words I had to look up today -- an ongoing list
pro·ba·tive /ˈproʊbətɪv, ˈprɒbə-/ [proh-buh-tiv, prob-uh-]
-adjective
1. serving or designed for testing or trial.
2. affording proof or evidence.
mu·ni·ment /ˈmyunəmənt/ [myoo-nuh-muhnt]
-noun
1. muniments, Law. a document, as a title deed or a charter, by which rights or privileges are defended or maintained.
2. Archaic. a defense or protection.
scha·den·freu·de /ˈʃɑdnˌfrɔɪdə/ [shahd-n-froi-duh]
-noun satisfaction or pleasure felt at someone else's misfortune.
[Origin: 1890-95; < G, equiv. to Schaden harm + Freude joy]
spe·cious /ˈspiʃəs/ [spee-shuhs]
-adjective
1. apparently good or right though lacking real merit; superficially pleasing or plausible: specious arguments.
2. pleasing to the eye but deceptive.
3. Obsolete. pleasing to the eye; fair.
o·ti·ose /ˈoʊʃiˌoʊs, ˈoʊti-/ [oh-shee-ohs, oh-tee-]
-adjective
1. being at leisure; idle; indolent.
2. ineffective or futile.
3. superfluous or useless.
Caveat lector is a Latin phrase meaning "Let the reader beware."
hip·shot /ˈhɪpˌʃɒt/ [hip-shot]
-adjective
1. having the hip dislocated.
2. having one hip lower than the other: a Greek statue in hipshot pose.
pleb⋅i⋅scite /ˈplɛbəˌsaɪt, -sɪt/ [pleb-uh-sahyt, -sit]
-noun
1. a direct vote of the qualified voters of a state in regard to some important public question.
2. the vote by which the people of a political unit determine autonomy or affiliation with another country.
com·ple·ment /n. ˈkɒmpləmənt; v. ˈkɒmpləˌmɛnt/ [n. kom-pluh-muhnt; v. kom-pluh-ment]
-noun
1. something that completes or makes perfect: A good wine is a complement to a good meal.
2. the quantity or amount that completes anything: We now have a full complement of packers.
3. either of two parts or things needed to complete the whole; counterpart.
4. full quantity or amount; complete allowance.
com·pli·ment /n. ˈkɒmpləmənt; v. ˈkɒmpləˌmɛnt/ [n. kom-pluh-muhnt; v. kom-pluh-ment]
-noun
1. an expression of praise, commendation, or admiration: A sincere compliment boosts one's morale.
2. a formal act or expression of civility, respect, or regard: The mayor paid him the compliment of escorting him.
3. compliments, a courteous greeting; good wishes; regards: He sends you his compliments.
stul⋅ti⋅fy /ˈstʌltəˌfaɪ/ [stuhl-tuh-fahy]
-verb (used with object), -fied, -fy⋅ing.
1. to make, or cause to appear, foolish or ridiculous.
2. to render absurdly or wholly futile or ineffectual, esp. by degrading or frustrating means: Menial work can stultify the mind.
3. Law. to allege or prove (oneself or another) to be of unsound mind.
Origin:
1760-70; < LL stultificāre, equiv. to L stult(us) stupid + -i- -i- + -ficāre -fy
e⋅vince /ɪˈvɪns/ [i-vins]
-verb (used with object), e⋅vinced, e⋅vinc⋅ing.
1. to show clearly; make evident or manifest; prove.
2. to reveal the possession of (a quality, trait, etc.).
per⋅i⋅pa⋅tet⋅ic /ˌpɛrəpəˈtɛtɪk/ [per-uh-puh-tet-ik]
-adjective
1. walking or traveling about; itinerant.
2. (initial capital letter) of or pertaining to Aristotle, who taught philosophy while walking in the Lyceum of ancient Athens.
3. (initial capital letter) of or pertaining to the Aristotelian school of philosophy.
-noun
4. a person who walks or travels about.
5. (initial capital letter) a member of the Aristotelian school.
fre⋅net⋅ic /frəˈnɛtɪk/ [fruh-net-ik]
-adjective
1. frantic; frenzied.
Also, fre⋅net⋅i⋅cal, phrenetic, phrenetical.
Origin: 1350-1400; ME; see frantic
vi⋅ti⋅ate /ˈvɪʃiˌeɪt/ [vish-ee-eyt]
-verb (used with object), -at⋅ed, -at⋅ing.
1. to impair the quality of; make faulty; spoil.
2. to impair or weaken the effectiveness of.
3. to debase; corrupt; pervert.
4. to make legally defective or invalid; invalidate: to vitiate a claim.
Origin:
1525-35; < L vitiātus, ptp. of vitiāre to spoil, der. of vitium blemish, vice 1 + -ātus -ate 1
Related forms:
vi⋅ti⋅a⋅tion, noun
vi⋅ti⋅a⋅tor, noun
-adjective
1. serving or designed for testing or trial.
