M.w. Words Of The Day

Front 1

felicitous

Back 1

1 : very well suited or expressed : apt
2 : pleasant, delightful

Front 2

quadrennial

Back 2

1 : consisting of or lasting for four years
2 : occurring or being done every four years

Front 3

groundling

Back 3

1 a : a spectator who stood in the pit of an Elizabethan theater b : a person of unsophisticated taste
2 : one that lives or works on or near the ground

Front 4

baptism of fire

Back 4

1 : experience that is a severe ordeal; especially : a soldier's first exposure to enemy fire
2 : a spiritual baptism by a gift of the Holy Spirit

Front 5

malleable

Back 5

1 : capable of being extended or shaped by beating with a hammer or by the pressure of rollers
2 a : capable of being altered or controlled by outside forces or influences b : having a capacity for adaptive change

Front 6

canaille
kuh-NYE

Back 6

1: rabble, riffraff
2: proletarian

Front 7

beatific
\bee-uh-TIFF-ik\

Back 7

1 : of, possessing, or imparting a state of utmost bliss
2 : having a blissful appearance

Front 8

gloze

Back 8

1 : to mask the true nature of : give a deceptively attractive appearance to — often used with "over"
2 : to deal with (a subject or problem) too lightly or not at all — often used with "over"
SYN gloss

Front 9

incoherent

Back 9

lacking coherence: as a : lacking cohesion : loose b : lacking orderly continuity, arrangement, or relevance : inconsistent c : lacking normal clarity or intelligibility in speech or thought

Front 10

noetic

Back 10

of, relating to, or based on the intellect

Front 11

conquian
KONK-ee-un

Back 11

a card game for two played with 40 cards from which all games of rummy developed

Front 12

Augean stable
aw-JEE-un-STAY-bul

Back 12

a condition or place marked by great accumulation of filth or corruption
"clean the Augean stable," etc.

Front 13

colubrine
KAHL-yuh-bryne

Back 13

1 : of, relating to, or resembling a snake
2 : of or relating to a large cosmopolitan family (Colubridae) of chiefly nonvenomous snakes
"snakelike", "serpentine", and "ophidian"

Front 14

Mrs. Grundy

Back 14

one marked by prudish conventionality in personal conduct

Front 15

bolide

Back 15

a large meteor : fireball; especially : one that explodes

Front 16

martinet
mar-tuh-NET

Back 16

1 : a strict disciplinarian
2 : a person who stresses a rigid adherence to the details of forms and methods

Front 17

maxixe

Back 17

a ballroom dance of Brazilian origin that resembles the two-step

Front 18

collude

Back 18

conspire, plot

Front 19

coeval

Back 19

of the same or equal age, antiquity, or duration
(most typically used to refer to things that have existed together for a very long time (such as galaxies) or that were concurrent with each other in the distant past)

Front 20

evanescent

Back 20

tending to vanish like vapor

Front 21

elicit

Back 21

1 : to draw forth or bring out (something latent or potential)
2 : to call forth or draw out (as information or a response)

Front 22

vulnerary

Back 22

used for or useful in healing wounds

Front 23

alow

Back 23

below
(usually found in the combination "alow and aloft")

Front 24

effulgence

Back 24

radiant splendor : brilliance

Front 25

refulgence

Back 25

reflective effulgence

Front 26

Panglossian

Back 26

marked by the view that all is for the best in this best of possible worlds : excessively optimistic

Front 27

astrolabe

Back 27

a compact instrument used to observe and calculate the position of celestial bodies before the invention of the sextant

Front 28

tare

Back 28

1 : a deduction from the gross weight of a substance and its container made in allowance for the weight of the container; also : the weight of the container
2 : counterweight

Front 29

flexuous

Back 29

1 : having curves, turns, or windings
2 : lithe or fluid in action or movement

Front 30

inane (n)

Back 30

(illimitable) void or empty space

Front 31

saxicolous

Back 31

inhabiting or growing among rocks

Front 32

arenicolous

Back 32

living, burrowing, or growing in the sand

Front 33

cavernicolous

Back 33

inhabiting caves

Front 34

nidicolous

Back 34

living in nests or in the nests of other animals

Front 35

chastise

Back 35

1 : to inflict punishment on (as by whipping)
2 : to censure severely : castigate

