countermand:
transitive verb:
- to revoke (a former command); to cancel or rescind by giving an order contrary to one previously given
- to recall or order back by a contrary order
noun:
- a contrary order
- revocation of a former order or command
Example: Based in a futuristic radar room near Dulles Airport, it has become a master center, with electronic vision that sees every airplane in the system and the authority to question and, in some circumstances, countermand decisions made by individual controllers. [Reference: William Langewiesche, "Slam and Jam", The Atlantic , October 1997]
Sunday, August 29, 2010
MANSE
manse:
- a large and imposing residence
- the residence of a clergyman
Example: That Carol was a certified divorcee was one of many facts about her which failed to fit, along with her still living with her widowed father in this weird gothic Victorian manse. [Reference: Erik Tarloff, The Man Who Wrote the Book]
- a large and imposing residence
- the residence of a clergyman
Example: That Carol was a certified divorcee was one of many facts about her which failed to fit, along with her still living with her widowed father in this weird gothic Victorian manse. [Reference: Erik Tarloff, The Man Who Wrote the Book]
MOIETY
moiety:
- one of two equal parts; a half
- an indefinite part; a small portion or share
- one of two basic tribal subdivisions
Example: Cut off from news at home, fearful of a blood bath, anxious to salvage a moiety of the reform program, the Prague leadership accepted Moscow's diktat. [Reference: Karl E. Meyer, "Pangloss in Prague", New York Times , June 27, 1993]
- one of two equal parts; a half
- an indefinite part; a small portion or share
- one of two basic tribal subdivisions
Example: Cut off from news at home, fearful of a blood bath, anxious to salvage a moiety of the reform program, the Prague leadership accepted Moscow's diktat. [Reference: Karl E. Meyer, "Pangloss in Prague", New York Times , June 27, 1993]
GUBERNATORIAL
gubernatorial: of or pertaining to a governor
Example: Prisoners, the vast majority of them lifers in a state where a life term means life, blamed their despair on tough parole laws and a dearth of gubernatorial pardons. [Reference: Jill Smolowe, "Bringing Decency Into Hell", Time , December 14, 1992]
Example: Prisoners, the vast majority of them lifers in a state where a life term means life, blamed their despair on tough parole laws and a dearth of gubernatorial pardons. [Reference: Jill Smolowe, "Bringing Decency Into Hell", Time , December 14, 1992]
Saturday, August 28, 2010
BILLINGSGATE
billingsgate:
- coarsely abusive language
- profane language
Example: The campaigns of the two Roosevelts were colorful and gave the press plenty of material but, generally speaking, deft humor seems to have replaced outright billingsgate. [Reference: George E. Reedy, "When Vilification Was in Flower", New York Times , July 15, 1984]
- coarsely abusive language
- profane language
Example: The campaigns of the two Roosevelts were colorful and gave the press plenty of material but, generally speaking, deft humor seems to have replaced outright billingsgate. [Reference: George E. Reedy, "When Vilification Was in Flower", New York Times , July 15, 1984]
INTRANSIGENT
intransigent: uncompromising; refusing to compromise
Example: The CEO of the company remained intransigent, refusing all suggestions for improvement of the procedures.
Example: The CEO of the company remained intransigent, refusing all suggestions for improvement of the procedures.
KVETCH
kvetch: to complain habitually
PRONUNCIATION:
1) ˈkvech
2) ˈkfech
Example: They begin to look like malcontents who kvetch about the weather so much that they don't notice the sun coming out. [Reference: David Shenk, "Slamming Gates", The New Republic , January 26, 1998]
PRONUNCIATION:
1) ˈkvech
2) ˈkfech
Example: They begin to look like malcontents who kvetch about the weather so much that they don't notice the sun coming out. [Reference: David Shenk, "Slamming Gates", The New Republic , January 26, 1998]
ABSCOND
abscond: to depart secretly and hide oneself (especially to avoid arrest or prosecution)
Example: The suspect absconded to China.
Example: The suspect absconded to China.
