce* — or pressure — someone to attend your office holiday party, but you can't make them have fun. If you're at a point where you feel like you need to coerce someone into doing something, it might be more civilized to just give up. To coerce is to manipulate, use aggressive arguments, pressure unfairly, or threaten — really, this isn't very civilized behavior, is it? Handy synonyms for this verb include *force* and *pressure*. In a gangster film, you might hear a character say he "put the squeeze" on someone — another way of saying he coerced them.

Answer 431

Pretension assumed attitude of superiority; arrogance *Pretension* is what you're guilty of when you boorishly try to impress other people with how important or clever you are. When you speak with pretension, you're boastful and you puff yourself up as someone very important or of great worth. If you have literary pretentions, you mostly likely think you're a great writer, but you most likely are not. As you might imagine, this word has the same Latin roots as *pretend* and *pretense*. A pretension can also be the advancing of a claim.

Answer 432

Complaisance flexibility; willingness to please [complaisant (a)]

Answer 433

Wry 1. twisted or bent to one side; 2. dryly humorous A *wry* sense of humor is a sarcastic one. You were late for work, stepped into a mud puddle, and you forgot your lunch. If your co-worker asks how your morning is going, you can reply with a *wry* tone, "Perfectly perfect." The original use for the adjective *wry* was to describe something that was bent or twisted, so a sprained ankle could be described as "a *wry* ankle." Today, the word *wry* is often used to describe less tangible twists. Wry humor and wry wit both describe a sense of humor that is a little twisted from the norm.

Answer 434

Maudlin sad; sentimental; inclined to weep You can use *maudlin* to describe something that brings tears to your eyes, or makes you feel very emotional. Tearjerkers like "Forrest Gump" and "Titanic" can be described as *maudlin*. *Maudlin* was a form of the name Mary Magdalene, a character from the Bible represented in paintings as a weeping sinner asking forgiveness from Jesus. Maudlin is often paired with *sentimental*, or even *schlocky*, to describe cry-fests, as in "I can't watch another second of that overly-sentimental, *maudlin* soap opera. Turn that schlock off."

Answer 435

Flail 1. tool used to thresh grain; 2. to thresh (separate grain from chaff); 3. to wave arms about wildly To *flail* means to wave around wildly. If you are stranded on a deserted island and you see a ship in the distance, it’s a good idea to *flail* your arms in the air to get the captain’s attention. *Flail* originates with the Latin word *flagellum*, which is a whip. It is also related to the noun *flail*, a stick with a swinging attachment to it, used to thresh grain. As a verb, it most often refers to arms, but can also involve the whole body, especially if someone is a very wild dancer. Other things can flail as well. If someone admits that his business is flailing, it’s probably lacking direction and not doing very well.

Answer 436

Interregnum interval between reigns or governments *Interregnum* describes the period between the reigns of two leaders. If you're a rebel leader, you may try to gain power during an *interregnum*. Pronounce *interregnum* with the accent on the third syllable: "in-ter-REG-num." It comes from Latin: *inter-* means "between" and *regnum* means "kingship, dominion, rule, realm." An interregnum can be marked by no government at all, or it can refer to a different kind of leadership between two similar regimes.

Answer 437

Foolhardy reckless [foolhardiness (n)] If you decide you are going to scale Mt. Everest next weekend without any training or experience, that would be a *foolhardy* decision. Use the adjective *foolhardy* when someone rushes into action without considering the consequences. *Foolhardy* is a combination of the noun *fool* and the adjective *hardy*, meaning "brave" or "bold." Put them together and you’ve got "foolishly brave." Someone who is foolhardy throws caution to the wind and takes reckless chances. A foolhardy mistake is typically the result of this kind of impulsive behavior. But *foolhardy* doesn’t always imply foolishness or stupidity; *foolhardy* can convey courage and romance, as in the case of a foolhardy passion or desire.

