A Word A Day (Nov-Dec 2006)

Front 1

third degree (thurd di-GREE) noun

Back 1

Intensive questioning using rough treatment.

[Origin somewhat unknown. It might come from the third degree in freemasonry that was the most difficult to achieve. One aspiring to that rank was supposed to undergo intense questioning and grilling.]

Front 2

third degree (thurd di-GREE) adjective

Back 2

Pertaining to the third degree.

[Origin somewhat unknown. It might come from the third degree in freemasonry that was the most difficult to achieve. One aspiring to that rank was supposed to undergo intense questioning and grilling.]

Front 3

third degree (thurd di-GREE) verb

Back 3

To subject to such treatment.

[Origin somewhat unknown. It might come from the third degree in freemasonry that was the most difficult to achieve. One aspiring to that rank was supposed to undergo intense questioning and grilling.]

Front 4

second fiddle (SEK-uhnd FID-uhl) noun

Back 4

Secondary role. A person in such a role.

[In an orchestra, the first violins carry the main melody while second violins are considered to be in a subordinate position.]

Front 5

first water (furst WA-tuhr) noun

Back 5

1. The highest degree of quality in a precious stone, especially a diamond.

2. The best grade or quality.

[Transparency is highly desirable in diamonds, and when they are nearly as transparent as water, they are known as diamonds of the first water.]

Front 6

bodacious (boh-DAY-shuhs) adjective

Back 6

1. Outright, thorough.

2. Remarkable, impressive.

3. Gutsy, brazen.

4. Voluptuous.

[A blend of bold and audacious.]

Front 7

jounce (jouns) verb tr., intr.

Back 7

To bounce along.

A jolting movement.

[Of uncertain origin, apparently a blend of joll (to knock or bump)
and bounce.]

Front 8

jounce (jouns) noun

Back 8

A jolting movement.

[Of uncertain origin, apparently a blend of joll (to knock or bump)
and bounce.]

Front 9

tween (tween) noun

Back 9

A youngster between middle childhood and adolescence, usually between 8 and 12 years.

[A blend of teen and between.]

Front 10

vespiary (VES-pee-er-ee) noun

Back 10

A nest or colony of wasps.

[Blend of Latin vespa (wasp) and apiary (a place where bees are kept).]

Front 11

wangle (WANG-guhl) verb

Back 11

To achieve something by scheming or manipulating.

[Of uncertain origin, apparently a blend of wag and dangle.]

Front 12

alchemy (AL-kuh-mee) noun

Back 12

1. A medieval predecessor of chemistry.

2. A mysterious or magical process of transformation.

[From Arabic al-kimiya (the chemistry), from Greek khemeia (transmutation).]

Hint 12

From Arabic

Front 13

lariat (LAIR-ee-uht) noun

Back 13

A long, light rope with a running noose, used to catch cattle,
horses, etc. Also known as a lasso.

[From Spanish la reata (the rope), from reatar (to tie again), from re- (again) + atar (tie), from Latin aptare (join, fit), from aptus (apt, fit).]

Hint 13

From Spanish

Front 14

albatross (AL-buh-tros) noun, plural albatross or albatrosses

Back 14

1. Any of the Diomedeidae family of large, web-footed seabirds.

2. A persistent wearisome burden, as of guilt, for example.

[Apparently an alteration of Portuguese or Spanish alcatraz, from Arabic al-gattas (the diver, name for a kind of sea eagle).]

Hint 14

From Arabic

Front 15

hoi polloi (hoi puh-LOI) noun

Back 15

The common people, the masses.

[From Greek hoi polloi (the many).]

Hint 15

From Greek

Front 16

amalgam (uh-MAL-guhm) noun

Back 16

1. A mixture of diverse elements

2. An alloy of mercury with another metal.

[Via French and Latin from Arabic al-malgham (the ointment), from Greek malagma (softening agent).]

Hint 16

From Arabic

Front 17

exigent (EK-si-jent) adjective

Back 17

1. Requiring urgent attention.

2. Demanding; exacting.

[From Latin exigent-, exigere (to demand, to drive out), from ex- + agere (to drive). From Indo-European ag- (to drive, draw) also the source of act, agent, agitate, litigate, synagogue, and ambassador.]

Hint 17

From Latin

Front 18

subjacent (sub-JAY-suhnt) adjective

Back 18

Lying under or below something.

