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51 Cards in this Set
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sticky wicket (STIK-ee WIK-it) noun
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A difficult, awkward or uncertain situation.
[From cricket, when the ground is partly wet, resulting in the ball bouncing unpredictably.] |
From English
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dipsy doodle (DIP-see DOOD-l) noun
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1. The zig-zag motion of a ball in baseball or of a player in football.
2. An act performed to evade or distract. [Perhaps from baseball or football.] |
From English
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hat trick (hat trik) noun
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Three successes in a game or another endeavor. E.g, taking three wickets with three successive deliveries by a bowler in cricket, three goals or points won by a player in soccer or ice hockey, etc.
[From cricket, from the former practice of awarding a hat to a bowler who dismissed three batsmen with three successive balls.] |
From English
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wild card (wyld kard) noun
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1. In a game of cards, a card having no fixed value.
2. In a game, such as tennis, a player allowed to enter the tournament without having to fulfill qualifying requirements. 3. In computing, a character (usually *) used to represent any character. 4. An unknown or unpredictable factor. [From card games, where such a card has no pre-determined value and is assigned a value by the player holding it.] |
From English
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standpatism or standpattism (STAND-PAT-iz-uhm) noun
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The practice of refusing to consider change in one's beliefs and opinions, especially in politics.
[The term has its origin in the game of poker. It stems from stand pat, to play one's hand as it's dealt, without drawing other cards.] |
From English
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aphotic (ay-FO-tik) adjective
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Lightless, especially without sunlight.
[From Greek a- (not) + phot- (light). Ultimately from Indo-European root bha- (to shine) that's also the source of beacon, beckon, phantom, phenomenon, and phosphorous.] |
From Greek
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plashy (PLASH-ee) adjective
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1. Marshy; watery; full of puddles.
2. Splashy. [From Middle English plasch (pool), probably of imitative origin.] |
From Middle English
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procellous (pro-SEL-uhs) adjective
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Stormy, as the sea.
[From Latin procellosus (stormy), from procella (storm).] |
From Latin
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scrabble (SKRAB-uhl) verb tr., intr.
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1. To scratch or scrape, as with claws or hands.
2. To struggle to obtain something not easily available. 3. To climb over something hastily or clumsily. 4. To scribble. [From Dutch schrabbelen, from schrabben (to scrape or scratch).] |
From Dutch
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scrabble (SKRAB-uhl) noun
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The act of scratching, scraping, struggling, scribbling, climbing, etc. frantically, desperately, or with difficulty.
[From Dutch schrabbelen, from schrabben (to scrape or scratch |
From Dutch
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balsamic (bal-SAM-ik) adjective
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1. Fragrant.
2. Soothing or healing. 3. Relating to balsam. [From Latin balsamum, from Greek balsamon.] |
From Latin
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proceleusmatic (pros-uh-loos-MAT-ik) adjective
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Inciting, exhorting, or inspiring.
[From Late Latin proceleusmaticus, from Greek prokeleusmatikos (calling for incitement), from keleuein (to rouse to action).] |
From Late Latin
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proceleusmatic (pros-uh-loos-MAT-ik) noun
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A metrical foot of four short syllables.
[From Late Latin proceleusmaticus, from Greek prokeleusmatikos (calling for incitement), from keleuein (to rouse to action).] |
From Late Latin
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pulchritude (PUL-kri-tood, -tyood) noun
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Beauty.
[From Latin pulchritudo, from pulcher (beautiful).] |
From Latin
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terpsichorean (turp-si-kuh-REE-uhn, turp-si-KOR-ee-uhn, -KORE-) adjective
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Of or relating to dancing.
[From Terpsichore, the Muse of dancing and choral song in Greek mythology. The word Terpsichore is the feminine form of terpsichoros (delighting in the dance), a combination of Greek terpein (to delight) and khoros (dance), which is ultimately from Indo-European root gher- (to grasp or to enclose) that's also the source of chorus, carol, choir, garth, court, and garden.] |
From Greek myth
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terpsichorean (turp-si-kuh-REE-uhn, turp-si-KOR-ee-uhn, -KORE-) noun
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A dancer.
[From Terpsichore, the Muse of dancing and choral song in Greek mythology. The word Terpsichore is the feminine form of terpsichoros (delighting in the dance), a combination of Greek terpein (to delight) and khoros (dance), which is ultimately from Indo-European root gher- (to grasp or to enclose) that's also the source of chorus, carol, choir, garth, court, and garden.] |
From Greek myth
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succedaneum (suk-si-DAY-nee-uhm) noun
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A substitute.
