Word of the Day 10.21.9

milieu

mi·lieu (ml-y, m-ly)

n. pl. mi·lieus or mi·lieux (-ly)

a

An environment or a setting.


[French, from Old French, center : mi, middle (from Latin medius; see medhyo- in Indo-European roots) + lieu, placelocus).]

(from Latin

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Noun

1.

milieu – the environmental condition

environment – the totality of surrounding conditions; “he longed for the comfortable environment of his living room”

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

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Posted on October 21, 2009 by admin

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Word of the Day 10.20.9

locution

lo·cu·tion (l-kyshn)

n.

1. A particular word, phrase, or expression, especially one that is used by a particular person or group.

2. Style of speaking; phraseology.


[Middle English locucion, from Old French locution, from Latin locti, loctin-, from loctus, past participle of loqu, to speak; see tolkw- in Indo-European roots.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Noun

1. locution – a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations; “pardon the expression”

Beatitude – one of the eight sayings of Jesus at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount; in Latin each saying begins with `beatus’ (blessed); “her favorite Beatitude is `Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth’”
logion – a saying of Jesus that is regarded as authentic although it is not recorded in the Gospels
calque, calque formation, loan translation – an expression introduced into one language by translating it from another language; “`superman’ is a calque for the German `Ubermensch’”
advice and consent – a legal expression in the United States Constitution that allows the Senate to constrain the President’s powers of appointment and treaty-making
ambiguity – an expression whose meaning cannot be determined from its context
euphemism – an inoffensive or indirect expression that is substituted for one that is considered offensive or too harsh
dysphemism – an offensive or disparaging expression that is substituted for an inoffensive one; “his favorite dysphemism was to ask for axle grease when he wanted butter”
shucks – an expression of disappointment or irritation
speech communication, spoken communication, spoken language, voice communication, oral communication, speech, language – (language) communication by word of mouth; “his speech was garbled”; “he uttered harsh language”; “he recorded the spoken language of the streets”
tongue twister – an expression that is difficult to articulate clearly; “`rubber baby buggy bumper’ is a tongue twister”
anatomical, anatomical reference – an expression that relates to anatomy
southernism – a locution or pronunciation peculiar to the southern United States
catchword, motto, shibboleth, slogan – a favorite saying of a sect or political group
axiom, maxim – a saying that is widely accepted on its own merits
epigram, quip – a witty saying
adage, byword, proverb, saw – a condensed but memorable saying embodying some important fact of experience that is taken as true by many people
idiomatic expression, phrasal idiom, set phrase, phrase, idiom – an expression whose meanings cannot be inferred from the meanings of the words that make it up
agrapha – sayings of Jesus not recorded in the canonical Gospels
sumpsimus – a correct expression that takes the place of a popular but incorrect expression; “he preferred his erroneous but pleasing mumpsimus to the correct sumpsimus”

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2008 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
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Posted on October 20, 2009 by admin

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Word of the Day 10.19.9

ossify

os·si·fy (s-f)

v. os·si·fied, os·si·fy·ing, os·si·fies

v.intr.

1. To change into bone; become bony.

2. To become set in a rigidly conventional pattern: “The central ideas of liberalism have ossified” (Jeffrey Hart).

v.tr.

1. To convert (a membrane or cartilage, for example) into bone.

2. To mold into a rigidly conventional pattern.


[Latin os, oss-, bone; see ost- in Indo-European roots + -fy.]


os·sific (-sfk) adj.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Verb

1.

ossify – become bony; “The tissue ossified”

change state, turn – undergo a transformation or a change of position or action; “We turned from Socialism to Capitalism”; “The people turned against the President when he stole the election”

2.

ossify – make rigid and set into a conventional pattern; “rigidify the training schedule”; “ossified teaching methods”; “slogans petrify our thinking”

stiffen – make stiff or stiffer; “Stiffen the cream by adding gelatine”

3.

ossify – cause to become hard and bony; “The disease ossified the tissue”

alter, change, modify – cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; “The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city”; “The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue”

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

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Posted on October 19, 2009 by admin

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Word of the Day 10.18.9

salient

sa·li·ent (sl-nt, slynt)

adj.

1. Projecting or jutting beyond a line or surface; protruding.

2. Strikingly conspicuous; prominent. See Synonyms at noticeable.

3. Springing; jumping: salient tree toads.

n.

1. A military position that projects into the position of the enemy.

2. A projecting angle or part.


[Latin salins, salient-, present participle of salre, to leap; see sel- in Indo-European roots.]


sali·ent·ly adv.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Noun

1.

salient – (military) the part of the line of battle that projects closest to the enemy

armed forces, armed services, military, military machine, war machine – the military forces of a nation; “their military is the largest in the region”; “the military machine is the same one we faced in 1991 but now it is weaker”

line of battle – a line formed by troops or ships prepared to deliver or receive an attack

projection – any solid convex shape that juts out from something

Adj.

