Main Entry: mawk·ish
Pronunciation: 'mo-kish
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English mawke maggot, probably from Old Norse mathkr -- more at MAGGOT
1 : having an insipid often unpleasant taste
2 : sickly or puerilely sentimental
- mawk·ish·ly adverb
- mawk·ish·ness noun
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
adumbrate
Main Entry: ad·um·brate
Pronunciation: 'a-d&m-"brAt, a-'d&m-
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): -brat·ed; -brat·ing
Etymology: Latin adumbratus, past participle of adumbrare, from ad- + umbra shadow -- more at UMBRAGE
1 : to foreshadow vaguely : INTIMATE
2 : to suggest, disclose, or outline partially
3 : OVERSHADOW, OBSCURE
- ad·um·bra·tion /"a-(")d&m-'brA-sh&n/ noun
- ad·um·bra·tive /a-'d&m-br&-tiv/ adjective
- ad·um·bra·tive·ly adverb
Pronunciation: 'a-d&m-"brAt, a-'d&m-
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): -brat·ed; -brat·ing
Etymology: Latin adumbratus, past participle of adumbrare, from ad- + umbra shadow -- more at UMBRAGE
1 : to foreshadow vaguely : INTIMATE
2 : to suggest, disclose, or outline partially
3 : OVERSHADOW, OBSCURE
- ad·um·bra·tion /"a-(")d&m-'brA-sh&n/ noun
- ad·um·bra·tive /a-'d&m-br&-tiv/ adjective
- ad·um·bra·tive·ly adverb
simulacrum
Main Entry: sim·u·la·crum
Pronunciation: "sim-y&-'la-kr&m, -'lA-
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural sim·u·la·cra /-kr& /; also -crums
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin, from simulare
1 : IMAGE, REPRESENTATION < a reasonable simulacrum of reality -- Martin Mayer >
2 : an insubstantial form or semblance of something : TRACE
Pronunciation: "sim-y&-'la-kr&m, -'lA-
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural sim·u·la·cra /-kr& /; also -crums
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin, from simulare
1 : IMAGE, REPRESENTATION < a reasonable simulacrum of reality -- Martin Mayer >
2 : an insubstantial form or semblance of something : TRACE
alembic
Main Entry: alem·bic
Pronunciation: &-'lem-bik
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French alambic & Medieval Latin alembicum, from Arabic al-anbIq, from al the + anbIq still, from Late Greek ambik-, ambix alembic, from Greek, cap of a still
1 : an apparatus used in distillation
2 : something that refines or transmutes as if by distillation < philosophy...filtered through the alembic of Plato's mind -- B. T. Shropshire >
Pronunciation: &-'lem-bik
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French alambic & Medieval Latin alembicum, from Arabic al-anbIq, from al the + anbIq still, from Late Greek ambik-, ambix alembic, from Greek, cap of a still
1 : an apparatus used in distillation
2 : something that refines or transmutes as if by distillation < philosophy...filtered through the alembic of Plato's mind -- B. T. Shropshire >
eructation
Main Entry: eruc·ta·tion
Pronunciation: i-"r&k-'tA-sh&n, "E-
Function: noun
: an act or instance of belching
Pronunciation: i-"r&k-'tA-sh&n, "E-
Function: noun
: an act or instance of belching
incondite
Main Entry: in·con·dite
Pronunciation: in-'kän-d&t, -"dIt
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin inconditus, from in- + conditus, past participle of condere to put together, from com- + -dere to put -- more at DO
: badly put together : CRUDE
Pronunciation: in-'kän-d&t, -"dIt
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin inconditus, from in- + conditus, past participle of condere to put together, from com- + -dere to put -- more at DO
: badly put together : CRUDE
anent
Main Entry: anent
Pronunciation: &-'nent
Function: preposition
Etymology: Middle English onevent, anent, from Old English on efen alongside, from on + efen even
: ABOUT, CONCERNING
Pronunciation: &-'nent
Function: preposition
Etymology: Middle English onevent, anent, from Old English on efen alongside, from on + efen even
: ABOUT, CONCERNING
nacre
Main Entry: na·cre
Pronunciation: 'nA-k&r
Function: noun
Etymology: French, from Middle French, from Old Italian naccara drum, nacre, from Arabic naqqAra drum
: MOTHER-OF-PEARL
Pronunciation: 'nA-k&r
Function: noun
Etymology: French, from Middle French, from Old Italian naccara drum, nacre, from Arabic naqqAra drum
: MOTHER-OF-PEARL
phocine
phocine |ˈfōsīn; ˈfōsin| adjective Zoology of, relating to, or affecting the true (earless) seals.
