Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Word for Today - Sept. 30, 2009

disingenuous - dis-in-JEN-you-us - deceitful, lying, insincere, dishonest, underhanded

Example: "According to an American source, . today's response from an Iranian spokesman regarding the discovery of a second nuclear site was a disingenuous claim that the secret site was simply a back-up in case the first one came under enemy attack."

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Word for Today - Sept 29, 2009

regimen - REJ-ih-MEN - a recommended program designed to make improvements

Exmple: " Philips announced today that, if their new LED bulb passes the department's testing regimen, it will be an even more efficient, longer-lasting lighting device than today's compact fluorescent bulbs."

Monday, September 28, 2009

Word for Today - Sept. 28, 2009

arbiter - ARE-bih-TER - a person who settles a dispute or has ultimate authority in a matter

Example: "The man who created Gap died yesterday, but, more importantly to the political and communication world, William Safire, the arbiter of correct word usage, at the age of 79, also died."

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Word for Today - Sept. 27, 2009

Yooper - YOU-purr - nickname for residence of Michigan's Upper Peninsula

Example: " NPR this morning took a trip to Upper Michigan when interviewer/announcer Liane Hanson presented an aural picture of life among the Yoopers, from their favorite food (meat pasties) to a long historical life of hard work in iron & copper mines."

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Word for Today - Sept. 26, 2009

aficionado - uh-FISH-ee-oh-NAH-doh - devotee, fan

Example: "Today in NYC, a large group of anime (famed Japan-based, usually hand-painted, animations) aficionados took to the streets to celebrate anime (ANN-ee-MAY) films, especially those made by "Ponyo" artist Hayao Miyazaki."

Friday, September 25, 2009

Word for Today - Sept 25, 2009

deleterious - DEL-eh-TER-yus - causing harm or damage

Example: "The accumulating evidence against a Denver airport shuttle driver suggests he may be capable of deleterious action, with some investigators calling his case the most serious since 9/11."

Word for Today - Sept 24, 2009

fatuous, fatuity - FAT-you-US, FAT-you-it-TEE - a state of being ignorant yet not realizing it, so flaunting it

Example: "According to Jonathan Swift fatuous people know just enough to make them hate, but not enough to make them love one another - or something like that."

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Word for today - Sept 23, 2009

incipient - in-SIP-ee-ENT - in an initial stage, just beginning to happen

Example: "In an incipient move, a businessman in Madagascar has found a way to weave golden silk cloth from the spinets of huge native spiders."

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Word for Today - Sept 22, 2009

catatonic - KAT-uh-TON-ik - in a state of stupor, inertia, trance-like

Example: "In reaction to the death of a loved one a person, at least for a time, could become catatonic, submerged in sadness."

Monday, September 21, 2009

Word for Today - Sept 21, 2009

ostentatious - AHS-ten-TAY-shus - showiness, pretentiousness, flashy, flamboyant

Example: "The movie 'Jennifer's Body' is the latest in witless, ostentatious horror flicks, featuring in this case a seductive woman in the role traditionally designed for male blood-thirsty killers."

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Word for Today - Sept. 20, 2009

gravitas - GRAV-ih-TAZ - a serious & solemn attitude or way of behaving

Example: "During the Republican gathering to discuss future candidates for the next presidential election, Romney was encouraged to run again, suggested for having the 'gravitas needed for the office.'"

Friday, September 18, 2009

Word for Today - Sept 18, 2009

heinous - HAY-nus - evil or wicked to the extreme, abominable

Example: "The latest truck bomb suicide in Pakistan continues the heinous war crimes committed by the Taliban."

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Word for Today - Sept. 17, 2009

contemptuous - con-TEMP-chew-US - a feeling that expresses or demonstrates a strong dislike or utter lack of respect

"The latest right-wing attempt to tarnish President Obama's character now focuses on whether or not he was involved with the contemptuous actions of the Acorn Group and its use of government funds for under-age prostitution; the debate continues."

