Word of the Day 6.9.08

trans·mog·ri·fy (trns-mgr-f, trnz-)

tr.v. trans·mog·ri·fied, trans·mog·ri·fy·ing, trans·mog·ri·fies

To change into a different shape or form, especially one that is fantastic or bizarre. See Synonyms at convert.

[Origin unknown.]

trans·mogri·fi·cation (-f-kshn) n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Share

Posted on June 9, 2008 by admin

Filed under Word of the Day | | No Comments »

Word of the Day 6.8.08

ex·i·gu·i·ty (ks-gy-t)

n.

The quality or condition of being scanty or meager.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Share

Posted on June 8, 2008 by admin

Filed under Word of the Day | | No Comments »

Word of the Day 6.7.08

lo·gi·on (lg-n)

n. pl. lo·gi·a (-g-) Bible

1. A saying attributed to Jesus in the Gospels or in other ancient sources.

2. One of a collection of sayings of Jesus reputedly in circulation in the early Church, most of which are not recorded in the Gospels but which may have belonged to the source material from which the Gospels were compiled.

[Greek, oracle, from legein, to speak; see leg- in Indo-European roots.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Share

Posted on June 7, 2008 by admin

Filed under Word of the Day | | No Comments »

Word of the Day 6.6.08

rep·ro·bate (rpr-bt)

n.

1. A morally unprincipled person.

2. One who is predestined to damnation.

adj.

1. Morally unprincipled; shameless.

2. Rejected by God and without hope of salvation.

tr.v. rep·ro·bat·ed, rep·ro·bat·ing, rep·ro·bates

1. To disapprove of; condemn.

2. To abandon to eternal damnation. Used of God.

[From Middle English, condemned, from Late Latin reprobtus, past participle of reprobre, to reprove : Latin re-, opposite; see re- + Latin probre, to approve; see prove.]

repro·bation n.

repro·bative adj.

Share

Posted on June 6, 2008 by admin

Filed under Word of the Day | | No Comments »

Word of the Day 6.5.08

vis·cous (vsks)

adj.

1. Having relatively high resistance to flow.

2. Viscid; sticky.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin viscsus; see viscose.]

viscous·ly adv.

viscous·ness n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Share

Posted on June 5, 2008 by admin

Filed under Word of the Day | | No Comments »

Word of the Day 6.4.08

gain·say (gn-s, gns)

tr.v. gain·said (-sd, -sd), gain·say·ing, gain·says (-sz, -sz)

1. To declare false; deny. See Synonyms at deny.

2. To oppose, especially by contradiction.

[Middle English gainsayen : gain-, against (from Old English gegn-) + sayen, to say (from Old English secgan; see say).]

gain·sayer n.

Share

Posted on June 4, 2008 by admin

Filed under Word of the Day | | No Comments »

Word of the Day 6.3.08

ba·nau·sic (b-nôsk, -zk)

adj.

1. Merely mechanical; routine: “a sensitive, self-conscious creature . . . in sad revolt against uncongenially banausic employment” London Magazine.

2. Of or relating to a mechanic.

Share

Posted on June 3, 2008 by admin

Filed under Word of the Day | | No Comments »

Word of the Day 6.2.08

Sven·ga·li (svn-gäl, sfn-)

n. pl. Sven·ga·lis

A person who, with evil intent, tries to persuade another to do what is desired: “a crafty Svengali who lures talented people with grand promises yet gives them little lasting operational authority” Chris Welles.

Share

Posted on June 2, 2008 by admin

Filed under Word of the Day | | No Comments »

Word of the Day 6.1.08

ret·i·cent (rt-snt)

adj.

1. Inclined to keep one’s thoughts, feelings, and personal affairs to oneself. See Synonyms at silent.

2. Restrained or reserved in style.

3. Reluctant; unwilling.

Share

Posted on June 1, 2008 by admin

Filed under Word of the Day | | No Comments »

« Previous Page