[From Latin succedere (to succeed), from suc- (a variant of sub-, used before c) and cedere (to go). Ultimately from Indo-European root ked- (to go or yield) that's also the ancestor of exceed, secede, proceed, cease, and necessary.] |
From Latin
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margaritaceous (mar-guhr-i-TAY-shuhs) adjective
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Pearly.
[From Latin margarita, from Greek margarites (pearl).] |
From Latin
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erg (urg) noun
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The unit of work or energy in the centimeter-gram-second system.
[From Greek ergon (work). Ultimately from Indo-European root werg- (to do) which gave us ergonomic, work, energy, metallurgy, surgery, wright, and orgy.] |
From Greek
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erg (erg) noun
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A large area of land covered with shifting sand. Also known as a sand sea.
[From Arabic.] |
From Arabic
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lee (lee) noun
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1. Shelter.
2. The side (of a ship, for example) that's sheltered or away from the direction from which the wind blows. [From Middle English, from Old English hleo (shelter).] |
From Middle English
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lee (lee) adjective
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Of or pertaining to the side that's away from the wind.
[From Middle English, from Old English hleo (shelter).] |
From Middle English
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heft (heft) noun
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1. To test the weight of something by lifting.
2. To heave or hoist. [After heave, on the pattern of cleave/cleft, leave/left, thieve/theft, weave/weft, etc. From Middle English heven (to lift, take).] |
From Middle English
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heft (heft) verb tr.
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1. Weight; heaviness.
2. Importance. [After heave, on the pattern of cleave/cleft, leave/left, thieve/theft, weave/weft, etc. From Middle English heven (to lift, take).] |
From Middle English
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tor (tor) noun
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1. A rocky heap on the top of a hill.
2. A peak of a bared hill. [From Middle English, from Old English torr. Of uncertain origin: probably from Celtic.] |
From Middle English
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ret (ret) verb tr.
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To soak or expose to moisture (flax, hemp, etc.) to remove fiber from
softened wood. [From Middle English reten, perhaps from Middle Dutch.] |
From Middle English
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manque (mang-KAY) adjective
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Unfulfilled in realization of one's potential or ambition.
[From French manqué, past participle of manquer (to lack), from Italian mancare, from manco (lacking, defective), from Latin mancus (maimed,having a crippled hand). Ultimately from Indo-European root man- (hand) that's also the source of manage, maintain, maneuver, manufacture, manuscript, and command.] |
From French
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redux (ri-DUKS) adjective
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Brought back; revisited.
[From Latin re- (again) + dux (leader), from ducere (to lead). Ultimately from Indo-European root deuk- (to lead) that led to other words such as duke, conduct, educate, duct, wanton, and tug.] |
From Latin
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redivivus (red-uh-VY-vuhs) adjective
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Revived or reborn.
[From Latin re- (again) + vivus (living).] |
From Latin
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emeritus (i-MER-i-tuhs) adjective, plural emeriti; feminine emerita, plural emeritae
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Retired but retaining an honorary title.
[From Latin emeritus (one who has served his time), past participle of emerere (to serve out one's term), from merere (to deserve, serve, earn).] |
From Latin
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regnant (REG-nuhnt) adjective
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1. Ruling (reigning, as opposed to simply having the title by marriage).
2. Predominant; widespread. [From Latin regnare (to reign). Ultimately from Indo-European reg- (to move in a straight line, to lead or rule) that's also the source of regime, direct, rectangle, erect, rectum, alert, source, and surge.] |
From Latin
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internationalization (in-tuhr-NASH-uh-nuh-ly-ZAY-shun) noun
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. The act or process of making something international or placing
it under international control. 2. Making a product or process suitable for use around the globe. This 20-letter word is often abbreviated as i18n when used by software engineers. Making a program useful in another country requires more than just replacing error messages from a new language. In software development, internationalization means designing a program so that it can be easily customized for various languages, scripts, units, currencies, and date/time formats. The counterpart of i18n is localization (l10n) which is adapting a program for use in a particular locale. In other words, internationalization makes a piece of software easy to localize. |
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honorificabilitudinity (ON-uh-rif-i-kay-bi-li-too-DIN-i-tee, -tyoo-) noun
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Honorableness.
[From Medieval Latin honorificabilitudinitas, from Latin honor.] |
From Medieval Latin
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antidisestablishmentarianism (an-tee-dis-eh-stab-lish-men-TAIR-ee-uh-niz-em)
noun |
Opposition to separation of the church and state.