Front 36

thaumaturgy
THAW-muh-ter-jee

Back 36

the performance of miracles; specifically : magic
also: "thaumaturge", "thaumaturgist", and the adjective "thaumaturgic"

Front 37

logomachy

Back 37

1 : a dispute over or about words
2 : a controversy marked by verbiage

Front 38

proscribe

Back 38

1 : outlaw
2 : to condemn or forbid as harmful or unlawful

Front 39

flamen

Back 39

a Roman priest who served just one of the gods

Front 40

waggish

Back 40

1 : resembling or characteristic of a wag : displaying good-humored mischief
2 : done or made for sport : humorous

Front 41

waggery

Back 41

merriment or practical joking

Front 42

transmogrify

Back 42

to change or alter greatly and often with grotesque or humorous effect

Front 43

journeyman

Back 43

1 : a worker who has learned a trade and works for another person
2 : an experienced reliable worker, athlete, or performer

Front 44

deprecatory

Back 44

of the nature of or expressing disapproval, protest, or depreciation

Front 45

zaftig

Back 45

having a full rounded figure : pleasingly plump

Front 46

exponent

Back 46

1 : a symbol written above and to the right of a mathematical expression to indicate the operation of raising to a power
2 a : one that expounds or interprets b : one that champions, practices, or exemplifies

Front 47

eclectic

Back 47

1 : selecting what appears to be best in various doctrines, methods, or styles
2 : composed of elements drawn from various sources; also : heterogeneous

Front 48

petard
puh-TAHRD

Back 48

1 : a case containing an explosive to break down a door or gate or breach a wall
2 : a firework that explodes with a loud report
(almost always encountered in variations of the phrase "hoist with one's own petard")

Front 49

will-o'-the-wisp

Back 49

1 : a light that appears at night over marshy ground
2 : a misleading or elusive goal or hope

Front 50

sub rosa

Back 50

in confidence : secretly

Front 51

postulate

Back 51

1 : demand, claim
2 a : to assume or claim as true, existent, or necessary b : to assume as an established truth (as in logic or mathematics)

Front 52

haywire

Back 52

1 : being out of order or having gone wrong
2 : emotionally or mentally upset or out of control : crazy

Front 53

archetype

Back 53

the original pattern or model of which all things of the same type are representations or copies : prototype; also : a perfect example

Front 54

glower

Back 54

to look or stare with sullen annoyance or anger

Front 55

magniloquent

Back 55

speaking in or characterized by a high-flown often bombastic style or manner

Front 56

wanderlust

Back 56

strong longing for or impulse towards wandering

Front 57

verdure
VER-jer

Back 57

1 : the greenness of growing vegetation; also : such vegetation itself
2 : a condition of health and vigor

Front 58

obfuscate

Back 58

1 a : darken b : to make obscure
2 : confuse
3 : to be evasive, unclear, or confusing

Front 59

forte
FORT

Back 59

something in which one excels : one's strong point

Front 60

hummock

Back 60

1 : a rounded knoll or hillock
2 : a ridge of ice
3 : a fertile area in the southern United States and especially Florida that is usually higher than its surroundings and that is characterized by hardwood vegetation and deep humus-rich soil

Front 61

hillock

Back 61

a small hill

Front 62

knoll

Back 62

a small, rounded hill or eminence; hillock

Front 63

omnium-gatherum

Back 63

a miscellaneous collection (as of things or persons)

Front 64

clement

Back 64

1 : inclined to be merciful : lenient
2 : mild

Front 65

palimpsest

Back 65

1 : writing material (as a parchment or tablet) used one or more times after earlier writing has been erased
2 : something having usually diverse layers or aspects apparent beneath the surface

Front 66

spelunker

Back 66

one who makes a hobby of exploring and studying caves

Front 67

artifice

Back 67

Merriam-Webster’s
Word of the Day


May 2

artifice

\AHR-tuh-fus\


noun


Meaning


1 a : clever or artful skill : ingenuity b : an ingenious device or expedient
2 a : an artful stratagem : trick b : false or insincere behavior

Front 68

repine

Back 68

1 : to feel or express dejection or discontent : complain
2 : to long for something

Front 69

sarcasm

Back 69

1 : a sharp and often satirical or ironic utterance designed to cut or give pain
2 a : a mode of satirical wit depending for its effect on bitter, caustic, and often ironic language that is usually directed against an individual b : the use or language of sarcasm

