Word of the Day 2.18.09

dowager

dow·a·ger (dou-jr)

n.

1. A widow who holds a title or property derived from her deceased husband.

2. An elderly woman of high social station.

[Obsolete French `douagière`, from `douage`, dower, from `douer`, to endow, from Latin `dtre`, from `ds, dt-`, dowry; see `d-` 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. dowager – a widow holding property received from her deceased husband

widow, widow woman – a woman whose husband is dead especially one who has not remarried

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

Posted on February 18, 2009 by admin

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Word of the Day 2.17.09

maudlin

maud·lin (môdln)

adj.

Effusively or tearfully sentimental: “displayed an almost maudlin concern for the welfare of animals” Aldous Huxley.sentimental.

See Synonyms at

[Alteration of (Mary) Magdalene, who was frequently depicted as a tearful penitent.]

maudlin·ly adv.

maudlin·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. maudlin – effusively or insincerely emotional; “a bathetic novel”; “maudlin expressions of sympathy”; “mushy effusiveness”; “a schmaltzy song”; “sentimental soap operas”; “slushy poetry”

hokey, kitschy, mawkish, schmaltzy, schmalzy, bathetic, sentimental, slushy, soppy, soupy, mushy, drippy

emotional – of more than usual emotion; “his behavior was highly emotional”

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

Posted on February 17, 2009 by admin

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Word of the Day 2.16.09

gasconade

gas·con·ade (gsk-nd)

n.

Boastfulness; bravado.

[French `gasconnade`, from `Gascon`, Gascon; see Gascon.]

gascon·ade v.

gascon·ader 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.

Noun 1. gasconade – an instance of boastful talk; “his brag is worse than his fight”; “whenever he won we were exposed to his gasconade”

brag, bragging, crowing, line-shooting, vaporing, crow

boast, boasting, jactitation, self-praise – speaking of yourself in superlatives

Verb 1. gasconade – show off

boast, brag, shoot a line, vaunt, tout, gas, bluster, swash, blow

puff – speak in a blustering or scornful manner; “A puffing kind of man”

exaggerate, hyperbolise, hyperbolize, overstate, amplify, magnify, overdraw – to enlarge beyond bounds or the truth; “tended to romanticize and exaggerate this `gracious Old South’ imagery”

crow, gloat, triumph – dwell on with satisfaction

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

Posted on February 16, 2009 by admin

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Word of the Day 2.15.09

abstemious

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.

Adj. 1. abstemious – sparing in consumption of especially food and drink; “the pleasures of the table, never of much consequence to one naturally abstemious”- John Galsworthy

nonindulgent, strict – characterized by strictness, severity, or restraint

gluttonous – given to excess in consumption of especially food or drink; “over-fed women and their gluttonous husbands”; “a gluttonous debauch”; “a gluttonous appetite for food and praise and pleasure”

2. abstemious – marked by temperance in indulgence; “abstemious with the use of adverbs”; “a light eater”; “a light smoker”; “ate a light supper”

light

temperate – not extreme in behavior; “temperate in his habits”; “a temperate response to an insult”; “temperate in his eating and drinking”

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

Posted on February 15, 2009 by admin

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Word of the Day 2.14.09

reticence

ret·i·cence (rt-sns)

n.

1. The state or quality of being reticent; reserve.

2. The state or quality of being reluctant; unwillingness.

3. An instance of being reticent.

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. reticence – the trait of being uncommunicative; not volunteering anything more than necessary

taciturnity, reserve

uncommunicativeness – the trait of being uncommunicative

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

Posted on February 14, 2009 by admin

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Word of the Day 2.13.09

cudgel

cudg·el (kjl)

n.

A short heavy stick; a club.

tr.v. cudg·eled or cudg·elled, cudg·el·ing or cudg·el·ling, cudg·els

To beat or strike with or as if with a cudgel.

[Middle English `cuggel`, from Old English `cycgel`.]