[From Latin anti- (against) + dis- (apart, away) + English establish, from Latin stabilire, from stare (to stand) + -arian (one who supports) + Greek -ism (practice or state).] |
From Latin
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floccinaucinihilipilification (FLOK-si-NO-si-NY-HIL-i-PIL-i-fi-KAY-shuhn) noun
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Estimating something as worthless.
[From Latin flocci, from floccus (tuft of wool) + nauci, from naucum (a trifling thing) + nihili, from Latin nihil (nothing) + pili, from pilus (a hair, trifle) + -fication (making).] |
From Latin
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pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis, noun
(NOO-muh-noh-UL-truh-MY-kruh-SKOP-ik-SIL-i-koh-vol-KAY-no-KOH-nee-O-sis, nyoo-) |
A lung disease caused by inhaling fine particles of silica.
[From New Latin, from Greek pneumono- (lung) + Latin ultra- (beyond, extremely) + Greek micro- (small) + -scopic (looking) + Latin silico (like sand) + volcano + Greek konis (dust) + -osis (condition).] At 45 letters, it's the longest word in any English language dictionary. It's a trophy word -- its only job is to serve as the longest word. In day-to-day use, its nine-letter synonym "silicosis" works just as well. |
From New Latin
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erythrophobia (i-rith-ruh-FO-bee-uh) noun
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1. Hypersensitivity to the color red.
2. An extreme fear of blushing. [From Greek erythros (red) + phobia (fear).] |
From Greek
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nostomania (nos-tuh-MAY-nee-uh, -mayn-yuh) noun
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An overwhelming desire to return home or to go back to familiar places.
[From Greek nostos (a return home) + -mania (excessive enthusiasm or madness).] |
From Greek
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gynophobia or gynephobia (gyn-uh-FO-bee-uh, jyn-) noun
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The fear of women.
[From Greek gyne (female, woman) + -phobia (fear).] |
From Greek
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theomania (thee-o-MAY-nee-uh, -MAIN-yuh) noun
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The belief that one is God or specially chosen by God on a mission.
[From Greek theos (god) + -mania (excessive enthusiasm or craze).] |
From Greek
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nosophobia (nos-uh-FO-bee-uh) noun
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An irrational fear of contracting diseases.
[From Greek nosos (disease) + -phobia (fear).] |
From Greek
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chapman (CHAP-man) noun
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A peddler; a merchant.
[From Old English ceapman, from ceap (trade, bargain), from Latin caupo (shopkeeper or innkeeper) + man. The German equivalent is Kaufmann, Dutch koopman.] |
From Old English
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baxter (BAK-stuhr) noun
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A baker, especially a female baker.
[From Old English baecestre, feminine of baecere, from bacan (to bake).] Other names for bakers have been backster, backmann, becker, furner (literally, one who is in charge of an oven), and pistor (literally, one who pounded the grain: a miller or a baker). |
From Old English
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mercer (MUR-suhr) noun
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A dealer in textiles, especially silk and other fine materials.
[From Old French mercier (trader), from Latin merx (goods). Words such as market, merchant, commerce, and mercantile share the same origin.] |
From Old French
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lorimer (LOR-i-muhr), also loriner, noun
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A maker of bits, spurs and other small metal accessories for horses.
[From Old French loremier, from Latin lorum (strap).] |
From Old French
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sutler (SUT-luhr) noun
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A merchant who follows an army to sell provisions to the soldiers.
[From obsolete Dutch soeteler, from soetelen (to do menial work).] |
From obsolete Dutch
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calced (kalst) adjective
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Wearing shoes.
[From Latin calceus (shoe).] |
From Latin
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slipshod (SLIP-shod) adjective
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1. Careless; sloppy; shabby.
2. Wearing loose shoes or slippers, especially those worn down at the heel. [From slip (slide) + shod (wearing shoes), past and past participle of shoe.] |
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gumshoe (GUM-shoo) noun
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1. A detective.
2. A rubber overshoe. [The word is an allusion to the quiet snooping that a detective is supposed to do. Wearing rubber shoes, one can move around without making much noise.] |
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cordwainer (KORD-way-nuhr) noun
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A shoemaker.
[From Old French cordewan(from Córdoba).] |
From Old French
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goody two-shoes (GOOD-ee TOO-shooz) noun
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A smugly virtuous person.
[After the title character in The History of Little Goody Two-Shoes, a children's book believed to have been written by Oliver Goldsmith.] |
A children's book
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