Word Of The Week -- animadversion
Definition: an·i·mad·ver·sion (ān'&-mād-vûr'zh&n, -sh&n)
n.

1. Strong criticism.
2. A critical or censorious remark.

Etymology: [Latin: animadversiō, animadversiōn-, from animadversus, past participle of animadvertere, to turn the mind toward; see animadvert.]

Obscurity: 95% (Come again?)

Usefulness: 5% (Anyone using ( Read more... )

Word Of The Week -- cavort
Definition: ca·vort (k&-vôrt')
v.

1. To bound or prance about in a sprightly manner; caper.
2. To have lively or boisterous fun; romp.

Etymology: [Americanism, ca. 1785-95; earlier cavault, possibly derived from curvet.]

Obscurity: 35% (I know where and how to use this word, but am not totally clear on the exact definition.)

( Read more... )

Word Of The Week -- ingle
Definition: in·gle (ĭng'&l)
n. Chiefly British dialect

1. A fire burning in a hearth.
2. A fireplace; hearth.

Etymology: [Scots/Gaelic: aingeal, fire.]

Obscurity: 95% (Come again?)

Usefulness: 10% (Anybody using this word is trying to confuse you, impress you, or both.)

Examples:(def. 1) "With a sudden flourish, Martin ( Read more... )

Word Of The Week -- scoot
Definition: scoot (skōōt)
v.

1. To go suddenly and speedily; hurry.
2. Upper Southern U.S. To squirt with water.

Etymology: [Scots: to eject, squirt, probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse skjōta, to shoot.]

Obscurity: 5% (Ooo! I know that one!)

Usefulness: 85% (Common parlance in casual English conversation.)

( Read more... )

Word Of The Week -- sagacious
Definition: sa·ga·cious (s&-gā'sh&s)
adj.Having or showing keen discernment, sound judgment, and farsightedness.
Etymology: [Latin: sagāx, sagāc-, of keen perception; see sāg- in Indo-European roots.]

Obscurity: 35% (I know where and how to use this word, but am not 100% sure of the definition.)

Usefulness: 25% ( ( Read more... )

Word Of The Week -- spinnaker
Definition: spin·na·ker (spĭn'&-k&r)
n.A large triangular sail set on a spar that swings out opposite the mainsail, used on yachts when running before the wind.
Etymology: [Perhaps ultimately from Sphinx, name of the first yacht to use such a sail; alternately, perhaps from spin, to move rapidly (variant of Scots ( Read more... )

Word Of The Week -- cabal
Definition: ca·bal (k&-bāl', -bäl')
n.

1. A conspiratorial group of plotters or intriguers.
2. The plots and schemes of such a group; intrigue.
3. A clique, as in artistic, literary, or theatrical circles.

v. To form a cabal; intrigue; conspire; plot.
Etymology: [French: cabale, from Medieval Latin cabala; see kabbalah.]

Obscurity: ( Read more... )

Word Of The Week -- barratry
Definition: bar·ra·try (bār'&-trē)
n.

1. The offense of persistently instigating lawsuits, typically groundless ones.
2. An unlawful breach of duty on the part of a ship's master or crew resulting in injury to the ship's owner.
3. Sale or purchase of positions in church or state.

Etymology: [Middle English: barratrie, the sale of ( Read more... )

Word Of The Week -- satrap
Definition: sa·trap (sā'trāp', sāt'rāp')
n.

1. A governor of a province under the ancient Persian monarchy.
2. A subordinate ruler, often a despotic one.

Etymology: [Middle English: satrape, from Old French, from Latin satrapēs, from Greek, from Old Persian khshathrapāvā, protector of the province: khshathra-, realm, province + ( Read more... )

Word Of The Week -- hoary
Definition: hoar·y (hôr'ē, hōr'ē)
adj.

1. Gray or white with or as with age.
2. Ancient or venerable.
3. Tedious from familiarity; stale.

Etymology: [Old English: har, gray, venerable, old, the connecting notion being gray hair; from P. Germanic: *khairaz, from PIE *koi-, to shine. German retains the word as a title of respect, in ( Read more... )