Front 70

nosocomial
nah-suh-KOH-mee-ul

Back 70

acquired or occurring in a hospital

Front 71

plagiary
PLAY-jee-air-ee

Back 71

1 archaic : one that plagiarizes
2 : plagiarism

Front 72

hoity-toity

Back 72

1: thoughtlessly silly or frivolous : flighty
2: marked by an air of assumed importance : highfalutin

Front 73

highfalutin

Back 73

pretentious; bombastic; pompous; haughty

Front 74

elephantiasis
el-uh-fun-TYE-uh-sis

Back 74

1 : enlargement and thickening of tissues; specifically : the enormous enlargement of a limb or the scrotum caused by obstruction of lymphatics by filarial worms
2 : an undesirable usually enormous growth, enlargement, or overdevelopment

Front 75

mirage

Back 75

1 : an illusion sometimes seen at sea, in the desert, or over hot pavement that looks like a pool of water or a mirror in which distant objects are seen inverted
2 : something illusory and unattainable like a mirage

Front 76

derrick

Back 76

1 : a hoisting apparatus employing a tackle rigged at the end of a beam
2 : a framework or tower over a deep drill hole (as of an oil well) for supporting boring tackle or for hoisting and lowering

Front 77

fructuous
FRUK-chuh-wus

Back 77

fruitful

Front 78

usufruct
yoo-zoo-fruhkt

Back 78

the right to use or enjoy something

Front 79

embezzle

Back 79

to appropriate (as property entrusted to one's care) fraudulently to one's own use

Front 80

defalcation

Back 80

1 : the act or an instance of embezzling
2 : a failure to meet a promise or an expectation

Front 81

foppery

Back 81

1: foolish character or action : folly
2: the behavior or dress of a fop

Front 82

fop

Back 82

a foolish or silly person

Front 83

whilom
WYE-lum

Back 83

former

Front 84

vibrissa
vye-BRISS-uh

Back 84

1 : one of the stiff hairs that are located especially about the nostrils or on other parts of the face in many mammals and that often serve as tactile organs
2 : one of the bristly feathers near the mouth of many and especially insectivorous birds that may help to prevent the escape of insects

Front 85

juxtapose

Back 85

to place side by side

Front 86

star-crossed

Back 86

not favored by the stars; ill-fated

Front 87

qui vive
kee-VEEV

Back 87

alert, lookout
(esp. on the qui vive)

Front 88

callithump

Back 88

a noisy boisterous band or parade

Front 89

temporize

Back 89

1 : to act to suit the time or occasion : yield to current or dominant opinion

2 : to draw out discussions or negotiations so as to gain time

Front 90

ineluctable

Back 90

not to be avoided, changed, or resisted : inevitable

Front 91

vagary
VAY-guh-ree

Back 91

an erratic, unpredictable, or extravagant manifestation, action, or notion

Front 92

refection

Back 92

1 : refreshment of mind, spirit, or body; especially : nourishment

2 a : the taking of refreshment

b : food and drink together : repast

Front 93

ritzy

Back 93

1 : being, characteristic of, or befitting a snob : snobbish

2 : impressively or ostentatiously fancy or stylish : fashionable, posh
("to put on the ritz" means "to indulge in ostentatious display")

Front 94

vagary
VAY-guh-ree

Back 94

an erratic, unpredictable, or extravagant manifestation, action, or notion

Front 95

ululate

Back 95

howl, wail

Front 96

hobgoblin

Back 96

1 : a mischievous goblin

2 : a source of fear, perplexity, or harassment

Front 97

psephology
see-FAH-luh-jee

Back 97

the scientific study of elections

Front 98

vanguard

Back 98

1 : the troops moving at the head of an army

2 : the forefront of an action or movement

Front 99

boustrophedon

Back 99

the writing of alternate lines in opposite directions (as from left to right and from right to left)

"Reverse boustrophedon" = 180 degrees

Front 100

auxiliary

Back 100

1 a : offering or providing help

b : functioning in a subsidiary capacity

2 : constituting a reserve : supplementary

Front 101

raconteur
ra-kahn-TER

Back 101

a person who excels in telling anecdotes

Front 102

jejune

Back 102

1 : lacking nutritive value
2 : devoid of significance or interest : dull
3 : juvenile, puerile

