Word of the Day 2.8.09

Rheumy

rheum (rm)

n.

A watery or thin mucous discharge from the eyes or nose.

[Middle English `reume`, from Old French, from Late Latin `rheuma`, from Greek, a flowing, rheum; see `sreu-` in Indo-European roots.]

rheumy 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.

Adj. 1. rheumy – moist, damp, wet (especially of air); “the raw and theumy damp of night air”

wet – covered or soaked with a liquid such as water; “a wet bathing suit”; “wet sidewalks”; “wet weather”

2. rheumy – of or pertaining to arthritis; “my creaky old joints”; “rheumy with age and grief”

arthritic, rheumatic, rheumatoid, creaky

unhealthy – not in or exhibiting good health in body or mind; “unhealthy ulcers”

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

Posted on February 8, 2009 by admin

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Word of the Day 2.7.09

polyglot

pol·y·glot (pl-glt)

adj.

Speaking, writing, written in, or composed of several languages.

n.

1. A person having a speaking, reading, or writing knowledge of several languages.

2. A book, especially a Bible, containing several versions of the same text in different languages.

3. A mixture or confusion of languages.

[French `polyglotte`, from Greek `poluglttos` : `polu-`, poly- + `gltta`, tongue, language.]

poly·glotism, poly·glottism 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. polyglot – a person who speaks more than one language

linguist

individual, mortal, person, somebody, someone, soul – a human being; “there was too much for one person to do”

bilingual, bilingualist – a person who speaks two languages fluently

transcriber, translator – a person who translates written messages from one language to another

Adj. 1. polyglot – having a command of or composed in many languages; “a polyglot traveler”; “a polyglot Bible contains versions in different languages”

multilingual – using or knowing more than one language; “a multilingual translator”; “a multilingual nation”

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

Posted on February 7, 2009 by admin

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Word of the Day 2.6.09

coetaneous

co·e·ta·ne·ous (k-tn-s)

adj.

Of equal age, duration, or period; coeval.

[From Late Latin `coaetneus`, a contemporary : Latin `co-`, co- + Latin `aets`, age; see `aiw-` in Indo-European roots.]

coe·tane·ous·ly adv.

coe·tane·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. coetaneous – of the same period

coeval, contemporaneous

synchronal, synchronic, synchronous – occurring or existing at the same time or having the same period or phase; “recovery was synchronous with therapy”- Jour.A.M.A.; “a synchronous set of clocks”; “the synchronous action of a bird’s wings in flight”; “synchronous oscillations”

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

Posted on February 6, 2009 by admin

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Word of the Day 2.5.09

wile

wile (wl)

n.

1. A stratagem or trick intended to deceive or ensnare.

2. A disarming or seductive manner, device, or procedure: the wiles of a skilled negotiator.

3. Trickery; cunning.

tr.v. wiled, wil·ing, wiles

1. To influence or lead by means of wiles; entice.

2. To pass (time) agreeably: wile away a Sunday afternoon.

[Middle English `wil`, from Old North French, from Old Norse `vl`, trick, or of Low German origin.]

Synonyms: wile, artifice, trick, ruse, feint, stratagem, maneuver, dodge

These nouns denote means for achieving an end by indirection or deviousness. Wile suggests deceiving and entrapping a victim by playing on his or her weak points: “He did not fail to see/His uncle’s cunning wiles and treachery” William Morris.

Artifice refers to something especially contrived to create a desired effect: “Should the public forgive artifices used to avoid military service?” Godfrey Sperling.

Trick implies willful deception: “The … boys … had all sorts of tricks to prevent us from winning” W.H. Hudson.

Ruse stresses the creation of a false impression: Your pretended deafness was a ruse to enable you to learn our plans, wasn’t it?

Feint denotes a deceptive act calculated to distract attention from one’s real purpose: One person bumped into me as a feint while the other stole my wallet.

Stratagem implies carefully planned deception used to achieve an objective: The manager used ruthless stratagems to win the promotion.

Maneuver often applies to a single strategic move: “To this day they always speak of that Reform Bill as if it had been a dishonest maneuver” The Standard.

