Category: Today’s Word

Today’s Word

zephyr

noun: 1. A wind blowing from the west. 2. A gentle breeze. 3. A soft and light garment, fabric, or yarn. 4. Anything having a …

cloistered

Definition: (adjective) Secluded from the world; sheltered. Synonyms: sequestered. Usage: The dean said the cloistered atmosphere of the academy was doing little to prepare students …

galahad

noun: One who is known for integrity, courteousness, and nobility.

relegate

Definition: (verb) To assign to an obscure place, position, or condition. Synonyms: demote, bump. Usage: After allowing the other team to score on three consecutive …

allegory

Definition: (noun) A visible symbol representing an abstract idea. Synonyms: emblem. Usage: The blindfolded figure with scales is an allegory of justice. Discuss

sidhe

noun: 1. A fairy. 2. The race of fairies. 3. A mound or hill where fairies are believed to live.

muffle

Definition: (verb) Deaden (a sound or noise), especially by wrapping. Synonyms: mute, tone down, dampen, dull. Usage: I was up past my bedtime, so I …

gunwale

noun: The upper edge of the side of a ship or a boat.

vacillate

Definition: (verb) To swing indecisively from one course of action or opinion to another. Synonyms: hover, oscillate, vibrate. Usage: I vacillated about what to say …

victual

noun: Food, especially food fit for human consumption. verb tr.: To provide with food. verb intr.: To obtain food or to eat.

castigate

Definition: (verb) Censure severely. Synonyms: chasten, chastise, objurgate. Usage: Often he would look back on his day of toil, and castigate himself for failing to …

cwm

noun: A steep bowl-shaped mountain basin, carved by glaciers. Also known as a cirque.

penchant

Definition: (noun) A definite liking; a strong inclination. Synonyms: preference, taste, predilection. Usage: Our boss humored Bobby's penchant for playing jokes on people until he …

blackguard

noun: 1. A scoundrel. 2. A foul-mouthed person. verb tr.: To disparage with abusive language. verb intr.: To speak abusively.

ephemeral

Definition: (adjective) Lasting a very short time. Synonyms: fugacious, passing, short-lived, transitory, transient. Usage: Spare me in my ephemeral happiness, leave it to me for …

picayune

Definition: (adjective) Of little value or importance; paltry. Synonyms: fiddling, footling, niggling, piddling, piffling, trivial, petty, lilliputian, little. Usage: Giving a police officer a free …

nonpareil

Definition: (noun) A person or thing that is unsurpassed or unmatched; peerless example. Synonyms: nonesuch, apotheosis, ideal, paragon, saint. Usage: An 'Only' is a nonpareil, …

rumption

noun: An uproar or commotion.

apostate

Definition: (noun) A person who abandons his religion, party, cause, etc. Synonyms: deserter, ratter, turncoat, recreant, renegade. Usage: He was an early apostate, leaving the …

greige

noun: A color between gray and beige. adjective: Of a gray-beige color.

somnolent

Definition: (adjective) Drowsy; sleepy. Synonyms: slumbery, slumberous. Usage: The monotonous sound of his voice had a somnolent effect, and I found myself nodding off during …

splurge

verb intr.: To make an ostentatious display. verb tr., intr.: To spend lavishly or wastefully. noun: An extravagant or ostentatious display or expenditure.

indomitable

Definition: (adjective) Incapable of being overcome, subdued, or vanquished. Synonyms: never-say-die, invincible, unconquerable. Usage: A man of indomitable courage, it was said that the only …

cacophonous

Definition: (adjective) Having a harsh, unpleasant sound; discordant. Synonyms: jarring, grating, raucous, strident, dissonant, inharmonious. Usage: The school's cafeteria was as cacophonous as a hen …

meld

verb tr., intr.: 1. To blend or merge. 2. To declare or make known. For example, in some card games, to declare or display a …

palpable

Definition: (adjective) Capable of being handled, touched, or felt. Synonyms: tangible. Usage: Every time she held the skimmer under the pump to cool it for …

grum

adjective: Surly, gloomy, or stern.

proclivity

Definition: (noun) A natural propensity or inclination; predisposition. Synonyms: leaning, propensity. Usage: John has a proclivity for exaggeration, so take everything he says with a …

profligate

Definition: (adjective) Shamelessly immoral or debauched. Synonyms: degenerate, degraded, dissipated, dissolute, libertine, riotous, fast. Usage: We both know that he has been profligate in every …

clairvoyance

Definition: (noun) Apparent power to perceive things that are not present to the senses. Synonyms: ESP, extrasensory perception, second sight. Usage: The police officer doubted …

bauchle

noun: 1. An old, worn-out shoe. 2. Something useless or worn out. 3. A useless person; a fool. verb tr.: To subject to disgrace or …

ebullient

Definition: (adjective) Zestfully enthusiastic. Synonyms: exuberant, high-spirited. Usage: His ebullient spirits were always on tap on the slightest provocation, and, as he was afterwards to …

shoestring

noun: 1. A string used to tie a shoe: shoelace. 2. A small amount. adjective: Involving little.

cognizant

Definition: (adjective) Fully informed; conscious. Synonyms: aware. Usage: Tarzan, although cognizant of his mighty powers, realized also his limitations. Discuss

clever clogs

noun: Someone perceived to be intelligent or knowledgeable in an annoying way.

revamp

verb tr.: To renovate, refurnish, revise, etc. noun: An instance of renovation, refurnishing, etc.

pernicious

Definition: (adjective) Tending to cause death or serious injury. Synonyms: baneful, pestilent, deadly. Usage: The pernicious effects of alcoholism are well documented in the medical …

apotheosis

Definition: (noun) Exaltation to divine rank or stature. Synonyms: deification, exaltation. Usage: How strange was this miracle of fame, I pondered, this strange apotheosis by …

supercilious

Definition: (adjective) Feeling or showing haughty disdain. Synonyms: haughty, prideful, sniffy, swaggering, lordly, disdainful. Usage: He smiled in a supercilious manner and said I had …