Words Of The Week 2005 02

Whenever I read, I keep a pencil handy and I underline words that I don't know and dog ear the page so that I can go back and look them up in the dictionary. I have always been interested in etymology and even took Latin for three years. I hope that these words can help all of us in our writings. Be sure to check out your dictionary for additional usages of the words and spellings associated with changing the word from adjective to adverb to noun ... etc.

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AMBIVALENT

adjective

Pronounced: am-BIV-vull-lent

Meaning: Characterized by, suggestive of, motivated by or exhibiting contradictory emotional or psychological attitude.

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BUFFOONERY

noun

Pronounced: buh-FOON-err-ree

Meaning: The practices of a clown or a clownish person, especially coarse, loutish behavior.

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CADRE

noun

Pronounced: KAH-dray

Meaning: A nucleus or core group, especially of trained personnel or active members of an organization who are capable of assuming leadership or of training and indoctrinating others.

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DESICCATE

verb

Pronounced: DESS-sih-kate

Meaning: Dry up or cause to dry up; deprive or exhaust of moisture.

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EDIFICATION

noun

Pronounced: ed-diff-ih-KAY-shun

Meaning: A building up of the mind, character or faith; intellectual, moral or spiritual improvement.

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FANATICISM

noun

Pronounced: fuh-NAT-tih-cizm

Meaning: Excessive enthusiasm and intense uncritical devotion, usually toward some controversial matter (as religion, politics or philosophy).

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GROVEL

noun

Pronounced: GRAH-vell

Meaning: Creep on the earth or with the face to the ground as one's natural gait or manner of locomotion.

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HAGGARD

adjective

Pronounced: HA-gurd

Meaning: Having a worn or emaciated appearance caused by suffering, anxiety or age.

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IMMURED

verb

Pronounced: emm-MURR-d

Meaning: Enclosed within or as if within walls.

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JUNKET

noun

Pronounced: JUN-ket

Meaning: A pleasure trip or tour made by an official at public expense ostensibly for purposes of inspection, investigation or other public business.

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LARCENY

noun

Pronounced: LARR-sin-ee

Meaning: The unlawful taking or carrying away of personal property without the consent of its lawful possessor.

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MENSURATION

noun

Pronounced: men-sure-RAY-shun

Meaning: The act, process, art or an instance of measuring; measurement.

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NEPOTISM

noun

Pronounced: NEH-poe-tizm

Meaning: Favoritism shown to relatives (as by giving them positions because of their relationship rather than on their merits).

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OBSTINATE

adjective

Pronounced: AHB-stin-net

Meaning: Adhering to an opinion, purpose or course.

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PERUSE

verb

Pronounced: pur-ROOZ

Meaning: Read, specifically read through or read over with some attention and typically for the purpose of discovering or noting one or more specific points.

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QUADRALINGUAL

adjective

Pronounced: kwa-dra-LING-gwal

Meaning: Speaking of having knowledge of four languages.

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RECOGNIZANCE

noun

Pronounced: ree-COG-niz-zence

Meaning: An obligation of record entered into before a court or magistrate requiring the performance of an act (as appearance in court) usually under penalty of money forfeiture.

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SLEUTH

verb

Pronounced: SLOO-th

Meaning: Act as a detective or investigator; search for information of facts.

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TIERCE

noun

Pronounced: TEARS

Meaning: A sequence of three playing cards of the same suit.

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UMPIRAGE

noun

Pronounced: UMM-peer-idge

Meaning: An act or instance of deciding in the capacity of one having authority to arbitrate and make a final decision.

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VISCOUS

adjective

Pronounced: VISS-cuss

Meaning: Having the physical property of a fluid or semi fluid that enables it to develop a certain amount of shearing stress dependent upon the velocity of the flow and then to offer continued resistance to the flow.

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WATTLE

noun

Pronounced: WAH-tull

Meaning: A fabrication of rods or poles interwoven with slender branches or reeds.

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XENOPHOBIA

noun

Pronounced: zee-know-FO-bee-uh

Meaning: An unreasonable fear or hatred of foreigners or strangers or that which is foreign or strange.

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YOGI

noun

Pronounced: YO-gee

Meaning: A person who practices yoga.

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ZOANTHROPY

noun

Pronounced: zoe-AN-throw-pee

Meaning: A mental disorder in which one believes oneself to be an animal.

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NOSTRUM

noun

Pronounced: NO-strum

Meaning: A medicine sold with false or exaggerated claims; quack medicine.

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OSSIFY

verb

Pronounced: AW-sif-fi

Meaning: To convert into or cause to harden like bone.

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PRAGMATIC

adjective

Pronounced: prag-MAH-tick

Meaning: Concerned with practical considerations or consequences; having a practical point of view.

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QUIXOTIC

adjective

Pronounced: quicks-AW-tick

Meaning: Extravagantly chivalrous or romantic; visionary; impractical.

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REPROBATE

noun

Pronounced: ree-PRO-bate

Meaning: A depraved or wicked person; A person who is beyond hope or redemption.

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STRIATION

noun

Pronounced: stry-AY-shun

Meaning: Striped, grooved or banded; having stripes.

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TRANSIENT

adjective

Pronounced: TRAN-see-ent

Meaning: Not lasting, enduring or permanent; transitory.

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UPBRAID

verb

Pronounced: UP-brayd

Meaning: To find fault with or reproach severely; censure.

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VERITABLE

adjective

Pronounced: VER-it-tuh-bull

Meaning: Being truly or very much so; genuine or real.

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WEND

verb

Pronounced: WIND

Meaning: To pursue or direct one's way.

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XYLOTOMOUS

adjective

Pronounced: zy-LOT-toe-muss

Meaning: Boring into or cutting wood, as certain insects.