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. cudgel – a club that is used as a weapon

bastinado – a cudgel used to give someone a beating on the soles of the feet

club – stout stick that is larger at one end; “he carried a club in self defense”; “he felt as if he had been hit with a club”

shillalah, shillelagh – a cudgel made of hardwood (usually oak or blackthorn)

Verb

1. cudgel – strike with a cudgel

fustigate

hit – deal a blow to, either with the hand or with an instrument; “He hit her hard in the face”

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

Posted on February 13, 2009 by admin

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Word of the Day 2.12.09

quay

quay (k, k)

n.

A wharf or reinforced bank where ships are loaded or unloaded.

[Middle English `keye`, from Old North French `cai`, of Celtic origin.]

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. quay – wharf usually built parallel to the shoreline

pier, wharf, wharfage, dock – a platform built out from the shore into the water and supported by piles; provides access to ships and boats

Posted on February 12, 2009 by admin

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Word of the Day 2.11.09

flaxen

flax·en (flksn)

adj.

1. Made of or resembling flax.

2. Having the pale grayish-yellow color of flax fiber: flaxen braids.

Adj. 1. flaxen – of hair color; pale yellowish to yellowish brown; “flaxen locks”

sandy

blond, blonde, light-haired – being or having light colored skin and hair and usually blue or grey eyes; “blond Scandinavians”; “a house full of light-haired children”

Posted on February 11, 2009 by admin

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Word of the Day 2.10.09

hoyden

hoy·den (hoidn)

n.

A high-spirited, boisterous, or saucy girl.

adj.

High-spirited; boisterous.

[From earlier `hoyden`, a rude youth, probably from Dutch `heiden`, heathen, boor, from Middle Dutch; see `kaito-` in Indo-European roots.]

hoyden·ish adj.

Noun 1. hoyden – a girl who behaves in a boyish manner

tomboy, romp

fille, girl, miss, missy, young lady, young woman – a young woman; “a young lady of 18″

Posted on February 10, 2009 by admin

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Word of the Day 2.9.09

crone

crone (krn)

n.

An ugly, withered old woman; a hag.

[Middle English, from Old North French `carogne`, carrion, cantankerous woman, from Vulgar Latin `carnia`, carrion, from Latin `car, carn-`, flesh*; see `sker-`¹ in Indo-European roots.]

Noun 1. crone – an ugly evil-looking old woman

beldam, beldame, hag, witch

old woman – a woman who is old

Posted on February 9, 2009 by admin

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Noun	1.	gasconade – an instance of boastful talk; “his brag is worse than his fight”; “whenever he won we were exposed to his gasconade” brag, bragging, crowing, line-shooting, vaporing, crow boast, boasting, jactitation, self-praise – speaking of yourself in superlatives
Verb	1.	gasconade – show off boast, brag, shoot a line, vaunt, tout, gas, bluster, swash, blow puff – speak in a blustering or scornful manner; “A puffing kind of man” exaggerate, hyperbolise, hyperbolize, overstate, amplify, magnify, overdraw – to enlarge beyond bounds or the truth; “tended to romanticize and exaggerate this `gracious Old South’ imagery” crow, gloat, triumph – dwell on with satisfaction

Adj.	1.	abstemious – sparing in consumption of especially food and drink; “the pleasures of the table, never of much consequence to one naturally abstemious”- John Galsworthy nonindulgent, strict – characterized by strictness, severity, or restraint gluttonous – given to excess in consumption of especially food or drink; “over-fed women and their gluttonous husbands”; “a gluttonous debauch”; “a gluttonous appetite for food and praise and pleasure”
	2.	abstemious – marked by temperance in indulgence; “abstemious with the use of adverbs”; “a light eater”; “a light smoker”; “ate a light supper” light temperate – not extreme in behavior; “temperate in his habits”; “a temperate response to an insult”; “temperate in his eating and drinking”

cockcrow
Definition:	The first light of day.
Synonyms:	aurora, break of day, dawn, daybreak, dayspring, first light, sunrise, sunup, morning

S	M	T	W	T	F	S
« Jan				Mar »
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
8	9	10	11	12	13	14
15	16	17	18	19	20	21
22	23	24	25	26	27	28

dow·a·ger  (dou-jr)

n.