SENTIENT
sentient:
- responsive to or conscious of sense impressions
- aware
- finely sensitive in perception or feeling
Example: Answers to such profound questions as whether we are the only sentient beings in the universe, whether life is the product of random accident or deeply rooted law, and whether there may be some sort of ultimate meaning to our existence, hinge on what science can reveal about the formation of life. [Reference: Paul Davies, The Fifth Miracle]
- responsive to or conscious of sense impressions
- aware
- finely sensitive in perception or feeling
Example: Answers to such profound questions as whether we are the only sentient beings in the universe, whether life is the product of random accident or deeply rooted law, and whether there may be some sort of ultimate meaning to our existence, hinge on what science can reveal about the formation of life. [Reference: Paul Davies, The Fifth Miracle]
Saturday, August 21, 2010
GALVANIC
galvanic:
- of, pertaining to, or producing a direct current of electricity, especially when produced chemically
- affecting or affected as if by an electric shock; startling; shocking
- stimulating; energizing
Now on Kindle:
- of, pertaining to, or producing a direct current of electricity, especially when produced chemically
- affecting or affected as if by an electric shock; startling; shocking
- stimulating; energizing
Now on Kindle:
Stories for Your Leisure Time [Kindle Edition]
SUCCOR
succor:
noun:
- aid; help; assistance; especially, assistance that relieves and delivers from difficulty, want, or distress
- the person or thing that brings relief
transitive verb:
- to help or relieve when in difficulty, want, or distress; to assist and deliver from suffering; to relieve
Example: There was some talk about the perils of the sea, and a landsman delivered himself of the customary nonsense about the poor mariner wandering in far oceans, tempest-tossed, pursued by dangers, every storm blast and thunderbolt in the home skies moving the friends by snug firesides to compassion for that poor mariner, and prayers for his succor. [Reference: Mark Twain, "Some Rambling Notes of an Idle Excursion", The Atlantic , November 1877]
noun:
- aid; help; assistance; especially, assistance that relieves and delivers from difficulty, want, or distress
- the person or thing that brings relief
transitive verb:
- to help or relieve when in difficulty, want, or distress; to assist and deliver from suffering; to relieve
Example: There was some talk about the perils of the sea, and a landsman delivered himself of the customary nonsense about the poor mariner wandering in far oceans, tempest-tossed, pursued by dangers, every storm blast and thunderbolt in the home skies moving the friends by snug firesides to compassion for that poor mariner, and prayers for his succor. [Reference: Mark Twain, "Some Rambling Notes of an Idle Excursion", The Atlantic , November 1877]
Friday, August 20, 2010
STENTORIAN
stentorian: extremely loud
Example: Then a stentorian voice blared an all-points bulletin: "Calling the G-men! Calling all Americans to war on the underworld!" [Reference: Strobe Talbott, "Resisting the Gangbusters Option", Time , October 15, 1990]
Example: Then a stentorian voice blared an all-points bulletin: "Calling the G-men! Calling all Americans to war on the underworld!" [Reference: Strobe Talbott, "Resisting the Gangbusters Option", Time , October 15, 1990]
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
PHYSIOGNOMY
physiognomy:
- the art of discovering temperament and other characteristic qualities of the mind from the outward appearance, especially by the features of the face
- the face or facial features, especially when regarded as indicating character
- the general appearance or aspect of a thing
Example: Pasteur seems to have been most interested in capturing the actual looks of his subjects, and his portraits form a gallery showing all kinds of physiognomies that are observed with almost clinical patience. [Reference: Patrice Debré, Louis Pasteur (translated by Elborg Forster)]
- the art of discovering temperament and other characteristic qualities of the mind from the outward appearance, especially by the features of the face
- the face or facial features, especially when regarded as indicating character
- the general appearance or aspect of a thing
Example: Pasteur seems to have been most interested in capturing the actual looks of his subjects, and his portraits form a gallery showing all kinds of physiognomies that are observed with almost clinical patience. [Reference: Patrice Debré, Louis Pasteur (translated by Elborg Forster)]
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
KISMET
kismet (Pronunciation: \ˈkizˌmet\):
fate; destiny
Example: Winning wasn't essential, though it seemed kismet that Cone, for a second straight year, came back from injury to pitch in a game that clinched a bit of postseason bliss. [Reference: Claire Smith, "Cone Puts the Yankees' Minds at Ease", New York Times , September 21, 1997]
fate; destiny