Answer 438

Prattle mindless talk If your little sister won't stop talking about her latest crush and you don't want to hear it, you might say, "Stop prattling on about that loser!" To *prattle* is go on and on about something unimportant. *Prattle* can also be a noun. If your sister tattles about your comment regarding her prattling, you could defend yourself to your mother with: "I didn't mean to call Sophie's crush a loser, but she had driven me mad with her constant *prattle*." There are a lot of funny-sounding words with a meaning similar to *prattle* - *chatter, blether, blather, jabber, gabble, blabber*, and *babble*, to name a few.

Answer 439

Homogeneity evenness; uniformity * Homogeneity* is the sameness of things. If you're looking for *homogeneity* in your wardrobe, you'll want shirts and jeans that all have something similar about them. * Homogeneity* can also mean that something is the same throughout. Plain yogurt has a *homogeneity* about it — it's white all the way through and it should be the same texture throughout. On the other hand, yogurt with fruit at the bottom can be described as having heterogeneity — different textures and different colors. The Greek root *homo-*, means "same," and *genos* means "race" or "kind" — so *homogeneity* is the quality of being "the same kind."

Answer 440

Fringe 1. decorative border with tassels?(n); 2. to form an edge?(v) If you make cutoffs from jeans, the little white strings around the edges of the legs make a *fringe*. A *fringe* is a decorative edge made of hanging strings of fabric. You know how fringe hangs on the edge of fabric and clothing? Think of this picture when you see *fringe* used metaphorically to mean something that is on the outer boundaries of something else. Many cities hold events called fringe festivals that celebrate art created on the fringe of the established art world. A group of people whose beliefs place them on the outskirts of a social group is called a fringe group. And beware of the lunatic fringe — they are the extremists and fanatics of a social or political movement.

Answer 441

Fawn behave in a sycophantic way; grovel [fawning (a)] A *fawn* is a young deer, but it's also a verb meaning to try and win favor by flattering. You might *fawn* over Bambi if you want to hang out with the cute and fuzzy gang. As a verb, *fawn* either refers to an attempt to get on someone’s good side, or, oddly enough, to give birth to a deer. If you're a human, fawning is an age-old art that might get you what you want but can be very unattractive. If you ever come into possession of a great fortune, watch out for sudden friends who want to fawn over you and shower you with presents. They probably have dollar signs in their eyes.

Answer 442

Frieze decorative border A *frieze* is a decorative band, usually, but not always, above a doorframe or on the wall near the ceiling. You may find a *frieze* of sculptured angels too formal for the trim of your bedroom wall. You might not think of a frieze in the same category as a painting or a statue, but it can be a true work of art. One famous frieze is painted in a large circle on the inside of the United States Capitol building; it shows famous events in American history. Another is at the Parthenon, a temple from ancient Greece. Don’t confuse *frieze* with the more common term *freeze*, though they are pronounced the same way.

Answer 443

Steep to soak in water *Steep* means sharply angled. When hiking trails lead straight up mountainsides, they've got a *steep* incline. *Steep* also means to soak in, as in *steeping* a tea bag in boiling water. You often hear *steep* used as an adjective to describe cliffs, hills, or even water park slides that have a perilous slope. *Steep* can apply to curves on a chart––you might say when someone who has a lot to learn that their learning curve is going to be steep. *Steep* also comes up to describe exorbitant changes in costs or spending. Everyone would love to travel more, but sometimes plan fare is too steep.

Answer 444

Epithet phrase used as a label or to express the essential nature of The noun *epithet* is a descriptive nickname, such as "Richard the Lionhearted," or "Tommy the Terrible." When it takes a turn for the worse, it can also be a word or phrase that offends. Don’t let *epithet’s* bad reputation fool you — that’s only half the story. An epithet can be harmless, a nickname that catches on, like all hockey fans knowing that "Sid the Kid" is Sidney Crosby. On the flip side, an epithet can be an abusive word or phrase that should never be used, like a racial epithet that offends and angers everyone.

Answer 445

Gossamer delicate; filmy; like gauze *Gossamer* is something super fine and delicate — like a spider web or the material of a wedding veil. The original *gossamer,* from which these meanings come from, is the fine, filmy substance spiders excrete to weave their webs. A dress can be gossamer-like, if its fabric is so sheer as to be see-through, or almost. Your chances of going to a good college are "gossamer thin" if you've never cracked a book in high school.