Dodge stresses shifty and ingenious deception: “‘It was all false, of course?’ ‘All, sir,’ replied Mr. Weller, ‘ … artful dodge’” Charles Dickens.

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. wile – the use of tricks to deceive someone (usually to extract money from them)

chicanery, shenanigan, trickery, guile, chicane

dissimulation, deception, dissembling, deceit – the act of deceiving

dupery, hoax, put-on, humbug, fraud, fraudulence – something intended to deceive; deliberate trickery intended to gain an advantage

jugglery – artful trickery designed to achieve an end; “the senator’s tax program was mere jugglery”

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

Posted on February 5, 2009 by admin

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Word of the Day 2.4.09

perfunctory

per·func·to·ry (pr-fngkt-r)

adj.

1. Done routinely and with little interest or care: The operator answered the phone with a perfunctory greeting.

2. Acting with indifference; showing little interest or care.

[Late Latin `perfnctrius`, from Latin `perfnctus`, past participle of `perfung`, to get through with : `per-`, per-`fung`, to perform.]

per·functo·ri·ly adv.

per·functo·ri·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. perfunctory – hasty and without attention to detail; not thorough; “a casual (or cursory) inspection failed to reveal the house’s structural flaws”; “a passing glance”; “perfunctory courtesy”

cursory, passing, casual

careless – marked by lack of attention or consideration or forethought or thoroughness; not careful; “careless about her clothes”; “forgotten by some careless person”; “a careless housekeeper”; “careless proofreading”; “it was a careless mistake”; “hurt by a careless remark”

2. perfunctory – as a formality only; “a one-candidate pro forma election”

pro forma

formal – being in accord with established forms and conventions and requirements (as e.g. of formal dress); “pay one’s formal respects”; “formal dress”; “a formal ball”; “the requirement was only formal and often ignored”; “a formal education”

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

Posted on February 4, 2009 by admin

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Word of the Day 2.3.09

trephine

tre·phine (tr-fn)

n.

A surgical instrument having circular, sawlike edges, used to cut out disks of bone, usually from the skull.

tr.v. tre·phined, tre·phin·ing, tre·phines

To operate on with a trephine.

[French `tréphine`, from obsolete English `trefine`, from Latin `trs fns`, three ends : `trs`, three; see `trei-` in Indo-European roots + `fns`, pl. of `fnis`, end.]

trephi·nation (trf-nshn) n.

Noun 1. trephine – a surgical instrument used to remove sections of bone from the skull

trepan

surgical instrument – a medical instrument used in surgery

Verb 1. trephine – operate on with a trephine

operate on, operate – perform surgery on; “The doctors operated on the patient but failed to save his life”

Posted on February 3, 2009 by admin

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Word of the Day 2.2.09

miasma

mi·as·ma (m-zm, m-)

n. pl. mi·as·mas or mi·as·ma·ta (-m-t)

1. A noxious atmosphere or influence: “The family affection, the family expectations, seemed to permeate the atmosphere . . . like a coiling miasma” Louis Auchincloss.

2. a. A poisonous atmosphere formerly thought to rise from swamps and putrid matter and cause disease.

b. A thick vaporous atmosphere or emanation: wreathed in a miasma of cigarette smoke.

[Greek, pollution, stain, from `miainein`, to pollute.]

mi·asmal, mias·matic (mz-mtk), mi·asmic (-mk) adj.

Noun 1. miasma – an unwholesome atmosphere; “the novel spun a miasma of death and decay”

miasm

ambiance, ambience, atmosphere – a particular environment or surrounding influence; “there was an atmosphere of excitement”

2. miasma – unhealthy vapors rising from the ground or other sources; “the miasma of the marshes”; “a miasma of cigar smoke”

miasm

air pollution – pollution of the atmosphere; “air pollution reduced the visibility”

Posted on February 2, 2009 by admin

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Word of the Day 2.1.09

coeval

co·e·val (k-vl)

adj.

Originating or existing during the same period; lasting through the same era.

n.

One of the same era or period; a contemporary.

[From Late Latin `coaevus` : `co-`, co- + `aevum`, age; see `aiw-` in Indo-European roots.]

co·eval·ly adv.