Front 103

countermand

Back 103

1 : to revoke (a command) by a contrary order

2 : to recall or order back by a superseding contrary order

Front 104

zenith

Back 104

1 : the point of the celestial sphere that is directly opposite the nadir and vertically above the observer

2 : the highest point reached in the heavens by a celestial body

3 : culminating point : acme

Front 105

synchronicity

Back 105

1 : the quality or fact of being simultaneous

2 : the coincidental occurrence of events and especially psychic events

Front 106

flounder

Back 106

1 : to struggle to move or obtain footing : thrash about wildly

2 : to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually

Front 107

scintillate

Back 107

1 : to emit sparks : spark

2 : to emit quick flashes as if throwing off sparks : sparkle

Front 108

scintilla

Back 108

a little bit

Front 109

paranymph

Back 109

1 : a friend going with a bridegroom to fetch home the bride in ancient Greece; also : the bridesmaid conducting the bride to the bridegroom

2 a : best man

b : bridesmaid

Front 110

Sisyphean
sis-uh-FEE-un

Back 110

of, relating to, or suggestive of the labors of Sisyphus; specifically : requiring continual and often ineffective effort

Front 111

tantalize

Back 111

(after Tantalus) to tease or torment by offering something desirable but keeping it out of reach

Front 112

bona fides
boh-nuh-FYE-deez

Back 112

1 : good faith : sincerity

2 : evidence of one's good faith or genuineness

3 : evidence of one's qualifications or achievements

Front 113

clitic

Back 113

a word that is treated in pronunciation as forming a part of a neighboring word and that is often unaccented or contracted

Front 114

enclitic

Back 114

a clitic that is associated with the word that comes before it. A proclitic is associated with the word that follows it

Front 115

hector

Back 115

1 : to play the bully : swagger

2 : to intimidate or harass by bluster or personal pressure

Front 116

dram

Back 116

1 : a unit of avoirdupois weight equal to 1/16 ounce
2 : a unit of apothecaries' weight equal to 1/8 ounce
3 : a unit of liquid capacity equal to 1/8 fluid ounce
4 a : a small portion of something to drink *b : a small amount

Front 117

avoirdupois weight 
av-er-duh-'poiz

Back 117

the system of weights in British and U.S. use for goods other than gems

Front 118

veridical

Back 118

1 : truthful, veracious

2 : not illusory : genuine

Front 119

predilection

Back 119

an established preference for something

Front 120

poetaster
POH-uh-tass-ter

Back 120

an inferior poet

Front 121

doggerel

Back 121

verse marked by triviality or inferiority

Front 122

Barmecidal

Back 122

providing only the illusion of abundance

Front 123

agita
AJ-uh-tuh

Back 123

a feeling of agitation or anxiety

Front 124

perfidious

Back 124

of, relating to, or characterized by faithlessness or disloyalty : treacherous

Front 125

burgle

Back 125

1 : to break into and steal from
2 : to commit burglary against

Front 126

congeries

Back 126

aggregation, collection

Front 127

assay

Back 127

: try, attempt
2 a : to analyze (as an ore) for one or more specific components
b : to prove to be of a particular nature by means of analysis
3 : to judge the worth of : estimate

Front 128

odious

Back 128

arousing or deserving hatred or repugnance : hateful

Front 129

nictitate

Back 129

wink

Front 130

coiffure

Back 130

a style or manner of arranging the hair

Front 131

coiffeur

Back 131

a man who works as a hairdresser ("coiffeuse" is the female equivalent)

Front 132

shivaree

Back 132

a noisy mock serenade to a newly married couple

Front 133

disseise

Back 133

to deprive especially wrongfully of seisin: to put out of possession or occupancy : dispossess

Front 134

seisin

Back 134

the possession of land or chattels

Front 135

abrogate

Back 135

1: to abolish by authoritative action : annul
2: to treat as nonexistent

Front 136

condign

Back 136

deserved, appropriate

Front 137

biophilia

Back 137

a hypothetical human tendency to interact or be closely associated with other forms of life in nature

Front 138

compurgator
KAHM-per-gay-ter

Back 138

one who under oath vouches for the character or conduct of an accused person

Front 139

voir dire

Back 139

a preliminary examination to determine the competency of a witness or juror

Front 140

panegyric

Back 140

noun

: a eulogistic oration or writing; also : formal or elaborate praise

Front 141

lickspittle

Back 141

a contemptible, fawning person; a servile flatterer or toady