lurid - LOO-rid - horrifying, gruesome, revolting, appalling
Example: "Boris Karloff's horror films were once considered quite lurid; but they're tame by comparison to, say, the contemporary 'Saw' series, which are truly lurid."
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Word for Today - June 29, 2009
symptomatic - SIM-toe-MAT-ik - characteristic, indicative, suggestive
Example: "A film critic recently stated that the current success of badly written movie scripts is symptomatic of our dumbed-down society, which now accepts mediocrity as the norm."
Example: "A film critic recently stated that the current success of badly written movie scripts is symptomatic of our dumbed-down society, which now accepts mediocrity as the norm."
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Word for Today - June 28, 2009
gratutous - grat-TOO-ih-TUS - uncalled for, unjustified, unwarranted or freely given without charge
Example: "Though rarely in life, gratutous praise is frequently heaped upon the recently dead."
Example: "Though rarely in life, gratutous praise is frequently heaped upon the recently dead."
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Word for Today - June 27, 2007
aphrodisiac - AFF-row-DIZ-ee-AKK - something exciting sexual desire
Example: "The latest sex scandal involving conservative politicians caused a news analyst to remark, 'It seems that becoming part of the political scene is, for many, an aphrodisiac.'"
Example: "The latest sex scandal involving conservative politicians caused a news analyst to remark, 'It seems that becoming part of the political scene is, for many, an aphrodisiac.'"
Friday, June 26, 2009
Word for Today - June 26, 2009
plethora - more than enough, excess, over abundance
Example: "After a lengthy un-newsworthy period, we suddenly have a plethora of deaths among the rich & famous - Jackson & Faucett included."
Example: "After a lengthy un-newsworthy period, we suddenly have a plethora of deaths among the rich & famous - Jackson & Faucett included."
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Word for Today - June 24, 2009
enmity - EHN-mih-TEE - mutual hatred, hostility, antipathy
Example: "A serious problem in the Mid Eastern countries is the tradition of enmity among their various religions."
Example: "A serious problem in the Mid Eastern countries is the tradition of enmity among their various religions."
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Word for Today - June 23, 2009
comment ca va (or just "ca va" for short) - koh-MAH say VAH - "How's it going?"
Example: "'Comment ca va' is a Frenchman's way of greeting someone informally, much as the German would say, 'Wie geht's' (vee-gates),' or the Spaniard, 'Que tal?' (kay-tahl)."
Example: "'Comment ca va' is a Frenchman's way of greeting someone informally, much as the German would say, 'Wie geht's' (vee-gates),' or the Spaniard, 'Que tal?' (kay-tahl)."
Monday, June 22, 2009
Word for Today - June 22, 2009
protean - PRO-tee-an - versatile, able to change
Example: "It appears unlikely so far that protean activity might occur during the stalemate in Iran."
Example: "It appears unlikely so far that protean activity might occur during the stalemate in Iran."
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Word for Today - June 20, 2009
vicissitude - vih-SIS-ih-TOOD - expected or unexpected changes (especially in one's life)
Example: "We make careful plans for our future, but there are vicissitudes that can change them overnight."
Example: "We make careful plans for our future, but there are vicissitudes that can change them overnight."
Friday, June 19, 2009
Word for Today - June 19, 2009
obsequious - ub-SEE-kwee-US - overly eager to please, fawning, "brown-nosing"
Example: "The nurse was attendant in helping her patients - not obsequiously, but with sincere care to heal."
Example: "The nurse was attendant in helping her patients - not obsequiously, but with sincere care to heal."
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Word for Today - June 18, 2009
nascent -NAY-sent - starting to develop, beginning to emerge
Example heard over NPR: "Rules for taxing cell phone use are outdated, having been developed 20 years ago, when cell phones were nascent technology."
Example heard over NPR: "Rules for taxing cell phone use are outdated, having been developed 20 years ago, when cell phones were nascent technology."
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Word for Today - June 17, 2009
Draconian - drak-KOHN-yan - overly harsh, too severe
Example: "In the news today the Republican members of Congress rejected Obama's suggested new health plan as Draconian."
Example: "In the news today the Republican members of Congress rejected Obama's suggested new health plan as Draconian."
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Word for Today - June 16, 2009
conflate - kon-flate - to mix or fuse things
Example: "Alan Ayckbourn's plays often conflate the action in several rooms in onstage space."
Example: "Alan Ayckbourn's plays often conflate the action in several rooms in onstage space."
Monday, June 15, 2009
Word for Today - June 15, 2009
schlep - shlep: This from a Jewish friend who ought to know what she's talking bout:
Joe - do not know where your definition came from, but it is not how I have heard (or used) the word. I googled it and got 2 other definitions.
By the way, Perhaps my family has been using it wrong - but the Yiddish dictionary agrees with us. In our family schlepp meant "to carry". For instance "I schlepped the groceries all the way from the village to home."
From American Yiddish Dictionary 101: To "schlepp" something is to carry it along with difficulty. A classic example is a Chassidic Jew "schlepping" tuna fish on an airplane from Crown Heights, Brooklyn, to somewhere else in the world.
And another: "Schlepp" derives from the German word "schleppen," meaning to drag.
diously, awkwardly, or carelessly
Another: To move slowly or laboriously: schlepped around with the twins in a stroller. (as in Sally is signing off this email because she is taking her kayak out and schlepping across the Lake Nebagamon to meet a friend .)
