Word of the Day 9.30.08

affable

af·fa·ble (f-bl)

adj.

1. Easy and pleasant to speak to; approachable.

2. Gentle and gracious: an affable smile.


[Middle English affabil, from Old French affable, from Latin affbilis, from affr, to speak to : ad-, ad- + fr, to speak; see bh-2 in Indo-European roots.]


affa·bili·ty n.

affa·bly adv.

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.

Adj. 1. affable – diffusing warmth and friendliness; “an affable smile”; “an amiable gathering”; “cordial relations”; “a cordial greeting”; “a genial host”

friendly – characteristic of or befitting a friend; “friendly advice”; “a friendly neighborhood”; “the only friendly person here”; “a friendly host and hostess”

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2008 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

Posted on September 30, 2008 by admin

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Word of the Day 9.29.08

perambulate

per·am·bu·late (p-rmby-lt)

v. per·am·bu·lat·ed, per·am·bu·lat·ing, per·am·bu·lates

v.tr.

1. To walk through.

2. To inspect (an area) on foot.

v.intr.

To walk about; roam or stroll.


[Latin perambulre, perambult- : per-, per- + ambulre, to walk; see ambhi in Indo-European roots.]


per·ambu·lation n.

per·ambu·la·tory (-l-tôr, -tr) adj.

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.

Verb 1. perambulate – make an official inspection on foot of (the bounds of a property); “Selectmen are required by law to perambulate the bounds every five years”

inspect – look over carefully; “Please inspect your father’s will carefully”
2. perambulate – walk with no particular goal; “we were walking around in the garden”; “after breakfast, she walked about in the park”

walk – use one’s feet to advance; advance by steps; “Walk, don’t run!”; “We walked instead of driving”; “She walks with a slight limp”; “The patient cannot walk yet”; “Walk over to the cabinet”

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2008 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

Posted on September 29, 2008 by admin

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Word of the Day 9.28.08

pallor 

pal·lor  (plr)

n.

Extreme or unnatural paleness.




[Middle English pallour, from Old French palor, from Latin pallor, from pallre, to be pale; see pel-1 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.

Noun 1. pallor – unnatural lack of color in the skin (as from bruising or sickness or emotional distress)

complexion, skin color, skin colour – the coloring of a person’s face

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2008 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

Posted on September 28, 2008 by admin

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Word of the Day 9.27.08

ab·ste·mi·ous (b-stm-s, b-)

adj.

1. Eating and drinking in moderation.

2.

a. Sparingly used or consumed: abstemious meals.

b. Restricted to bare necessities: an abstemious way of life.


[From Latin abstmius : abs-, ab-, away; see ab-1 + *tmum, liquor, variant of tmtum.]


ab·stemi·ous·ly adv.

ab·stemi·ous·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.

Posted on September 27, 2008 by admin

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Word of the Day 9.26.08

diaphanous

di·aph·a·nous (d-f-ns)

adj.

1. Of such fine texture as to be transparent or translucent: diaphanous tulle.

2. Characterized by delicacy of form. See Synonyms at airy.

3. Vague or insubstantial: diaphanous dreams of glory.


[From Medieval Latin diaphanus, transparent, from Greek diaphans, from diaphainein, to be transparentdia-, dia- + phainein, phan-, to show; see bh-1 in Indo-European roots.]

:


dia·pha·nei·ty (d-f-n-t), di·apha·nous·ness n.

di·apha·nous·ly adv.

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.

Posted on September 26, 2008 by admin

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Word of the Day 9.25.08

ameliorate

a·mel·io·rate (-mly-rt)

tr. & intr.v. a·me·lio·rat·ed, a·me·lio·rat·ing, a·me·lio·rates

To make or become better; improve. See Synonyms at improve.


[Alteration of meliorate.]


a·melio·ra·ble (-r-bl) adj.

a·melio·rative adj.

a·melio·rator 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.

Posted on September 25, 2008 by admin

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Word of the Day 9.24.08

Brusqueness

brusque also brusk (brsk)

adj.

Abrupt and curt in manner or speech; discourteously blunt. See Synonyms at gruff.


[French, lively, fierce, from Italian brusco, coarse, rough, from Late Latin brscum, perhaps blend of Latin rscus, butcher's broom, and Late Latin brcus, heather; see briar1.]


brusquely adv.

brusqueness 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.

Posted on September 24, 2008 by admin

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Word of the Day 9.23.08

abeyance

a·bey·ance (-bns)

n.

1. The condition of being temporarily set aside; suspension: held the plan in abeyance.

2. Law A condition of undetermined ownership, as of an estate that has not yet been assigned.


[Anglo-Norman, variant of Old French abeance, desire, from abaer, to gape at : a-, at (from Latin ad-; see ad-) + baer, to gape; see bay2.]


a·beyant adj.

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.

Posted on September 23, 2008 by admin

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Word of the Day 9.22.08

feckless

feck·less (fkls)

adj.

1. Lacking purpose or vitality; feeble or ineffective.

2. Careless and irresponsible.


[Scots feck, effect (alteration of effect) + -less.]


feckless·ly adv.

feckless·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.

Adj. 1. feckless – not fit to assume responsibility

irresponsible – showing lack of care for consequences; “behaved like an irresponsible idiot”; “hasty and irresponsible action”
2. feckless – generally incompetent and ineffectual; “feckless attempts to repair the plumbing”; “inept handling of the account”

incompetent – not qualified or suited for a purpose; “an incompetent secret service”; “the filming was hopeless incompetent”

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2008 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

Posted on September 22, 2008 by admin

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Word of the Day 9.21.08

affronted

af·front (-frnt)

tr.v. af·front·ed, af·front·ing, af·fronts

1. To insult intentionally, especially openly. See Synonyms at offend.

2.

a. To meet defiantly; confront.

b. Obsolete To meet or encounter face to face.

n.

1. An open or intentional offense, slight, or insult: Such behavior is an affront to society.

2. Obsolete A hostile encounter or meeting.


[Middle English afrounten, from Old French afronter : Latin ad-, ad- + Latin frns, front-, face; see front.]

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.

Posted on September 21, 2008 by admin

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