Noun 1. coeval – a person of nearly the same age as another

contemporary

compeer, equal, peer, match – a person who is of equal standing with another in a group

Adj. 1. coeval – of the same period

coetaneous, contemporaneous

synchronal, synchronic, synchronous – occurring or existing at the same time or having the same period or phase; “recovery was synchronous with therapy”- Jour.A.M.A.; “a synchronous set of clocks”; “the synchronous action of a bird’s wings in flight”; “synchronous oscillations”

Posted on February 1, 2009 by admin

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Adj.	1.	rheumy – moist, damp, wet (especially of air); “the raw and theumy damp of night air” wet – covered or soaked with a liquid such as water; “a wet bathing suit”; “wet sidewalks”; “wet weather”
	2.	rheumy – of or pertaining to arthritis; “my creaky old joints”; “rheumy with age and grief” arthritic, rheumatic, rheumatoid, creaky unhealthy – not in or exhibiting good health in body or mind; “unhealthy ulcers”

Noun	1.	polyglot – a person who speaks more than one language linguist individual, mortal, person, somebody, someone, soul – a human being; “there was too much for one person to do” bilingual, bilingualist – a person who speaks two languages fluently transcriber, translator – a person who translates written messages from one language to another
Adj.	1.	polyglot – having a command of or composed in many languages; “a polyglot traveler”; “a polyglot Bible contains versions in different languages” multilingual – using or knowing more than one language; “a multilingual translator”; “a multilingual nation”

Adj.	1.	perfunctory – hasty and without attention to detail; not thorough; “a casual (or cursory) inspection failed to reveal the house’s structural flaws”; “a passing glance”; “perfunctory courtesy” cursory, passing, casual careless – marked by lack of attention or consideration or forethought or thoroughness; not careful; “careless about her clothes”; “forgotten by some careless person”; “a careless housekeeper”; “careless proofreading”; “it was a careless mistake”; “hurt by a careless remark”
	2.	perfunctory – as a formality only; “a one-candidate pro forma election” pro forma formal – being in accord with established forms and conventions and requirements (as e.g. of formal dress); “pay one’s formal respects”; “formal dress”; “a formal ball”; “the requirement was only formal and often ignored”; “a formal education”

Noun	1.	trephine – a surgical instrument used to remove sections of bone from the skull trepan surgical instrument – a medical instrument used in surgery
Verb	1.	trephine – operate on with a trephine operate on, operate – perform surgery on; “The doctors operated on the patient but failed to save his life”

Noun	1.	miasma – an unwholesome atmosphere; “the novel spun a miasma of death and decay” miasm ambiance, ambience, atmosphere – a particular environment or surrounding influence; “there was an atmosphere of excitement”
	2.	miasma – unhealthy vapors rising from the ground or other sources; “the miasma of the marshes”; “a miasma of cigar smoke” miasm air pollution – pollution of the atmosphere; “air pollution reduced the visibility”

Noun	1.	coeval – a person of nearly the same age as another contemporary compeer, equal, peer, match – a person who is of equal standing with another in a group
Adj.	1.	coeval – of the same period coetaneous, contemporaneous synchronal, synchronic, synchronous – occurring or existing at the same time or having the same period or phase; “recovery was synchronous with therapy”- Jour.A.M.A.; “a synchronous set of clocks”; “the synchronous action of a bird’s wings in flight”; “synchronous oscillations”

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

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rheum  (rm)

n.

A watery or thin mucous discharge from the eyes or nose.

[Middle English reume, from Old French, from Late Latin rheuma, from Greek, a flowing, rheum; see sreu- in Indo-European roots.]

rheumy 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.

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

pol·y·glot  (pl-glt)

adj.

Speaking, writing, written in, or composed of several languages.

n.

1. A person having a speaking, reading, or writing knowledge of several languages.

2. A book, especially a Bible, containing several versions of the same text in different languages.

3. A mixture or confusion of languages.

[French polyglotte, from Greek poluglttos : polu-, poly- + gltta, tongue, language.]

poly·glotism, poly·glottism 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.

co·e·ta·ne·ous  (k-tn-s)

adj.

Of equal age, duration, or period; coeval.

