Word Power

[TW]

levity \LEV-uh-tee\, noun:
1. Lightness of manner or speech, especially when inappropriate or excessive; frivolity.
2. Lack of steadiness or constancy; changeableness.

[TW]

abed \uh-BED\, adverb:
In bed.

[TW]

diaphanous \dy-AF-uh-nuhs\, adjective:
1. Of such fine texture as to allow light to pass through; translucent or transparent.
2. Vague; insubstantial.

[TW]

August 10, 2007

aggress \uh-GRES\, intransitive verb:
To commit the first act of hostility or offense; to make an attack.

[TW]

August 11, 2007

en masse \en MASS; on MASS\, adverb:
All together; as a whole.

[TW]

August 12, 2007

nebbish \NEB-ish\, noun:
A weak-willed, timid, or ineffectual person.

[TW]

August 13, 2007

bellicose \BEL-ih-kohs\, adjective:
Inclined to or favoring war or strife; warlike; pugnacious.

[TW]

August 14, 2007

commensurate \kuh-MEN(T)S-uhr-it; -shuhr-\, adjective:
1. Equal in measure, extent, or duration.
2. Corresponding in size or degree or extent; proportionate.
3. Having a common measure; commensurable; reducible to a common measure; as, commensurate quantities.

[TW]

August 15, 2007

plenipotentiary \plen-uh-puh-TEN-shee-air-ee; -shuh-ree\, adjective:
1. Containing or conferring full power; invested with full power; as, "plenipotentiary license; plenipotentiary ministers."

noun:
1. A person invested with full power to transact any business; especially, an ambassador or diplomatic agent with full power to negotiate a treaty or to transact other business.

[TW]

August 16, 2007

tattoo \ta-TOO\, noun:
1. A rapid, rhythmic drumming or rapping.
2. A beat of a drum, or sound of a trumpet or bugle, giving notice to soldiers to go to their quarters at night.
3. A display of military exercises given as evening entertainment.

[TW]

August 17, 2007

agitprop \AJ-it-prop\, noun:
Propaganda, especially pro-communist political propaganda disseminated through literature, drama, music, or art.

[TW]

August 18, 2007

masticate \MAS-tih-kayt\, transitive verb:
1. To grind or crush with or as if with the teeth in preparation for swallowing and digestion; to chew; as, "to masticate food."
2. To crush or knead (rubber, for example) into a pulp.

intransitive verb:
1. To chew food.

[TW]

August 19, 2007

temporize \TEM-puh-ryz\, intransitive verb:
1. To be indecisive or evasive in order to gain time or delay action.
2. To comply with the time or occasion; to yield to prevailing opinion or circumstances.
3. To engage in discussions or negotiations so as to gain time (usually followed by 'with').
4. To come to terms (usually followed by 'with').

[TW]

August 20, 2007

faction \FAK-shuhn\, noun:
1. A usually contentious or self-seeking group within a larger group, party, government, etc.
2. Party strife and intrigue; internal dissension.

[TW]

August 21, 2007

indurate \IN-dur-it; -dyur-\, adjective:
1. Physically or morally hardened; unfeeling; stubborn.

transitive verb:
1. To make hard; to harden.
2. To harden against; to make hardy; to habituate.
3. To make hardened; to make callous or stubborn.
4. To establish; to fix firmly.

intransitive verb:
1. To grow hard; to harden.
2. To become established or fixed.