Category: Today’s Word

Today’s Word

gegenschein

Definition: (noun) A faint glowing spot in the sky, exactly opposite the position of the sun. Synonyms: counterglow. Usage: The gegenschein is so faint that …

jackrabbit

noun: Any of various hares having long ears and very long hind legs. verb intr.: To move or begin to move very quickly. adjective: Moving …

outlander

Definition: (noun) A person from a foreign country; a foreigner. Synonyms: alien, foreigner, noncitizen. Usage: As long as the number of outlanders remained small, the …

serpentine

adjective: 1. Of or relating to a snake. 2. Winding, twisting, or coiling. 3. Intricate; cunning; treacherous. verb intr.: To move or lie in a …

singlet

Definition: (noun) A collarless men's undergarment for the upper part of the body. Synonyms: undershirt, vest. Usage: Its owner had taken off his tunic, and …

lemming

noun: 1. Any of various small, thickset, short-tailed, furry rodents. 2. One who mindlessly conforms or follows, especially toward disaster.

hypocorism

Definition: (noun) A name of endearment; a pet name. Synonyms: pet name. Usage: "Billy" is a hypocorism for "William." Discuss

cynical

adjective: 1. Believing that people are motivated primarily by self-interest. 2. Behaving in a selfish manner, callously violating accepted standards. 3. Pessimistic; jaded; negative. 4. …

capote

Definition: (noun) A long, usually hooded cloak or coat. Synonyms: hooded coat. Usage: The men wore matching black capotes with hoods that obscured their features, …

cloudburst

Definition: (noun) A heavy rain. Synonyms: pelter, soaker, torrent, waterspout, deluge, downpour. Usage: We enjoyed the lovely recliners on the ship's deck until a sudden …

farrago

Definition: (noun) An assortment or a medley; a conglomeration. Synonyms: hodgepodge, omnium-gatherum, melange, mingle-mangle, mishmash, oddments, odds and ends, ragbag. Usage: If the farrago of …

micrify

verb tr.: To make small or insignificant.

orthography

Definition: (noun) A method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols; spelling. Synonyms: writing system. Usage: She was familiar with …

elute

verb tr.: To wash out or extract, especially with a solvent.

rhizome

Definition: (noun) A horizontal, usually underground stem that often sends out roots and shoots from its nodes. Synonyms: rootstalk. Usage: It was not apparent that …

discerp

verb tr.: To tear off or to rip into pieces.

vibrissa

Definition: (noun) Any of the long stiff hairs that project from the snout or brow of most mammals, as the whiskers of a cat. Synonyms: …

mundify

adjective: Having the power to cleanse. noun: A cleansing medicine or preparation.

paronomasia

Definition: (noun) A humorous play on words. Synonyms: pun, punning, wordplay. Usage: His attempts at comedy usually flopped, especially when he recited his favorite paronomasia, …

legate

Definition: (noun) An official emissary, especially an official representative of the pope. Synonyms: official emissary. Usage: Cardinal Giovanni Battista Caprara was the legate of Pope …

liegeman

Definition: (noun) A feudal vassal or subject. Synonyms: feudatory, liege, vassal. Usage: The liegeman was expected to provide military support if his lord went to …

turncoat

Definition: (noun) One who traitorously switches allegiance. Synonyms: apostate, deserter, ratter, recreant, renegade. Usage: He was a turncoat who betrayed his friends to curry favor …

jasper

noun: 1. A person; guy. 2. A wasp. 3. A compact, opaque quartz, typically in dull shades of red, yellow, and brown.

cesspit

Definition: (noun) A pit for refuse or sewage. Synonyms: sump, sink, cesspool. Usage: The cesspit smelled foul, but without it all the refuse would have …

patsy

noun: One who is easily taken advantage of, by being deceived, unfairly blamed, or ridiculed.

rancor

Definition: (noun) Bitter, long-lasting resentment; deep-seated ill will. Synonyms: bitterness, resentment, gall. Usage: After a year Edinburgh dropped him, thus supplying substantial fuel for his …

harelip

Definition: (noun) A congenital cleft in the middle of the upper lip. Synonyms: cheiloschisis, cleft lip. Usage: The insurance company argued that the surgery to …

mollycoddle

noun: A pampered or overprotected person. verb tr.: To overprotect or pamper.

ventail

Definition: (noun) A medieval hood of mail suspended from a basinet to protect the head and neck. Synonyms: camail. Usage: The sword caught him just …

seafarer

Definition: (noun) A sailor or mariner. Synonyms: old salt, Jack-tar, mariner, sea dog, seaman, gob, Jack, tar. Usage: Then he arose quickly, like a seafarer …

suitor

Definition: (noun) A man who is courting a woman. Synonyms: suer, wooer. Usage: The princess had many suitors, but the only man she was interested …

face-off

Definition: (noun) A hostile disagreement face-to-face. Synonyms: confrontation, encounter, showdown. Usage: The relationship between the two officers deteriorated until they had a noisy face-off at …

meta

adjective: 1. Self-referential. 2. Relating to members of its own category. adverb: In a self-referential manner. noun: Something that is self-referential. prefix: Denoting transformation, transcending, …

histrionics

Definition: (noun) Theatrical arts or performances. Synonyms: theatrical performance, representation. Usage: They had lunch, then went to the theater to enjoy an hour of histrionics. …

tergiversation

noun: 1. Misleading, evasive, or ambiguous speech or action. 2. Desertion of a party, position, cause, etc.

underlayment

Definition: (noun) A pad placed under a carpet. Synonyms: carpet pad, rug pad. Usage: After they removed the underlayment, the young cousins were able to …

smilet

noun: A little smile.

aguacate

Definition: (noun) A pear-shaped tropical fruit with green or blackish skin and rich yellowish pulp enclosing a single large seed. Synonyms: alligator pear, avocado, avocado …