Category: Today’s Word

Today’s Word

animus

Definition: (noun) A feeling of ill will arousing active hostility. Synonyms: bad blood, animosity. Usage: Dorothea had observed the animus with which Will's part in …

lotic

adjective: Relating to or living in flowing water.

effervescent

Definition: (adjective) Marked by high spirits or excitement. Synonyms: sparkly, bubbling, scintillating, sparkling. Usage: She exhibited none of that effervescent joy at his appearance which …

boding

Definition: (noun) An omen or foreboding, especially of evil. Synonyms: premonition, presentiment, foreboding. Usage: Sara was filled with an evil sense of boding as she …

diablerie

noun: 1. Sorcery; witchcraft; black magic. 2. A representation of devils or demons in art or literature. 3. Mischievous manner or conduct.

camisole

Definition: (noun) A short, sleeveless undergarment for women. Synonyms: underbodice. Usage: The beautiful dress was made out of a sheer fabric, so Nina wore a …

repertory

Definition: (noun) The entire range of skills or aptitudes or devices used in a particular field or occupation. Synonyms: repertoire. Usage: When the band had …

menagerie

Definition: (noun) The facility where wild animals are housed for exhibition. Synonyms: zoo. Usage: Through the dim smoke-haze the bunks looked like the sleeping dens …

enthuse

verb tr.: 1. To make someone enthusiastic. 2. To express something with enthusiasm. verb intr.: To display enthusiasm.

oceanaut

Definition: (noun) A skilled worker who can live in underwater installations and participate in scientific research. Synonyms: aquanaut. Usage: The machinery on the ocean floor …

manumise

verb tr.: To free from slavery, servitude, or restraint.

cirque

Definition: (noun) A steep bowl-shaped hollow occurring at the upper end of a mountain valley, especially one forming the head of a glacier or stream. …

osmose

verb tr., intr.: 1. To diffuse gradually. 2. To undergo or to subject to osmosis: the diffusion of fluid from a solution of low concentration …

bullhorn

Definition: (noun) A portable loudspeaker with built-in microphone and amplifier. Synonyms: loud-hailer. Usage: The policeman used a bullhorn to order the crowd to disperse. Discuss

paunch

Definition: (noun) A protruding abdomen. Synonyms: belly. Usage: Jim's bride was an excellent cook, and after only a few weeks of marriage, he began to …

liaise

verb intr.: 1. To establish a connection with someone in a different group or organization for purposes of working together, coordinating efforts, exchanging information, etc. …

piddling

Definition: (adjective) So trifling or trivial as to be beneath one's consideration. Synonyms: trivial, petty, fiddling, footling, niggling, picayune, piffling, lilliputian, little. Usage: Because she …

camion

Definition: (noun) A low heavy horse cart without sides; used for haulage. Synonyms: dray. Usage: An empty camion came bumping down the cobblestone street, pulled …

calumny

Definition: (noun) A false statement maliciously made to injure another's reputation. Synonyms: aspersion, defamation, denigration, slander. Usage: When it became clear that he could not …

back-form

verb tr.: To make a word by dropping an apparent affix from a longer word.

burgher

Definition: (noun) A comfortable or complacent member of the middle class. Synonyms: bourgeois. Usage: From the serfs of the Middle Ages sprang the chartered burghers …

calumet

Definition: (noun) A long-stemmed sacred or ceremonial tobacco pipe used by certain Native American peoples. Synonyms: peace pipe. Usage: Among the Blackfeet warriors who advanced …

exolete

adjective: 1. Obsolete. 2. Stale. 3. Faded.

daiquiri

Definition: (noun) An iced cocktail of rum, lime or lemon juice, and sugar. Synonyms: rum cocktail. Usage: They knew he was lying about being a …

double-barreled

adjective: 1. Having two barrels mounted side by side, as in a gun. 2. Having two parts, purposes, impacts, etc.

exacta

Definition: (noun) A method of betting, as on a horserace, in which the bettor must correctly pick those finishing in the first and second places …

brawny

Definition: (adjective) Strong and muscular. Synonyms: hefty, sinewy, muscular, powerful. Usage: The muscles of his brawny arms showed through the sleeves of his light summer …

gastronome

Definition: (noun) A connoisseur of good food and drink. Synonyms: epicure, epicurean, foodie, gourmet, bon vivant. Usage: He was quite the gastronome, and restaurant chefs …

retinue

Definition: (noun) The group following and attending to some important person. Synonyms: entourage, cortege, suite. Usage: Guillaume Lejean…reached Karthoum by way of the Red Sea, …

aprosexia

noun: The inability to concentrate.

drumbeater

Definition: (noun) One that supports a cause, especially vehemently. Synonyms: partisan, zealot. Usage: The editor of the newspaper was an unabashed drumbeater for the cause. …

assassin

noun: A person who kills someone important, especially for political or ideological reasons.

venire

Definition: (noun) The panel of prospective jurors from which a jury is selected. Synonyms: panel. Usage: Most of the people on the venire just wanted …

Zion

noun: 1. Utopia. 2. Heaven. 3. The collective term for the Jewish people. 4. The religious and cultural practices and beliefs of Judaism. 5. A …