[From Latin subjacent- (stem of subjacens), present participle of subjacere (to underlie), from sub- (under) + jacere (to lie). From Indo-European ye- (to throw), that is also the source of jettison, eject, project, reject, object, subject, adjective, joist, and ejaculate.]

Hint 18

From Latin

Front 19

invidious (in-VID-ee-uhs) adjective

Back 19

Unjust, offensive, or hateful, and likely to arouse resentment, ill will, anger, etc.

[From Latin invidiosus (envious, envied, hostile), from invidia (envy, hostility), from videre (to see). From Indo-European weid- (to see) that is also the source of guide, wise, vision, advice, idea, story, and history.]

Hint 19

From Latin

Front 20

circumscribe (SUHR-kuhm-skryb) verb tr.

Back 20

To draw a line around, to enclose within bounds, to limit or restrict.

[From Latin circumscribere, from circum- (around) + scribere (to write). From Indo-European skribh- (to cut, separate, or sift) also manuscript, subscribe, scripture, scribble, describe, circumflex, and circumspect.]

Hint 20

From Latin

Front 21

effrontery (i-FRUN-tuh-ree) noun

Back 21

Shameless boldness; presumptuousness.

[From French effronterie, from effronté (shameless), from Latin effrons (barefaced, shameless), from ex- (out of, from) + frons (forehead, brow).

Hint 21

From French

Front 22

prise (pryz) verb tr.

Back 22

1. To force open or part something with a lever.

2. To extract information from someone with difficulty.

[From Old French prise, from Latin prehendere (to seize). From Indo-European ghend-/ghed- (to seize or to take) also source of pry, prey, spree, reprise, surprise, osprey, prison.]

Hint 22

From Old French

Front 23

prise (pryz) noun

Back 23

A lever.

[From Old French prise, from Latin prehendere (to seize). Ultimately from the Indo-European root ghend-/ghed- (to seize or to take) that is also the source of pry, prey, spree, reprise, surprise, pregnant, osprey, prison,
and get.]

Hint 23

From Old French

Front 24

virtu (vuhr-TOO) noun

Back 24

1. A love of or taste for fine objects of art.

2. Objects of art, curios, etc.

[From Latin virtus (worth, excellence). Ultimately from the Indo-European root wi-ro (man) that is also the source of virile, virtue, virago, virtuoso, werewolf, and world.]

Hint 24

From Latin

Front 25

pencel or pensil (PEN-suhl) noun

Back 25

A small flag at the end of a lance.

[From Old French penoncel, diminutive of penon (pennon), from Latin penna (feather). Ultimately from the Indo-European root pet- (to rush, fly) that is also the root of feather, pin, pinnacle, impetus, symptom, appetite, and petition.]

Hint 25

From Latin

Front 26

divers (DY-vuhrz) adjective

Back 26

Various; several.

[From Latin diversus, from divertere (to turn aside), from di- (away, apart) + vertere (to turn). Ultimately from the Indo-European root wer- (to turn or bend) that is also the source of words such as wring, weird, writhe, worth, revert, and universe.]

Hint 26

From Latin

Front 27

delate (di-LAYT) verb tr.

Back 27

To report (an offense), denounce, or accuse.

[From Latin delatus, past participle of deferre (to bring down, accuse, or report), from de- + ferre (to bear), which is from Indo-European bher- (to carry, to bear children) that gave birth to words such as basket, suffer, fertile, burden, bring, bear, offer, prefer, and birth.]

Hint 27

From Latin

Front 28

flummery (FLUHM-uh-ree) noun

Back 28

1. Any of various desserts made of flour, milk, eggs, etc.

2. Empty compliment; complete nonsense.

[From Welsh llymru, from llym (sour or sharp). A kind of porridge made by long-time water soaked oatmeal, until it has turned sour. Welsh "ll" sounds variously as thl, chl, shl, fl, etc.]

Hint 28

From Welsh

Front 29

cakewalk (KAYK-wok) noun

Back 29

Something very easy to do, having little or no opposition.

[A popular contest among slaves on the American plantations. A strutting dance, developed as a parody of white owners. Couples with the most stylish steps won a cake. Began to refer to anything easy to do. The idiom "to take the cake" = same origin.]

Front 30

chocolate-box (CHO-kuh-lit boks, CHOK-lit -) adjective

Back 30

Having a romanticized beautiful image; stereotypically pretty.

[From the kind of pictures often seen on boxes of chocolate.]

