Word Power

[TW]

March 11, 2008

assuage \uh-SWAYJ\, verb:
1. To make milder or less severe; to reduce the intensity of; to ease; to relieve.
2. To appease; to satisfy.
3. To soothe or calm; to pacify.

[TW]

March 12, 2008


diffident \DIF-uh-dunt; -dent\, adjective:
1. Lacking self-confidence; distrustful of one's own powers; timid; bashful.
2. Characterized by modest reserve; unassertive.

[TW]

March 13, 2008


rodomontade \rod-uh-muhn-TADE; roh-duh-; -TAHD\, noun:
Vain boasting; empty bluster; pretentious, bragging speech; rant.

[TW]

March 14, 2008


bedizen \bih-DY-zuhn\, transitive verb:
To dress or adorn in gaudy manner.

[TW]

March 15, 2008


sojourn \SOH-juhrn; so-JURN\, intransitive verb:
1. To stay as a temporary resident; to dwell for a time.

noun:
1. A temporary stay.

[TW]

March 16, 2008


chagrin \shuh-GRIN\, noun:
1. Acute vexation, annoyance, or embarrassment, arising from disappointment or failure.

transitive verb:
1. To unsettle or vex by disappointment or humiliation; to mortify.

[TW]

March 17, 2008


indolent \IN-duh-luhnt\, adjective:
1. Avoiding labor and exertion; habitually idle; lazy; inactive.
2. Conducive to or encouraging laziness or inactivity.
3. Causing little or no pain.
4. Slow to heal, develop, or grow.

[TW]

March 18, 2008


nefarious \nuh-FAIR-ee-uhs\, adjective:
Wicked in the extreme; iniquitous.

[TW]

March 19, 2008


transmute \trans-MYOOT; tranz-\, transitive verb:
1. To change from one nature, form, substance, or state into another; to transform.

intransitive verb:
1. To undergo transmutation.

[TW]

March 20, 2008


acerbic \uh-SUR-bik\, adjective:
Sharp, biting, or acid in temper, expression, or tone.

[TW]

March 21, 2008


myriad \MIR-ee-uhd\, adjective:
1. Consisting of a very great, but indefinite, number; as, myriad stars.
2. Composed of numerous diverse elements or aspects.

noun:
1. The number of ten thousand; ten thousand persons or things. (Chiefly in reference to the Greek numeral system, or in translations from Greek or Latin).
2. An immense number; a very great many; an indefinitely large number.

[TW]

March 22, 2008


remunerate \rih-MYOO-nuh-rate\, transitive verb:
1. To pay an equivalent to for any service, loss, or expense; to recompense.
2. To compensate for; to make payment for.

[TW]

March 23, 2008

anathema \uh-NATH-uh-muh\, noun:
1. A ban or curse pronounced with religious solemnity by ecclesiastical authority, and accompanied by excommunication. Hence: Denunciation of anything as accursed.
2. An imprecation; a curse; a malediction.
3. Any person or thing anathematized, or cursed by ecclesiastical authority.
4. Any person or thing that is intensely disliked.

[TW]

March 24, 2008


plethora \PLETH-uh-ruh\, noun:
1. An abnormal bodily condition characterized by an excessive amount of blood in the system.
2. Excess; superabundance.

[TW]

March 25, 2008


repine \rih-PINE\, intransitive verb:
1. To feel or express discontent.
2. To long for something.