2. affording proof or evidence.
mu·ni·ment /ˈmyunəmənt/ [myoo-nuh-muhnt]
-noun
1. muniments, Law. a document, as a title deed or a charter, by which rights or privileges are defended or maintained.
2. Archaic. a defense or protection.
scha·den·freu·de /ˈʃɑdnˌfrɔɪdə/ [shahd-n-froi-duh]
-noun satisfaction or pleasure felt at someone else's misfortune.
[Origin: 1890-95; < G, equiv. to Schaden harm + Freude joy]
spe·cious /ˈspiʃəs/ [spee-shuhs]
-adjective
1. apparently good or right though lacking real merit; superficially pleasing or plausible: specious arguments.
2. pleasing to the eye but deceptive.
3. Obsolete. pleasing to the eye; fair.
o·ti·ose /ˈoʊʃiˌoʊs, ˈoʊti-/ [oh-shee-ohs, oh-tee-]
-adjective
1. being at leisure; idle; indolent.
2. ineffective or futile.
3. superfluous or useless.
Caveat lector is a Latin phrase meaning "Let the reader beware."
hip·shot /ˈhɪpˌʃɒt/ [hip-shot]
-adjective
1. having the hip dislocated.
2. having one hip lower than the other: a Greek statue in hipshot pose.
pleb⋅i⋅scite /ˈplɛbəˌsaɪt, -sɪt/ [pleb-uh-sahyt, -sit]
-noun
1. a direct vote of the qualified voters of a state in regard to some important public question.
2. the vote by which the people of a political unit determine autonomy or affiliation with another country.
com·ple·ment /n. ˈkɒmpləmənt; v. ˈkɒmpləˌmɛnt/ [n. kom-pluh-muhnt; v. kom-pluh-ment]
-noun
1. something that completes or makes perfect: A good wine is a complement to a good meal.
2. the quantity or amount that completes anything: We now have a full complement of packers.
3. either of two parts or things needed to complete the whole; counterpart.
4. full quantity or amount; complete allowance.
com·pli·ment /n. ˈkɒmpləmənt; v. ˈkɒmpləˌmɛnt/ [n. kom-pluh-muhnt; v. kom-pluh-ment]
-noun
1. an expression of praise, commendation, or admiration: A sincere compliment boosts one's morale.
2. a formal act or expression of civility, respect, or regard: The mayor paid him the compliment of escorting him.
3. compliments, a courteous greeting; good wishes; regards: He sends you his compliments.
stul⋅ti⋅fy /ˈstʌltəˌfaɪ/ [stuhl-tuh-fahy]
-verb (used with object), -fied, -fy⋅ing.
1. to make, or cause to appear, foolish or ridiculous.
2. to render absurdly or wholly futile or ineffectual, esp. by degrading or frustrating means: Menial work can stultify the mind.
3. Law. to allege or prove (oneself or another) to be of unsound mind.
Origin:
1760-70; < LL stultificāre, equiv. to L stult(us) stupid + -i- -i- + -ficāre -fy
e⋅vince /ɪˈvɪns/ [i-vins]
-verb (used with object), e⋅vinced, e⋅vinc⋅ing.
1. to show clearly; make evident or manifest; prove.
2. to reveal the possession of (a quality, trait, etc.).
per⋅i⋅pa⋅tet⋅ic /ˌpɛrəpəˈtɛtɪk/ [per-uh-puh-tet-ik]
-adjective
1. walking or traveling about; itinerant.
2. (initial capital letter) of or pertaining to Aristotle, who taught philosophy while walking in the Lyceum of ancient Athens.
3. (initial capital letter) of or pertaining to the Aristotelian school of philosophy.
-noun
4. a person who walks or travels about.
5. (initial capital letter) a member of the Aristotelian school.
fre⋅net⋅ic /frəˈnɛtɪk/ [fruh-net-ik]
-adjective
1. frantic; frenzied.
Also, fre⋅net⋅i⋅cal, phrenetic, phrenetical.
Origin: 1350-1400; ME; see frantic
vi⋅ti⋅ate /ˈvɪʃiˌeɪt/ [vish-ee-eyt]
-verb (used with object), -at⋅ed, -at⋅ing.
1. to impair the quality of; make faulty; spoil.
2. to impair or weaken the effectiveness of.
3. to debase; corrupt; pervert.
4. to make legally defective or invalid; invalidate: to vitiate a claim.
Origin:
1525-35; < L vitiātus, ptp. of vitiāre to spoil, der. of vitium blemish, vice 1 + -ātus -ate 1
Related forms:
vi⋅ti⋅a⋅tion, noun
vi⋅ti⋅a⋅tor, noun