Front 31

ambrosia (am-BROE-zhuh) noun

Back 31

1. The food of the gods.

2. Something very pleasing to taste or smell.

3. A dessert made of oranges and coconut.

[From Greek ambrotos, a- (not) + mbrotos (mortal). From Indo- European mer- (to rub away or harm) also morse, mortal, mordant, mortgage, nightmare.]

Hint 31

From Greek

Front 32

cookie-cutter (KOOK-ee kuht-uhr) adjective

Back 32

Mass-produced; identical; unimaginative; lacking individuality.

[After a tool used to cut out cookie dough in various shapes.]

Front 33

jugulate (JOO-gyuh-layt) verb tr.

Back 33

1. To stop something by extreme measures.

2. To slit the throat.

[From Latin jugulatus, past participle of jugulare (to cut the throat), from jugulum (collarbone, neck), diminutive of jugum (yoke). From Indo-European yeug- (to join) also junction, yoke, yoga, adjust, juxtapose, and junta.]

Hint 33

From Latin

Front 34

forehanded (FOR-han-did) adjective

Back 34

1. Providing for the future needs; prudent.

2. Well-to-do.

3. Made with the palm facing forward (such as a stroke in tennis).

[From forehand, from fore- (front) + hand. From the idea of having worked toward the future.]

Front 35

white-knuckle (HWYT NUK-uhl) adjective

Back 35

Characterized by extreme nervousness or fear.

[From the appearance of blood-drained fists, clenched tightly around something, such as a fairground ride.]

Front 36

leadfoot (LED-foot) noun

Back 36

One who drives an automobile too fast, especially as a habit.

[From the suggestion that one has feet made of lead, a heavy metal, that keeps the accelerator of the vehicle pressed down.]

Front 37

skinflint (SKIN-flint) noun

Back 37

Someone who is stingy; a miser.

[Flint stones were used in olden times to start a fire. The term skinflint derives from the idea that a miserly person would go to the extreme and "skin a flint" or use a flint till it's as thin as skin.]

Front 38

bling-bling (bling-bling) noun

Back 38

Expensive, flashy jewelry or other items.

[From hip-hop slang, apparently imitative of the sounds of the clanging jewelry, or of the light reflecting from them.]

Front 39

arsy-varsy (AR-see VAR-see) adjective, adverb

Back 39

Upside-down, backward, preposterous.

[A facetious rhyming compound of arse; perhaps coined after vice versa, from Latin versus, from vertere (to turn).]

Front 40

jimjams (JIM-jams) noun

Back 40

1. Extreme nervousness; jitters

2. Delirium tremens: tremors and hallucinations caused by withdrawal from alcohol.

[Perhaps a reduplicative of jam.]

Front 41

pooh-pooh (poo-poo) verb tr., intr.

Back 41

To express contempt for; to make light of; to dismiss.

[Reduplicative of pooh (sound made by blowing something away with lips), an exclamation of disdain or disbelief.]

Front 42

razzmatazz (RAZ-muh-TAZ) noun

Back 42

1. Noisy, showy display.

2. Ambiguous, evasive language.

[Apparently an alteration of razzle-dazzle, which is a reduplicative of dazzle.]

Front 43

agonistes (ag-uh-NIS-teez) adjective

Back 43

Engaged in a struggle.

[From Greek agonistes, from agon (contest). Ultimately from the Indo-European root ag- (to drive, draw, or move), that is also the source of agony, agent, agitate, actor, axiom, and assay.]

Hint 43

From Greek

Front 44

prepense (pri-PENS) adjective

Back 44

Planned; premeditated.

[From Anglo-Norman purpenser (to premeditate), from Latin pensare (to think).]

Hint 44

From Anglo-Norman

Front 45

akimbo (uh-KIM-bo) adjective

Back 45

With hands on hips and elbows turned outwards.

[Of uncertain origin, probably from Old Norse.]

Hint 45

From Old Norse

Front 46

galore (guh-LOAR) adjective, adverb

Back 46

In abundance.

[From Irish go leor (enough).]

Hint 46

From Irish

Front 47

regent (REE-juhnt) adjective

Back 47

Ruling for a limited period, on behalf of a king or queen who is a minor, absent, or ill.

[From Latin regent-, present participle of regere (to rule). From the Indo-European reg- (to move in a straight line, to lead or rule) that is also the source of regime, direct, rectangle, erect, rectum, alert, source, and surge.]

Hint 47

From Latin