[From Late Latin coaetneus, a contemporary : Latin co-, co- + Latin aets, age; see aiw- in Indo-European roots.]

coe·tane·ous·ly adv.

coe·tane·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.

wile  (wl)

n.

1. A stratagem or trick intended to deceive or ensnare.

2. A disarming or seductive manner, device, or procedure: the wiles of a skilled negotiator.

3. Trickery; cunning.

tr.v. wiled, wil·ing, wiles

1. To influence or lead by means of wiles; entice.

2. To pass (time) agreeably: wile away a Sunday afternoon.

[Middle English wil, from Old North French, from Old Norse vl, trick, or of Low German origin.]

Synonyms: wile, artifice, trick, ruse, feint, stratagem, maneuver, dodge

These nouns denote means for achieving an end by indirection or deviousness. Wile suggests deceiving and entrapping a victim by playing on his or her weak points: “He did not fail to see/His uncle’s cunning wiles and treachery” William Morris.

Artifice refers to something especially contrived to create a desired effect: “Should the public forgive artifices used to avoid military service?” Godfrey Sperling.

Trick implies willful deception: “The … boys … had all sorts of tricks to prevent us from winning” W.H. Hudson.

Ruse stresses the creation of a false impression: Your pretended deafness was a ruse to enable you to learn our plans, wasn’t it?

Feint denotes a deceptive act calculated to distract attention from one’s real purpose: One person bumped into me as a feint while the other stole my wallet.

Stratagem implies carefully planned deception used to achieve an objective: The manager used ruthless stratagems to win the promotion.

Maneuver often applies to a single strategic move: “To this day they always speak of that Reform Bill as if it had been a dishonest maneuver” The Standard.

Dodge stresses shifty and ingenious deception: “‘It was all false, of course?’ ‘All, sir,’ replied Mr. Weller, ‘ … artful dodge’” Charles Dickens.

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.

per·func·to·ry  (pr-fngkt-r)

adj.

1. Done routinely and with little interest or care: The operator answered the phone with a perfunctory greeting.

2. Acting with indifference; showing little interest or care.

[Late Latin perfnctrius, from Latin perfnctus, past participle of perfung, to get through with : per-, per-fung, to perform.]

per·functo·ri·ly adv.

per·functo·ri·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.

tre·phine  (tr-fn)

n.

A surgical instrument having circular, sawlike edges, used to cut out disks of bone, usually from the skull.

tr.v. tre·phined, tre·phin·ing, tre·phines

To operate on with a trephine.

[French tréphine, from obsolete English trefine, from Latin trs fns, three ends : trs, three; see trei- in Indo-European roots + fns, pl. of fnis, end.]

trephi·nation (trf-nshn) 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.

mi·as·ma  (m-zm, m-)

n. pl. mi·as·mas or mi·as·ma·ta (-m-t)

1. A noxious atmosphere or influence: “The family affection, the family expectations, seemed to permeate the atmosphere . . . like a coiling miasma” Louis Auchincloss.

2.

rheum (rm)

[Middle English `reume`, from Old French, from Late Latin `rheuma`, from Greek, a flowing, rheum; see `sreu-` in Indo-European roots.]

pol·y·glot (pl-glt)

[French `polyglotte`, from Greek `poluglttos` : `polu-`, poly- + `gltta`, tongue, language.]

co·e·ta·ne·ous (k-tn-s)

[From Late Latin `coaetneus`, a contemporary : Latin `co-`, co- + Latin `aets`, age; see `aiw-` in Indo-European roots.]

wile (wl)

[Middle English `wil`, from Old North French, from Old Norse `vl`, trick, or of Low German origin.]

per·func·to·ry (pr-fngkt-r)

[Late Latin `perfnctrius`, from Latin `perfnctus`, past participle of `perfung`, to get through with : `per-`, per-`fung`, to perform.]

tre·phine (tr-fn)

[French `tréphine`, from obsolete English `trefine`, from Latin `trs fns`, three ends : `trs`, three; see `trei-` in Indo-European roots + `fns`, pl. of `fnis`, end.]

mi·as·ma (m-zm, m-)

[Greek, pollution, stain, from `miainein`, to pollute.]