Answer 446

Nexus connection If you happen to be at the *nexus* of something, this noun means that you are right in the middle. A *nexus* is a noun that stands for something at the center or that which others are gathered around. The word entered English during the seventeenth century from the Latin word *nectere* and means "to bind, tie." In the field of cell biology, a *nexus* refers to "a specialized area of the cell membrane involved in intercellular communication and adhesion," and implies that the *nexus* of a cell facilitates communication among the various parts and allows it to work properly.

Answer 447

Propensity tendency; inclination A *propensity* is a natural tendency to behave in a certain way. We all have *propensities* — things we tend to do. Dogs have a *propensity* to bark, and many people have a *propensity* for getting annoyed by it. If you have a propensity for something, then it's something that comes naturally to you or something you just do a lot. Some people have a propensity to laugh. Other people have a propensity for making others laugh, or for being generous, or for getting angry. It's hard to change your propensities. Sometimes a propensity is a bad thing, as in a criminal with a propensity for theft or murder.

Answer 448

Lambaste attack verbally To *lambaste* is to reprimand or berate someone severely. People *lambaste* those who have angered or disappointed them. Have you ever watched a basketball game and noticed a coach yelling like a maniac at a referee? That coach is lambasting the referee. Lambasting is also called chewing out, taking to task, scolding, reprimanding, berating, bawling out, and chiding. Parents lambaste disobedient kids. A boss might lambaste a worker who is late all the time. Lambasting is severe and goes way beyond criticizing. When you are lambasting, you are furious at someone and letting them know it.

Answer 449

Fabricated made up; false; manufactured [fabricate (v); fabrication(n)]

Answer 450

Chauvinist someone excessively patriotic [chauvinism (n)] A *chauvinist* is someone who blindly and enthusiastically believes in the superiority of his cause or people. If you grew up in New York and refuse to eat at any pizzeria beyond a five-mile radius of the Empire State Building, you could be described as a New York pizza *chauvinist*. The word *chauvinist* comes from Nicholas Chauvin, a French soldier — probably fictional — who was so devoted to Napoleon that he continued to zealously support the emperor even after Napoleon rejected him. The put-down "male *chauvinist* pig" describes a man who believes that women are not as intelligent or worthy of respect as men. Often when we hear the word *chauvinist*, we think of arrogant men.

Answer 451

Blowhard boastful person A *blowhard* is someone who always brags or boasts about himself. If you get stuck sitting next to your *blowhard* cousin at the family holiday dinner, you may wish he didn't think he was quite so amazing. *Blowhard* is an informal word describing someone who can't stop talking about themselves or their accomplishments, real or imagined. You might know a blowhard at school, at work, or even in your family. And usually everyone knows at least one blowhard sports fan, who during the game can't stop talking about the unprecedented greatness of his favorite team or player.

Answer 452

Dawdler slow person who falls behind others [dawdle (v)]

Answer 453

Chantey type of song sung by sailors

Answer 454

Xenophobe person afraid of foreigners

Answer 455

Anachronistic occurring in the wrong time period [anachronism (n)] Something that's old-fashioned and maybe a little out of place is *anachronistic*, like a clunky black rotary-dial telephone sitting on a desk beside a sleek new smart-phone (or whatever the new technology when you read this). The adjective *anachronistic* comes from the Greek words *ana*, or "against", and *khronos*, or "time." It usually refers to something old-fashioned or antique, but it can also mean anything that blatantly clashes with the time in which it is seen. Imagine watching a movie that takes place in the 1700s and seeing one of the characters pull out a cell phone. Any phone, in the context of the movie's time period, would be anachronistic.

Answer 456

Sedulity thoroughness; perseverance [sedulous (a)]

Answer 457

Veritable true; genuine [verity (n)] When something is *veritable* it is true, or at least feels that way. "The trees and lights turned the campus into a *veritable* wonderland" means that the campus seemed to be transformed into a true wonderland (if there is such a thing). *Veritable* comes from the Latin *veritas* which means true. But unlike *true*, it does not describe things like statements. It is often used to enhance the word that follows it. "A *veritable* cornucopia of food" is a lot of food of different varieties. If someone calls you "a *veritable* force of nature," they don't mean that you are actually a hurricane; they just mean that you have the unstoppable quality of a big old storm.