1. A widow who holds a title or property derived from her deceased husband.

2. An elderly woman of high social station.

[Obsolete French douagière, from douage, dower, from douer, to endow, from Latin dtre, from ds, dt-, dowry; see d- 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. dowager – a widow holding property received from her deceased husband widow, widow woman – a woman whose husband is dead especially one who has not remarried

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

maud·lin  (môdln)

adj.

Effusively or tearfully sentimental: “displayed an almost maudlin concern for the welfare of animals” Aldous Huxley.sentimental.

[Alteration of (Mary) Magdalene, who was frequently depicted as a tearful penitent.]

maudlin·ly adv.

maudlin·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.

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

gas·con·ade  (gsk-nd)

n.

Boastfulness; bravado.

[French gasconnade, from Gascon, Gascon; see Gascon.]

gascon·ade v.

gascon·ader 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.

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

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.

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

ret·i·cence  (rt-sns)

n.

1. The state or quality of being reticent; reserve.

2. The state or quality of being reluctant; unwillingness.

3. An instance of being reticent.

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. reticence – the trait of being uncommunicative; not volunteering anything more than necessary taciturnity, reserve uncommunicativeness – the trait of being uncommunicative

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

cudg·el  (kjl)

n.

A short heavy stick; a club.

tr.v. cudg·eled or cudg·elled, cudg·el·ing or cudg·el·ling, cudg·els

To beat or strike with or as if with a cudgel.

[Middle English cuggel, from Old English cycgel.]

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.

cudgel – a club that is used as a weapon

bastinado – a cudgel used to give someone a beating on the soles of the feet

club – stout stick that is larger at one end; “he carried a club in self defense”; “he felt as if he had been hit with a club”

shillalah, shillelagh – a cudgel made of hardwood (usually oak or blackthorn)

Verb

1.

cudgel – strike with a cudgel

hit – deal a blow to, either with the hand or with an instrument; “He hit her hard in the face”

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

quay  (k, k)

n.

A wharf or reinforced bank where ships are loaded or unloaded.

[Middle English keye, from Old North French cai, of Celtic origin.]

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. quay – wharf usually built parallel to the shoreline pier, wharf, wharfage, dock – a platform built out from the shore into the water and supported by piles; provides access to ships and boats

dow·a·ger (dou-jr)

[Obsolete French `douagière`, from `douage`, dower, from `douer`, to endow, from Latin `dtre`, from `ds, dt-`, dowry; see `d-` in Indo-European roots.]

Noun 1. dowager – a widow holding property received from her deceased husband

widow, widow woman – a woman whose husband is dead especially one who has not remarried

maud·lin (môdln)

gas·con·ade (gsk-nd)

[French `gasconnade`, from `Gascon`, Gascon; see Gascon.]

ab·ste·mi·ous (b-stm-s, b-)

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

ret·i·cence (rt-sns)

Noun 1. reticence – the trait of being uncommunicative; not volunteering anything more than necessary

taciturnity, reserve

uncommunicativeness – the trait of being uncommunicative

cudg·el (kjl)

[Middle English `cuggel`, from Old English `cycgel`.]

quay (k, k)

[Middle English `keye`, from Old North French `cai`, of Celtic origin.]

Noun 1. quay – wharf usually built parallel to the shoreline

pier, wharf, wharfage, dock – a platform built out from the shore into the water and supported by piles; provides access to ships and boats

flax·en (flksn)

Adj. 1. flaxen – of hair color; pale yellowish to yellowish brown; “flaxen locks”

sandy

blond, blonde, light-haired – being or having light colored skin and hair and usually blue or grey eyes; “blond Scandinavians”; “a house full of light-haired children”