winsome
Main Entry: win·some
Pronunciation: 'win(t)-s&m
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English winsum, from Old English wynsum, from wynn joy; akin to Old High German wunna joy, Latin venus desire -- more at WIN
1 : generally pleasing and engaging often because of a childlike charm and innocence < a winsome smile >
2 : CHEERFUL, LIGHTHEARTED
- win·some·ly adverb
- win·some·ness noun
Pronunciation: 'win(t)-s&m
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English winsum, from Old English wynsum, from wynn joy; akin to Old High German wunna joy, Latin venus desire -- more at WIN
1 : generally pleasing and engaging often because of a childlike charm and innocence < a winsome smile >
2 : CHEERFUL, LIGHTHEARTED
- win·some·ly adverb
- win·some·ness noun
inveigle
Main Entry: in·vei·gle
Pronunciation: in-'vA-g&l sometimes -'vE-
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): in·vei·gled; in·vei·gling /-g(&-)li[ng]/
Etymology: Anglo-French enveegler, aveogler, avogler to blind, hoodwink, from avogle, enveugle blind, from Medieval Latin ab oculis, literally, lacking eyes
1 : to win over by wiles : ENTICE
2 : to acquire by ingenuity or flattery : WANGLE
synonym see LURE
- in·vei·gle·ment /-g&l-m&nt/ noun
- in·vei·gler /-g(&-)l&r/ noun
Pronunciation: in-'vA-g&l sometimes -'vE-
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): in·vei·gled; in·vei·gling /-g(&-)li[ng]/
Etymology: Anglo-French enveegler, aveogler, avogler to blind, hoodwink, from avogle, enveugle blind, from Medieval Latin ab oculis, literally, lacking eyes
1 : to win over by wiles : ENTICE
2 : to acquire by ingenuity or flattery : WANGLE
synonym see LURE
- in·vei·gle·ment /-g&l-m&nt/ noun
- in·vei·gler /-g(&-)l&r/ noun
poltroon
Main Entry: 1pol·troon
Pronunciation: päl-'trün
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle French poultron, from Old Italian poltrone, probably akin to poltro colt, ultimately from Latin pullus young of an animal -- more at FOAL
: a spiritless coward : CRAVEN
Pronunciation: päl-'trün
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle French poultron, from Old Italian poltrone, probably akin to poltro colt, ultimately from Latin pullus young of an animal -- more at FOAL
: a spiritless coward : CRAVEN
fey
Main Entry: fey
Pronunciation: 'fA
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English feye, from Old English f[AE]ge; akin to Old High German feigi doomed and perhaps to Old English fAh hostile, outlawed -- more at FOE
1 a chiefly Scottish : fated to die : DOOMED b : marked by a foreboding of death or calamity
2 a : able to see into the future : VISIONARY b : marked by an otherworldly air or attitude c : CRAZY, TOUCHED
3 a : excessively refined : PRECIOUS b : quaintly unconventional : CAMPY
- fey·ly adverb
- fey·ness noun
Pronunciation: 'fA
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English feye, from Old English f[AE]ge; akin to Old High German feigi doomed and perhaps to Old English fAh hostile, outlawed -- more at FOE
1 a chiefly Scottish : fated to die : DOOMED b : marked by a foreboding of death or calamity
2 a : able to see into the future : VISIONARY b : marked by an otherworldly air or attitude c : CRAZY, TOUCHED
3 a : excessively refined : PRECIOUS b : quaintly unconventional : CAMPY
- fey·ly adverb
- fey·ness noun
sibilant
Main Entry: 1sib·i·lant
Pronunciation: 'si-b&-l&nt
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin sibilant-, sibilans, present participle of sibilare to hiss, whistle, of imitative origin
: having, containing, or producing the sound of or a sound resembling that of the s or the sh in sash < a sibilant affricate > < a sibilant snake >
- sib·i·lant·ly adverb
Pronunciation: 'si-b&-l&nt
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin sibilant-, sibilans, present participle of sibilare to hiss, whistle, of imitative origin
: having, containing, or producing the sound of or a sound resembling that of the s or the sh in sash < a sibilant affricate > < a sibilant snake >