Example: Winning wasn't essential, though it seemed kismet that Cone, for a second straight year, came back from injury to pitch in a game that clinched a bit of postseason bliss. [Reference: Claire Smith, "Cone Puts the Yankees' Minds at Ease", New York Times , September 21, 1997]
ARGOT
argot:
- a specialized and often secret vocabulary and idiom peculiar to a particular group
- a secret language used by various groups—including, but not limited to, thieves and other criminals—to prevent outsiders from understanding their conversations
- a specialized and often secret vocabulary and idiom peculiar to a particular group
- a secret language used by various groups—including, but not limited to, thieves and other criminals—to prevent outsiders from understanding their conversations
AFFLATUS
afflatus: a divine inspiration
Example: The miraculous spring that nourished Homer's afflatus seems out of reach of today's writers, whose desperate yearning for inspiration only indicates the coming of an age of exhaustion. [Reference: Benzi Zhang, "Paradox of origin(ality)", Studies in Short Fiction , March 22, 1995]
Example: The miraculous spring that nourished Homer's afflatus seems out of reach of today's writers, whose desperate yearning for inspiration only indicates the coming of an age of exhaustion. [Reference: Benzi Zhang, "Paradox of origin(ality)", Studies in Short Fiction , March 22, 1995]
PALIMPSEST
palimpsest:
- a manuscript page from a scroll or book, usually of papyrus or parchment, which has been scraped off and used again
- an object that its older layer or aspect is apparent beneath its surface
- a manuscript page from a scroll or book, usually of papyrus or parchment, which has been scraped off and used again
- an object that its older layer or aspect is apparent beneath its surface
A sample palimpsest.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
SYBARITE
sybarite:
- a person very fond of luxury and pleasure; a voluptuary; a sensualist
- (capitalized:) a resident of the ancient city of Sybaris
Example: And when the final blessing of a perfect French cook appeared to make our domestic picture complete, we became utter sybarites , frank worshippers of the splendors of the French cuisine. [Reference: Samuel Chamberlain, Clémentine in the Kitchen]
- a person very fond of luxury and pleasure; a voluptuary; a sensualist
- (capitalized:) a resident of the ancient city of Sybaris
Example: And when the final blessing of a perfect French cook appeared to make our domestic picture complete, we became utter sybarites , frank worshippers of the splendors of the French cuisine. [Reference: Samuel Chamberlain, Clémentine in the Kitchen]
NOISOME
noisome:
- noxious; harmful
- disgusting or offensive to the senses (especially to the sense of smell)
Example: The first flower to bloom in this latitude, when the winter frost loosens its grip upon the sod, is not the fragrant arbutus, nor the delicate hepatica, nor the waxen bloodroot, as the poets would have us think, but the gross, uncouth, and noisome skunk cabbage. [Reference: Alvan F. Sanborn, "New York After Paris", The Atlantic , October 1906]
- noxious; harmful
- disgusting or offensive to the senses (especially to the sense of smell)
Example: The first flower to bloom in this latitude, when the winter frost loosens its grip upon the sod, is not the fragrant arbutus, nor the delicate hepatica, nor the waxen bloodroot, as the poets would have us think, but the gross, uncouth, and noisome skunk cabbage. [Reference: Alvan F. Sanborn, "New York After Paris", The Atlantic , October 1906]
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Thursday, August 5, 2010
CHAGRIN
chagrin:
noun:
- acute vexation, annoyance, or embarrassment, arising from disappointment or failure
transitive verb:
- to unsettle or vex by disappointment or humiliation; to mortify
Example: Chagrined to find that her current boyfriend has become best pals with her ex-boyfriend Hank, she goes to her ex with the problem. [Reference: Stephen J. Dubner, "Boston Rockers", New York Times , July 26, 1998]
noun:
- acute vexation, annoyance, or embarrassment, arising from disappointment or failure
transitive verb:
- to unsettle or vex by disappointment or humiliation; to mortify
Example: Chagrined to find that her current boyfriend has become best pals with her ex-boyfriend Hank, she goes to her ex with the problem. [Reference: Stephen J. Dubner, "Boston Rockers", New York Times , July 26, 1998]
EXTANT
extant: still existing; not destroyed, lost, or extinct
Example: The fossil record shows clearly that ancient life was very different from extant life. [Reference: Paul Davies, The Fifth Miracle]
Example: The fossil record shows clearly that ancient life was very different from extant life. [Reference: Paul Davies, The Fifth Miracle]
INCLEMENT
inclement:
- rough, harsh; extreme, severe; generally restricted to the elements or weather
- severe, unrelenting; cruel.
- rough, harsh; extreme, severe; generally restricted to the elements or weather
- severe, unrelenting; cruel.
PALINDROME
palindrome: a palindrome is a word, phrase, sentence, verse, number or other sequence of units that can be read the same way in either direction (example: Madam, I'm Adam.)
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