Answer 458

Prudish narrow-minded; excessively concerned with morals [prudery (n), prude (n)] To be *prudish* is to be extremely proper, almost a little too proper. To be called *prudish* isn't a compliment. To be proper is to be polite and have good manners. To be prudish is to take being proper to an exaggerated or ridiculous degree. For example, it's definitely a bad idea to use a naughty word in class, but a friend who scolds you when you use it privately could be considered prudish. They're going a little too far. Prudish behavior is also called priggish, prim, prissy, puritanical, and straight-laced. Others usually think prudish people should lighten up.

Answer 459

Score written form of music A set of twenty things is a *score*. Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address began "Four *score* and seven years ago." Four *score* means 4 times 20, so Lincoln could have just said "87 years ago," but it didn't have the same ring to it! In a game, the score tells you the number of points each team has. In school, you can score or earn a number of points for every test or paper you turn in. That grade (or an accumulation of grades) is your class score. *Score* can also be used to describe the facts about an event or the components of a musical composition. So, when you ask, "What's the *score*?" you could be met with a variety of answers depending on the context!

Answer 460

Stipulate specify [stipulation (n)] To *stipulate* something means to demand that it be part of an agreement. So when you make a contract or deal, you can *stipulate* that a certain condition must be met. Anytime you draw up a legal agreement, you can stipulate a requirement that has to be met for that agreement to be complete. This stipulation might put some sort of limit on the agreement. For example, if you run a fencing company and offer a sale, you can stipulate that to get the sale price, the fence must be ordered by a certain date. Your customer, in turn, might stipulate that the work must be finished before the ground freezes.

Answer 461

Congruent matching [congruency (n)] The adjective, *congruent* fits when two shapes are the same in shape and size. If you lay two *congruent* triangles on each other, they would match up exactly. *Congruent* comes from the Latin verb *congruere* "to come together, correspond with." Figuratively, the word describes something that is similar in character or type. Are your actions congruent with your values? If a friend says something outrageous that you don't want to agree with but don't want to disagree with either, say that your friend's idea is congruent with what you think. That way you can agree with him but change your mind later if you have to.

Answer 462

Deliberate 1. slow?(a); 2. to think over?(v); 3. on purpose?(a) To *deliberate* means to carefully think or talk something through — it also means slow and measured, the pace of this kind of careful decision making. If you chose *deliberately*, you make a very conscious, well-thought-through choice. The verb *deliberate* ends with an "ate" sound — at the end of a trial, after the evidence is presented, the twelve members of a jury retreat to a room to deliberate, i.e., talk through the trial and come to a verdict. The adjective *deliberate* ends with an "it" sound. If you walk with a deliberate pace, you're slow and steady.

Answer 463

Stickler one who is strict about rules or details A *stickler* is someone who insists that things are done in a certain way. Say you’re getting married and want to write your own vows, but your partner’s mother demands that you have a traditional ceremony. The mother is a *stickler* for tradition. *Stickler* has its origins in a word meaning umpire, which may allude to a stickler’s bossy nature. Difficult problems or puzzles are called sticklers. It is helpful when remembering the definition of *stickler* that it has the word "stick" in it. So someone who "sticks" to the rules is a stickler.

Answer 464

Indecorous unseemly; inappropriate (of behavior)

Answer 465

Gaucherie awkwardness [gauche (a)]

Answer 466

Cadge get by begging

Answer 467

Unprepossessing unattractive If you find someone to be *unprepossessing*, you find them unattractive. Not that they're ugly, mind you! Just *unprepossessing*. *Unprepossessing* is a rather indirect way of calling someone unattractive, or at best OK-looking. *Unprepossessing* is not quite the same as "ugly." Rather, just a way of saying that someone's looks aren't what you're most likely to remember about them. Cinderella was most unprepossessing in the filthy clothes and worn-out shoes that her step-sisters forced her to wear. But when she was all decked out by her fairy godmother, she was the belle of the ball: she was no longer unprepossessing.