Joe - do not know where your definition came from, but it is not how I have heard (or used) the word. I googled it and got 2 other definitions.
By the way, Perhaps my family has been using it wrong - but the Yiddish dictionary agrees with us. In our family schlepp meant "to carry". For instance "I schlepped the groceries all the way from the village to home."
From American Yiddish Dictionary 101: To "schlepp" something is to carry it along with difficulty. A classic example is a Chassidic Jew "schlepping" tuna fish on an airplane from Crown Heights, Brooklyn, to somewhere else in the world.
And another: "Schlepp" derives from the German word "schleppen," meaning to drag.
diously, awkwardly, or carelessly
Another: To move slowly or laboriously: schlepped around with the twins in a stroller. (as in Sally is signing off this email because she is taking her kayak out and schlepping across the Lake Nebagamon to meet a friend .)
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Word for Today - June 13, 2009
profligate - PROF-lih-GATE - having low moral standards
Example: "Time Magazine referred to the 'profligate Berlusconi and his many peccadilloes (sins) as being once again in scandal.'"
Example: "Time Magazine referred to the 'profligate Berlusconi and his many peccadilloes (sins) as being once again in scandal.'"
Friday, June 12, 2009
Word for Today - June 12, 2009
predilection - PRED-ih-LEK-shun - a natural liking, a partiality, a penchant
Example: "For whatever reason, Americans have had a century old predilection for anything that is fast, expensive, noisy & polluting."
Example: "For whatever reason, Americans have had a century old predilection for anything that is fast, expensive, noisy & polluting."
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Word for Today - June 11, 2009
homiletic - HOM-eh-LET-ik - the art of preaching or writing sermons
Example: "One can only hope that the clergyman is homile tic - most don't size up to those like 19th century Phillips Brooks, who, for example, proclaimed in one of his homilies, 'Do not pray for a lighter load, but for a stronger back.'"
Example: "One can only hope that the clergyman is homile tic - most don't size up to those like 19th century Phillips Brooks, who, for example, proclaimed in one of his homilies, 'Do not pray for a lighter load, but for a stronger back.'"
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Word for Today - June 10, 2009
paralegal - PAIR-uh-LEE-gull - qualified to work as a full lawyer's assistant
Example: "Before she went into politics, Bonnie Sweeten worked as a paralegal."
Example: "Before she went into politics, Bonnie Sweeten worked as a paralegal."
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Word for Today - June 9, 2009
hirsute - hair-suit - abundant hair, with plants bristling with hairy surface
Example: "The hirsute lady in the circus could easily match any gentleman with a full beard."
Example: "The hirsute lady in the circus could easily match any gentleman with a full beard."
Monday, June 8, 2009
Word for Today - June 8, 2009
inchoate - in KHO-ATE - just beginning to form, not yet completed
Example: "The jury had inchoate feelings about the woman on trial."
Example: "The jury had inchoate feelings about the woman on trial."
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Word for Today - June 7, 2009
vilify - VIL-ih-FIE - slander, defame, blacken character with abusive language, traduce, malign
Example: "Naomi Tutu decried (found fault) the fact that her father was often vilified as an activist against apartheid in South Africa."
Example: "Naomi Tutu decried (found fault) the fact that her father was often vilified as an activist against apartheid in South Africa."
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Word for Today - June 6, 2009
odyssey - ODD-eh-SEE - a lengthy series of travels or adventures
Example: "After discovering the undeniable horrors of Buchenwald with survivor Ellie Wiesel, the president on his political odyssey next visited the Normandy war site with octogenarian veterans."
Example: "After discovering the undeniable horrors of Buchenwald with survivor Ellie Wiesel, the president on his political odyssey next visited the Normandy war site with octogenarian veterans."
Friday, June 5, 2009
Word for Today - June 5, 2009
stanchion - stan-CHEE-YON - an upholding or supporting pole
Example: "Many Palestinians announced hope that Obama would become the stanchion for what they called 'a fair & equal treatment' in the Gaza Strip."
Example: "Many Palestinians announced hope that Obama would become the stanchion for what they called 'a fair & equal treatment' in the Gaza Strip."
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Word for Today - June 4, 2009
sere - seer - arrid, dry, withered
Example: "While the Midwest complains about heavy flooding, the lower West Coast complains its weather has become dangerously sere."
Example: "While the Midwest complains about heavy flooding, the lower West Coast complains its weather has become dangerously sere."
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Word for Today - June 3, 2009
trepidation - trep-ih-DAY-shun - fear, horror, dread, repulsion
Example: "French families await the news of the disappeared plane with grave trepidation."
Example: "French families await the news of the disappeared plane with grave trepidation."
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Word for Today - June 2, 2009
mollify - MOLL-ih-FYE - soothe, appease, tone down, calm
Example: "Too often mothers mollify their crying babies with something to eat."
Example: "Too often mothers mollify their crying babies with something to eat."
Word for Today - June 1, 2009
sine qua non - seenee-kwah-nohn - prerequisite, essential condition (literally, "without which not")
Example: "Comment in this month's SIERRA MAGAZINE: 'There are long lists of things people can do to mitigate climate change, but the sine qua non for solving the problem is to stop burning coal.'"
Example: "Comment in this month's SIERRA MAGAZINE: 'There are long lists of things people can do to mitigate climate change, but the sine qua non for solving the problem is to stop burning coal.'"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)