1.

salient – having a quality that thrusts itself into attention; “an outstanding fact of our time is that nations poisoned by anti semitism proved less fortunate in regard to their own freedom”; “a new theory is the most prominent feature of the book”; “salient traits”; “a spectacular rise in prices”; “a striking thing about Picadilly Circus is the statue of Eros in the center”; “a striking resemblance between parent and child”

conspicuous – obvious to the eye or mind; “a tower conspicuous at a great distance”; “wore conspicuous neckties”; “made herself conspicuous by her exhibitionistic preening”

2.

salient – (of angles) pointing outward at an angle of less than 180 degrees

re-entrant, reentrant – (of angles) pointing inward; “a polygon with re-entrant angles”

3.

salient – represented as leaping (rampant but leaning forward)

heraldry – the study and classification of armorial bearings and the tracing of genealogies

inclined – at an angle to the horizontal or vertical position; “an inclined plane”

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

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Posted on October 18, 2009 by admin

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Word of the Day 10.17.9

ineluctable

in·e·luc·ta·ble (n-lkt-bl)

adj.

Not to be avoided or escaped; inevitable: “Those war plans rested on a belief in the ineluctable superiority of the offense over the defense” (Jack Beatty).


[Latin inluctbilis : in-, not; see in-1 + luctbilis, penetrable (from luctr, to struggle out of : ex-, ex- + luctr, to struggle).]


ine·lucta·bili·ty n.

ine·lucta·bly adv.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Adj.

1.

ineluctable – impossible to avoid or evade:”inescapable conclusion”; “an ineluctable destiny”; “an unavoidable accident”

inevitable – incapable of being avoided or prevented; “the inevitable result”

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

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Posted on October 17, 2009 by admin

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Word of the Day 10.16.9

panacea

pan·a·ce·a (pn-s)

n.

A remedy for all diseases, evils, or difficulties; a cure-all.


[Latin panaca, from Greek panakeia, from panaks, all-healing : pan-, pan- + akos, cure.]


pana·cean adj.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Noun

1.

Panacea – (Greek mythology) the goddess of healing; daughter of Aesculapius and sister of Hygeia

2.

panacea – hypothetical remedy for all ills or diseases; once sought by the alchemists

curative, cure, therapeutic, remedy – a medicine or therapy that cures disease or relieve pain

elixir – a substance believed to cure all ills

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

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Posted on October 16, 2009 by admin

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Word of the Day 10.15.9

minion

min·ion (mnyn)

n.

1. An obsequious follower or dependent; a sycophant.

2. A subordinate official, especially a servile one.

3. One who is highly esteemed or favored; a darling.


[French mignon, darling, from Old French mignot, mignon.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Noun

1.

minion – a servile or fawning dependant

dependant, dependent – a person who relies on another person for support (especially financial support)

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

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Posted on October 15, 2009 by admin

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Word of the Day 10.14.9

inveigle

in·vei·gle (n-vgl, -v-)

tr.v. in·vei·gled, in·vei·gling, in·vei·gles

1. To win over by coaxing, flattery, or artful talk. See Synonyms at lure.

2. To obtain by cajolery: inveigled a free pass to the museum.


[Middle English envegle, alteration of Old French aveugler, to blind, from aveugle, blind, from Vulgar Latin *aboculus : Latin ab-, away from; see ab-1 + Latin oculus, eye (probably loan-translation of Gaulish exsops : exs-, from + ops, eye); see okw- in Indo-European roots.]


in·veigle·ment n.

in·veigler n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Verb

1.

inveigle – influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering; “He palavered her into going along”

persuade – cause somebody to adopt a certain position, belief, or course of action; twist somebody’s arm; “You can’t persuade me to buy this ugly vase!”

soft-soap – persuade someone through flattery

browbeat, bully, swagger – discourage or frighten with threats or a domineering manner; intimidate

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

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Posted on October 14, 2009 by admin

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Word of the Day 10.13.9

anathema

a·nath·e·ma (-nth-m)

n. pl. a·nath·e·mas

1. A formal ecclesiastical ban, curse, or excommunication.

2. A vehement denunciation; a curse: “the sound of a witch’s anathemas in some unknown tongue” (Nathaniel Hawthorne).

3. One that is cursed or damned.

4. One that is greatly reviled, loathed, or shunned: “Essentialisma belief in natural, immutable sex differencesis anathema to postmodernists, for whom sexuality itself, along with gender, is a ‘social construct’” (Wendy Kaminer).


[Late Latin anathema, doomed offering, accursed thing, from Greek, from anatithenai, anathe-, to dedicate : ana-, ana- + tithenai, to put; see dh- in Indo-European roots.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Noun

1.

anathema – a detested person; “he is an anathema to me”

disagreeable person, unpleasant person – a person who is not pleasant or agreeable

2.

anathema – a formal ecclesiastical curse accompanied by excommunication

curse, execration, condemnation – an appeal to some supernatural power to inflict evil on someone or some group

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

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Posted on October 13, 2009 by admin

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Word of the Day 10.12.9

refulgent

re·ful·gent (r-fljnt, -fl-)

adj.

Shining radiantly; resplendent.


[Latin refulgns, refulgent-, present participle of refulgre, to flash back : re-, re- + fulgre, to flash; see bhel-1 in Indo-European roots.]


re·fulgence, re·fulgen·cy n.

re·fulgent·ly adv.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Adj.

1.

refulgent – radiating or as if radiating light; “the beaming sun”; “the effulgent daffodils”; “a radiant sunrise”; “a refulgent sunset”

bright – emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts; “the sun was bright and hot”; “a bright sunlit room”

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

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Posted on October 12, 2009 by admin

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