Word Power

[TW]

August 27, 2009


saturnine \SAT-uhr-nyn\ , adjective:

1. Born under or being under the astrological influence of the planet Saturn.
2. Gloomy or sullen in disposition.
3. Having a sardonic or bitter aspect.


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[TW]

August 28, 2009


delectation \dee-lek-TAY-shun\ , noun:

1. Great pleasure; delight, enjoyment.


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[TW]

August 29, 2009


chary \CHAIR-ee\ , adjective:

1. Wary; cautious.
2.Not giving or expending freely; sparing.


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[TW]

August 30, 2009


interlocutor
\in-ter-LOK-yuh-ter\ , noun

1. Someone who takes part in a conversation, often formally or officially.
2. The performer in a minstrel show who is placed midway between the end men and engages in banter with them.


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[TW]

August 31, 2009


diktat \dik-TAHT\ , noun:

1. A harsh settlement unilaterally imposed on a defeated party.
2. An authoritative decree or order.


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[TW]

September 1, 2009


fecund \FEE-kuhnd; FEK-uhnd\ , adjective:

1. Capable of producing offspring or vegetation; fruitful; prolific.
2. Intellectually productive or inventive.

[TW]

September 2, 2009


abecedarian \ay-bee-see-DAIR-ee-uhn\ , noun:

1. One who is learning the alphabet; hence, a beginner.
2. One engaged in teaching the alphabet.

adjective:

1. Pertaining to the letters of the alphabet.
2. Arranged alphabetically.
3. Rudimentary; elementary.


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[TW]

September 3, 2009


carom \KAIR-uhm\ , noun:

1. A rebound following a collision; a glancing off.
2. A shot in billiards in which the cue ball successively strikes two other balls on the table.

intransitive verb:

1. To strike and rebound; to glance.
2. To make a carom.

transitive verb:

1. To make (an object) bounce off something; to cause to carom.


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[TW]

September 4, 2009


gadabout \GAD-uh-bout\ , noun:

1. Someone who roams about in search of amusement or social activity.


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[TW]

September 5, 2009


voluptuary \vuh-LUHP-choo-er-ee\ , noun:

1. A person devoted to luxury and the gratification of sensual appetites; a sensualist.

adjective:

1. Of, pertaining to, or characterized by preoccupation with luxury and sensual pleasure.


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[TW]

September 6, 2009


acquiesce \ak-wee-ES\ , intransitive verb:

1. To accept or consent passively or without objection -- usually used with 'in' or 'to'.


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[TW]

September 7, 2009


sacrosanct \SAK-roh-sankt\ , adjective:

1. Extremely sacred or inviolable.
2. Not to be entered or trespassed upon.
3. Above or beyond criticism, change, or interference.


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[TW]

September 8, 2009


refulgent \rih-FUL-juhnt\ , adjective:

1. Shining brightly; radiant; brilliant; resplendent.


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[TW]

September 9, 2009


malapropism \mal-uh-PROP-iz-uhm\ , noun:

1. An act or habit of misusing words ridiculously, esp. by the confusion of words that are similar in sound.
2. An example of such misuse.


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[TW]

September 10, 2009


noisome \NOY-sum\ , adjective:

1. Noxious; harmful; unwholesome.
2. Offensive to the smell or other senses; disgusting.


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