Word of the Day 9.20.08

blanched

blanch (blnch) also blench (blnch)

v. blanched also blenched, blanch·ing also blench·ing, blanch·es also blench·es

v.tr.

1. To take the color from; bleach.

2. To whiten (a growing plant or plant part) by covering to cut off direct light.

3. To whiten (a metal) by soaking in acid or by coating with tin.

4.

a. To scald (almonds, for example) in order to loosen the skin.

b. To scald (food) briefly, as before freezing or as a preliminary stage in preparing a dish.

5. To cause to turn white or become pale.

v.intr.

To turn white or become pale: Their faces blanched in terror.


[Middle English blaunchen, to make white, from Old French blanchir, from blanche, feminine of blanc, white, of Germanic origin; see bhel-1 in Indo-European roots.]

Adj.

1.

blanched – anemic looking from illness or emotion; “a face turned ashen”; “the invalid’s blanched cheeks”; “tried to speak with bloodless lips”; “a face livid with shock”; “lips…livid with the hue of death”- Mary W. Shelley; “lips white with terror”; “a face white with rage”

colorless, colourless – weak in color; not colorful

2.

blanched – (especially of plants) developed without chlorophyll by being deprived of light; “etiolated celery”

plant life, flora, plant – (botany) a living organism lacking the power of locomotion

colorless, colourless – weak in color; not colorful

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

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Posted on September 20, 2008 by admin

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Word of the Day 9.19.08

ac·me (km)

n.

The highest point, as of achievement or development: reached the acme of her career. See Synonyms at summit.


[Greek akm; see ak- 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.

acmeacme – the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development; “his landscapes were deemed the acme of beauty”; “the artist’s gifts are at their acme”; “at the height of her career”; “the peak of perfection”; “summer was at its peak”; “…catapulted Einstein to the pinnacle of fame”; “the summit of his ambition”; “so many highest superlatives achieved by man”; “at the top of his profession”

degree, stage, level, point – a specific identifiable position in a continuum or series or especially in a process; “a remarkable degree of frankness”; “at what stage are the social sciences?”

2.

acmeacme – the highest point (of something); “at the peak of the pyramid”

crown – the part of a hat (the vertex) that covers the crown of the head

roof peak – the highest point of a roof

extreme point, extremum, extreme – the point located farthest from the middle of something

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

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Posted on September 18, 2008 by admin

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Word of the Day 9.18.08

irresolute

ir·res·o·lute (-rz-lt)

adj.

1. Unsure of how to act or proceed; undecided.

2. Lacking in resolution; indecisive.


ir·reso·lutely adv.

ir·reso·luteness, ir·reso·lution 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. irresolute – uncertain how to act or proceed; “the committee was timid and mediocre and irresolute”

indecisive – not definitely settling something; “a long and indecisive war”
resolute – firm in purpose or belief; characterized by firmness and determination; “stood resolute against the enemy”; “faced with a resolute opposition”; “a resolute and unshakeable faith”

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

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Posted on September 18, 2008 by admin

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Word of the Day 9.17.08

acerbity

a·cer·bi·ty (-sûrb-t)

n. pl. a·cer·bi·ties

Sourness or acidness of taste, character, or tone.

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.

acerbity – a sharp bitterness

bitter, bitterness – the property of having a harsh unpleasant taste

 

2.

acerbityacerbity – a sharp sour taste

acidity, sourness, sour – the property of being acidic

 

3.

acerbity – a rough and bitter manner

disagreeableness – an ill-tempered and offensive disposition

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

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Posted on September 17, 2008 by admin

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Word of the Day 9.16.08

ru·mi·nate (rm-nt)

v. ru·mi·nat·ed, ru·mi·nat·ing, ru·mi·nates

v.intr.

1. To turn a matter over and over in the mind.

2. To chew cud.

v.tr.

To reflect on over and over again.


[Latin rminre, rmint-, from rmen, rmin-, throat.]


rumi·native adj.

rumi·native·ly adv.

rumi·nator 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.


ruminate

Verb

[-nating, -nated]

1. (of ruminants) to chew (the cud)

2. to meditate or ponder [Latin ruminare to chew the cud]

rumination n

ruminative adj

Collins Essential English Dictionary 2nd Edition 2006 © HarperCollins Publishers 2004, 2006

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Posted on September 16, 2008 by admin

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Word of the Day 9.15.08

vir·u·lent (vîry-lnt, vîr-)

adj.

1.

a. Extremely infectious, malignant, or poisonous. Used of a disease or toxin.

b. Capable of causing disease by breaking down protective mechanisms of the host. Used of a pathogen.