Answer 468

Incumbents occupiers of a job or position An *incumbent* is an official who holds an office. If you want to run for congress, you're going to have to beat the *incumbent*. *Incumbent* comes from the Latin word *incumbens*, which means lying in or leaning on, but came to mean holding a position. It was first used in English for someone holding a church office, and then someone holding any office. You'll most likely hear it today for political officials. In a race for mayor, the incumbent mayor faces a challenger. *Incumbent* also means obligation. It is incumbent upon you to do the dishes.

Answer 469

Intelligible can be understood Use the adjective *intelligible* to describe speech that is loud and clear, like the *intelligible* words of your principal which, thanks to a microphone, you were able to hear. When your goal is to make your writing intelligible to anyone who reads it, you chose clear, precise words and give details that tell more about what you mean. You might also include examples. *Intelligible* comes from the Latin word *intelligibilis*, "that can understand or that which can be understood." The earlier meaning of *intelligible* was "able to understand," which today is closer to the meaning of *intelligent*.

Answer 470

Centrifuge device to separate substances by spinning them at high speed That ride at the fair that spins you around until you stick to the walls? The device in your washing machine that spins your clothes around quickly to get the water out of them? Those are *centrifuges*. Centrifuges are used mostly in science. In this application, centrifugal force — the force from spinning that moves things away from the center — separates liquids that have different weights. For example, a centrifuge is used to separate blood cells from plasma cells. When the blood is spun in the centrifuge, the heavier plasma cells separate from the lighter blood cells, and can be collected for other uses.

Answer 471

Homiletics art of preaching and giving sermons

Answer 472

Exigency urgent matter; pressing need Think of a mix of excitement and emergency, and you have *exigency*, a sudden, urgent crisis. The very word conjures up danger and intrigue that demand a cool head and an immediate effort at a solution. The meaning of *exigency* is obvious from its source, the Latin noun *exigentia*, which means "urgency" and comes from the verb *exigere*, meaning "to demand or require." An emergency situation, or exigency, is urgent and demands immediate action. Our lives are filled with exigencies, both large and small, from a child stuck in a tree to lightning striking your house to catastrophic river flooding. Each is an exigency — it's all a matter of perspective.

Answer 473

Veneration worship; respect [venerable (a), venerate (v)] *Veneration* is similar to worship or respect: we feel *veneration* for things and people we adore and are devoted to completely. This is a strong word. The main meaning is for a type of religious zeal: if you unquestionably believe in your religion, then you feel and show veneration for your god and beliefs. Also, *veneration* can apply outside religion when you have enormous respect for something or someone. Great people like Martin Luther King or Mother Theresa inspire veneration. If you feel a combination of awe and love for someone, you are full of veneration.

Answer 474

Tamp to plug; press loose matter down tightly (e.g. pack explosives into a hole)

Answer 475

Loll laze around; hang out (when used of the tongue) To *loll* means to hang around lazily without doing much at all. It's a great pleasure to *loll* about in the park instead of going to work. But your boss might have a problem with it. *Loll* means to droop, or hang loosely. We usually use it to describe the behavior of hanging loosely, like *lolling* about on the beach reading a book. Sometimes it’s the perfect word for a drooping object. If you take your dog for a long run in the hot sun, its tongue will loll out of its mouth. If you fall asleep on the bus ride home, your head might loll onto your neighbor’s shoulder.

Answer 476

Atavism reappearance of ancestral traits; regression [atavistic (a)] *Atavism* is a return to a previous way of doing, saying, or seeing things. It can be casual, like wearing retro clothing and listening to vinyl records, or committed, like living in a straw hut without electricity. It makes sense that *atavism* comes from a Latin word meaning "forefather," since it refers to a way of doing things like our ancestors did them. It’s often used negatively, though, to refer to behavior the speaker finds primitive or unacceptable. Atavists are often called "throwbacks." In biology, the term *atavism* or "evolutionary throwback" is used when animals are born with features that had disappeared, such as legs on a whale.

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