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Word for Today - Sept 16, 2009

marauder - mah-ROD-er - one who roams, plunders, ransacks, pillages

Example: "The nation's top military officer, Mike Mullen, opposed Democrats who reject sending additional combat troops to Afghanistan, telling Congress that success would probably require more fighting forces, and certainly much more time, especially against isolated mountain marauders."

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Word for Today - Sept 15, 2009

stolid - STALL-id - showing little emotion, impassive, phlegmatic

Example: "The most amazing role played by Patrick Swazey, who died yesterday at 57, was as a stolid homosexual dancer in the Aussie film 'Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.'"

Monday, September 14, 2009

Word for Today - Sept 14, 2009

mitigate - MIT-ih-GATE - to lessen the effect or severity of something; to lessen, alleviate, allay, diminish, blunt

Example: "According to today's news, drain water that used to go unwanted and created a wetland in the Mexican desert, is now being considered to mitigate the Southwest's water shortage. "

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Word for Today - Sept 13, 2009

cataclysm - KAT-uh-KLISM - disaster, upheaval, catastrophe, devastation, debacle

Example: "The NY Times made the following comment: 'One year after the collapse of Lehman Brothers, there is little change on Wall Street from that cataclysm; the surprise is not how much has changed in the financial industry, but how little.'"

Friday, September 11, 2009

Word for Today - Sept 12, 2009

inflammatory - in-FLAM-uh-TOW-ree - provocative, inciting, instigative

Dave Letterman's response to Rep. Wilson's inflammatory cry ("You lie!") heard round the world was: '...and I thought, OK, so now Gov. Mark Sanford is the second most embarrassing politician from South Carolina.'"
infamy - IN-fah-MEE - shame, disrepute, disgrace, notoriety

Example: "When FDR referred to the Pearl Harbor attack as a 'day of infamy,' he could have been saying the same about the day we honor today - our sadly recalled day of infamy."

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Word for Today - Sept 10, 2009

vitriolic - VIT-ree-ALL-ik - sarcastic, caustic, disdainful

Example: Regarding negative reactions to the president's health care proposal, satirist Brian Unger wrote the vitriolic summary, "A lot of us are a combination of these things: too busy, lazy, a bit stupid perhaps, lucky, unsympathetic, in-denial, really rich, hypocritical, selfish - and patriotic."

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Word for Today - Sept 9, 2009

revile - ree-VYL - disparage, vilify, upbraid, jump down one's throat, curse

Example: "Argentine activist Eduardo Galiano, revered by some, reviled by others, once said, "Those killed in wars are always the poor," and, "Being rich is being a crook."

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Word for Today - Sept 8, 2009

assuage - uh-SWAY - to relieve, to soothe, to ease

Example: "In order to assuage the conservative extremists who fear propaganda in his speech to school children today, President Obama has handed out copies of the speech which, as it turned out, contained no political propaganda."

Monday, September 7, 2009

Word for Today - Sept 7, 2009

moribund - MORE-ih-BUND - weak unto the point of death

Example: "The NY Times asks this question of our president: Can he soothe discontent with an economy that appears to have bottomed out but remains moribund?"

Friday, September 4, 2009

Word for Today - Sept 3, 2009

prescribe - pre-SCRIBE - to advocate, ordain, recommend

Example: "Recalling the vicious attacks by the right wing & insurance companies on then President Clinton's 1993 health plan, which destroyed it, Rahm Emanuel, the White House chief of staff, said today that Mr. Obama would be 'more strongly prescriptive than he has been to date,' adding, 'and we have a tremendous amount of consensus in Congress to build off of.'"

Word for Today - Sept 4, 2009

proscribe - PRO-SCRIBE - to ban or prohibit something that is considered undesirable, usually by authorities

Example: "Government proclamations on safety have unanimously proscribed the use of electronic devices while driving."

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Word for Today - Sept 2, 2009

obtuse - ub-TYOUS - dull, slow, pea-brained, vapid, vacuous

Example: "The story featured a pair of contrasting personalities; one was sharp & quick-witted, the other obtuse to the extreme."