Category: Today’s Word

Today’s Word

secundan

adjective: Occurring every other day.

congeries

Definition: (noun) A sum total of many heterogeneous things taken together. Synonyms: conglomeration, aggregate. Usage: The top floor is devoted to the servants—a congeries of …

delibate

verb tr.: To take a small amount of something: to taste or sip.

asthenopia

Definition: (noun) A tiredness of the eyes caused by prolonged close work by a person with an uncorrected vision problem. Synonyms: eyestrain. Usage: The jeweler …

placeman

Definition: (noun) One who has a political appointment in the government. Synonyms: placeseeker. Usage: They viewed the placeman as a colorless bureaucrat. Discuss

zenzic

noun: Square of a number. adjective: Relating to the square of a number.

atavism

Definition: (noun) A reappearance of an earlier characteristic. Synonyms: throwback, reversion. Usage: Perhaps some deep-rooted atavism urges the wanderer back to lands which his ancestors …

egrote

verb intr.: To feign sickness.

emetic

Definition: (noun) An agent that causes vomiting. Synonyms: nauseant, vomitive, vomit. Usage: She was highly allergic to dairy products; pizza gave her a stomachache, and …

marque

Definition: (noun) A model or brand of a manufactured product, especially an automobile. Synonyms: brand, trade name. Usage: The public relations department argued that the …

indefatigable

Definition: (adjective) Incapable or seemingly incapable of being fatigued. Synonyms: tireless, unflagging, unwearying. Usage: His indefatigable spirit helped him to cope with the illness. Discuss

golden handcuffs

noun: Lucrative incentives given to an employee under certain conditions to discourage them from leaving.

edification

Definition: (noun) Intellectual, moral, or spiritual improvement Synonyms: enlightenment. Usage: He knew very well that he must tell some story this evening for the edification …

ephemera

noun: 1. Things that last only a short time. 2. Things of no lasting significance. 3. Items such as tickets, postcards, and letters that are …

befuddled

Definition: (adjective) Perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment. Synonyms: bewildered, confounded, baffled, mixed-up, bemused, lost. Usage: The audience was befuddled by …

cold feet

noun: A feeling of apprehension or doubt about proceeding with a planned action.

floorshow

Definition: (noun) A series of entertainments presented in a nightclub. Synonyms: cabaret. Usage: The floorshow was spectacular and loud, and the next morning, he had …

cheeseparing

noun: 1. The act of saving by using extremely frugal measures. 2. Something of little value. adjective: 1. Meanly economical. 2. Insignificant; spare; thin.

skinflint

Definition: (noun) A selfish person who is unwilling to give or spend. Synonyms: scrooge, churl, niggard. Usage: He had earned for himself the reputation of …

gilded cage

noun: A place or situation that’s superficially attractive but confining.

compendium

Definition: (noun) A list or collection of various items. Synonyms: collection. Usage: Aglaya's husband was to be a compendium of all the virtues, and of …

recant

Definition: (verb) Formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually under pressure. Synonyms: abjure, forswear, retract, resile. Usage: The dissident refused to recant and …

dieresis

Definition: (noun) A mark ( ¨ ) placed over the second of two adjacent vowels to indicate that they are to be pronounced as separate …

telamon

Definition: (noun) A figure of a man used as a supporting pillar. Synonyms: atlas. Usage: The portico of the Hermitage Museum in Russia features ten …

dissenter

Definition: (noun) A person who dissents from some established policy. Synonyms: objector, dissident, protester, contestant. Usage: With the exception of one or two dissenters, the …

mishpocha

noun: An extended family or clan.

punctilious

Definition: (adjective) Strictly attentive to minute details of form in action or conduct. Synonyms: meticulous. Usage: The old prince, like all fathers indeed, was exceedingly …

discalced

Definition: (adjective) Barefoot or wearing sandals. Used of certain religious orders. Synonyms: unshod. Usage: When a procession of discalced friars passed through the doors, I …

schemozzle

noun: 1. A state of chaos or confusion. 2. A quarrel or commotion.

sinuous

Definition: (adjective) Characterized by many curves or turns; winding. Synonyms: wiggly, sinuate. Usage: We tried to trace the path of the sinuous stream, but it …

ridgepole

Definition: (noun) A horizontal beam at the ridge of a roof to which the rafters are attached. Synonyms: rooftree. Usage: I knew a girl in …

tempestuous

Definition: (adjective) As if showing violent anger. Synonyms: angry, furious, raging, wild. Usage: The raging sea and tempestuous winds indicated that a big storm was …

ostrobogulous

adjective: Unusual; bizarre; risqué or indecent.

tallith

Definition: (noun) A shawl with a ritually knotted fringe at each corner; worn by Jews at morning prayer. Synonyms: prayer shawl. Usage: He donned his …

nondescript

adjective: 1. Without distinctive qualities. 2. Not belonging to a particular class.

vibist

Definition: (noun) A musician who plays the vibraphone. Synonyms: vibraphonist. Usage: The singing group hired a vibist to spruce up one of the tracks on …