2. Bitterly hostile or antagonistic; hateful: virulent criticism. See Synonyms at poisonous.

3. Intensely irritating, obnoxious, or harsh.


[Middle English, from Latin vrulentus, from vrus, poison.]


viru·lence, viru·len·cy n.

viru·lent·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.

virulent [vir-yew-lent]

Adjective

1. extremely bitter or hostile

2.

a. (of a microorganism) very infectious

b. (of a disease) having a violent effect

3. extremely poisonous or harmful: the most virulent poison known to man [Latin virulentus full of poison]

virulence n

Collins Essential English Dictionary 2nd Edition 2006 © HarperCollins Publishers 2004, 2006

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Posted on September 15, 2008 by admin

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Word of the Day 9.14.08

grot·to (grt)

n. pl. grot·toes or grot·tos

1. A small cave or cavern.

2. An artificial structure or excavation made to resemble a cave or cavern.


[Alteration of Italian grotta, from Vulgar Latin *grupta, from Latin crypta, vault; see crypt.]

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.

ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

Noun

1.

grottogrotto – a small cave (usually with attractive features)

cave – a geological formation consisting of an underground enclosure with access from the surface of the ground or from the sea

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

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Posted on September 14, 2008 by admin

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Word of the Day 9.13.08

caustic

caus·tic (kôstk)

adj.

1. Capable of burning, corroding, dissolving, or eating away by chemical action.

2. Corrosive and bitingly trenchant; cutting. See Synonyms at sarcastic.

3. Causing a burning or stinging sensation, as from intense emotion: “Most of all, there is caustic shame for my own stupidity” Scott Turow.

n.

1. A caustic material or substance.

2. A hydroxide of a light metal.

3. The enveloping surface formed by light rays reflecting or refracting from a curved surface, especially one with spherical aberration.


[Middle English caustik, from Latin causticus, from Greek kaustikos, from kaustos, from kaiein, kau-, to burn.]


causti·cal·ly adv.

caus·tici·ty (kô-sts-t) 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.

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Posted on September 13, 2008 by admin

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Word of the Day 9.12.08

prevarication

pre·var·i·cate (pr-vr-kt)

intr.v. pre·var·i·cat·ed, pre·var·i·cat·ing, pre·var·i·cates

To stray from or evade the truth; equivocate. See Synonyms at lie2.


[Latin praevricr, praevrict- : prae-, pre- + vricre, to straddle (from vricus, straddling, from vrus, bent).]


pre·vari·cation n.

pre·vari·cator 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.

ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

Noun

1.

prevaricationprevarication – a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth

lie

falsehood, untruth, falsity – a false statement

fib, taradiddle, tarradiddle, tale, story – a trivial lie; “he told a fib about eating his spinach”; “how can I stop my child from telling stories?”

jactitation – (law) a false boast that can harm others; especially a false claim to be married to someone (formerly actionable at law)

whopper, walloper – a gross untruth; a blatant lie

white lie – an unimportant lie (especially one told to be tactful or polite)

2.

prevarication – intentionally vague or ambiguous

equivocalness, ambiguity – unclearness by virtue of having more than one meaning

untruthfulness – the quality of being untruthful

3.

prevarication – the deliberate act of deviating from the truth

falsification, misrepresentation – a willful perversion of facts

fibbing, paltering – a trivial act of lying or being deliberately unclear

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

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Posted on September 12, 2008 by admin

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Word of the Day 8.11.08

desultory

des·ul·to·ry (dsl-tôr, -tr, dz-)

adj.

1. Moving or jumping from one thing to another; disconnected: a desultory speech.

2. Occurring haphazardly; random. See Synonyms at chance.


[Latin dsultrius, leaping, from dsultor, a leaper, from dsultus, past participle of dsilre, to leap down : d-, de- + salre, to jump; see sel- in Indo-European roots.]


desul·tori·ly adv.

desul·tori·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.


desultory [dez-zl-tree]

Adjective

1. passing or jumping from one thing to another; disconnected: desultory conversation

2. occurring in a random way: a desultory thought [Latin de- from + salire to jump]

desultorily adv

Collins Essential English Dictionary 2nd Edition 2006 © HarperCollins Publishers 2004, 2006

ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

Adj.

1.

desultory – marked by lack of definite plan or regularity or purpose; jumping from one thing to another; “desultory thoughts”; “the desultory conversation characteristic of cocktail parties”

purposeless – not evidencing any purpose or goal

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

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Posted on September 11, 2008 by admin

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