- sib·i·lant·ly adverb
ribald
Main Entry: 2ribald
Function: adjective
1 : CRUDE, OFFENSIVE
2 : characterized by or using coarse indecent humor
synonym see COARSE
Function: adjective
1 : CRUDE, OFFENSIVE
2 : characterized by or using coarse indecent humor
synonym see COARSE
opalescent
Main Entry: opal·es·cent
Pronunciation: "O-p&-'le-s&nt
Function: adjective
: reflecting an iridescent light
- opal·es·cence /-s&n(t)s/ noun
- opal·es·cent·ly /-s&nt-lE/ adverb
Pronunciation: "O-p&-'le-s&nt
Function: adjective
: reflecting an iridescent light
- opal·es·cence /-s&n(t)s/ noun
- opal·es·cent·ly /-s&nt-lE/ adverb
solipsism
Main Entry: so·lip·sism
Pronunciation: 'sO-l&p-"si-z&m, 'sä-
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin solus alone + ipse self
: a theory holding that the self can know nothing but its own modifications and that the self is the only existent thing; also : extreme egocentrism
- so·lip·sist /'sO-l&p-sist, 'sä-l&p-, s&-'lip-/ noun
- so·lip·sis·tic /"sO-l&p-'sis-tik, "sä-/ adjective
- so·lip·sis·ti·cal·ly /-ti-k(&-)lE/ adverb
Pronunciation: 'sO-l&p-"si-z&m, 'sä-
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin solus alone + ipse self
: a theory holding that the self can know nothing but its own modifications and that the self is the only existent thing; also : extreme egocentrism
- so·lip·sist /'sO-l&p-sist, 'sä-l&p-, s&-'lip-/ noun
- so·lip·sis·tic /"sO-l&p-'sis-tik, "sä-/ adjective
- so·lip·sis·ti·cal·ly /-ti-k(&-)lE/ adverb
redolent
Main Entry: red·o·lent
Pronunciation: -l&nt
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin redolent-, redolens, present participle of redolEre to emit a scent, from re-, red- + olEre to smell -- more at ODOR
1 : exuding fragrance : AROMATIC
2 a : full of a specified fragrance : SCENTED b : EVOCATIVE, SUGGESTIVE < a city redolent of antiquity >
synonym see ODOROUS
- red·o·lent·ly adverb
Pronunciation: -l&nt
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin redolent-, redolens, present participle of redolEre to emit a scent, from re-, red- + olEre to smell -- more at ODOR
1 : exuding fragrance : AROMATIC
2 a : full of a specified fragrance : SCENTED
synonym see ODOROUS
- red·o·lent·ly adverb
expiate
Main Entry: ex·pi·ate
Pronunciation: 'ek-spE-"At
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): -at·ed; -at·ing
Etymology: Latin expiatus, past participle of expiare to atone for, from ex- + piare to atone for, appease, from pius faithful, pious
transitive verb
1 obsolete : to put an end to
2 a : to extinguish the guilt incurred by b : to make amends for
intransitive verb : to make expiation
- ex·pi·a·ble /'ek-spE-&-b&l/ adjective
- ex·pi·a·tor /-spE-"A-t&r/ noun
Pronunciation: 'ek-spE-"At
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): -at·ed; -at·ing
Etymology: Latin expiatus, past participle of expiare to atone for, from ex- + piare to atone for, appease, from pius faithful, pious
transitive verb
1 obsolete : to put an end to
2 a : to extinguish the guilt incurred by b : to make amends for
intransitive verb : to make expiation
- ex·pi·a·ble /'ek-spE-&-b&l/ adjective
- ex·pi·a·tor /-spE-"A-t&r/ noun
apotheosis
Main Entry: apo·the·o·sis
Pronunciation: &-"pä-thE-'O-s&s, "a-p&-'thE-&-s&s
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural apo·the·o·ses /-"sEz/
Etymology: Late Latin, from Greek apotheOsis, from apotheoun to deify, from apo- + theos god
1 : elevation to divine status : DEIFICATION
2 : the perfect example : QUINTESSENCE
- apo·the·o·size /"a-p&-'thE-&-"sIz, &-'pä-thE-&-/ transitive verb
Pronunciation: &-"pä-thE-'O-s&s, "a-p&-'thE-&-s&s
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural apo·the·o·ses /-"sEz/
Etymology: Late Latin, from Greek apotheOsis, from apotheoun to deify, from apo- + theos god
1 : elevation to divine status : DEIFICATION
2 : the perfect example : QUINTESSENCE
- apo·the·o·size /"a-p&-'thE-&-"sIz, &-'pä-thE-&-/ transitive verb
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