Jack's Word of the Day

2007-07-22T22:02:00.000-07:00

auburn /`ō.bərn/…adjective: A reddish, brown color.[ultimately fr. Latin]

2007-07-21T09:06:00.000-07:00

deflagrable /də`flā.grə.bəl/…adjective: Burning, often with sudden and snapping sparks or flames.[fr. Latin]

2007-07-20T21:57:00.000-07:00

rechauffe /rā.shō`fā/…noun: Left-over food that has been warmed. 2. Something old that is brought up again or rehashed.[fr. French]

2007-07-19T09:05:00.000-07:00

enkindle /ən`kĭn.dəl/…transitive verb: 1. To set fire to. 2. To make aglow. 3. To arouse.[fr. Old English]

2007-07-18T21:55:00.000-07:00

dulcify /`dŭl.sĭ.fī/…transitive verb: To sweeten, or to make more suitable; to soothe.[fr. Latin]

2007-07-17T22:42:00.000-07:00

wharfinger /`hwōrf.ĭn.jər/…noun: One who owns or runs a wharf.[fr. Old English]

2007-07-16T23:05:00.000-07:00

somniloquy /sɑm`nĭl.ə.kwēē/…noun: Speech uttered during sleep.[fr. Latin]

2007-07-15T08:05:00.000-07:00

jannock /`jăn.ək/…adjective: Honest; just; frank.[unknown origin]

2007-07-14T10:15:00.000-07:00

nychthemeron /nĭk`thĕm.ər.ɑn/…noun: A period of 24 hours, or night and day.[fr. Greek]

2007-07-13T21:24:00.000-07:00

auriform /`ōr.ĭ.fōrm/…adjective: Having the shape of an ear.[fr. Latin]

2007-07-12T21:14:00.000-07:00

atrabilious /ăt.rə`bĭl.ēē.əs/…adjective: 1. Melancholy; gloomy. 2. Sullen and ill-tempered.[fr. Latin]

2007-07-11T09:17:00.000-07:00

gomerel /`gɑm.ər.əl/…noun: A foolish person.[fr. obsolete gome, meaning man]

2007-07-10T21:40:00.000-07:00

android /`ăn.droyd/…adjective: Having the characteristics and features of a human.[fr. Latin]

2007-07-09T09:56:00.000-07:00

flout /flout/…transitive verb: To disdain haughtily; scorn.…intransitive verb: To show haughty disdain.…noun: A scornful remark.[cf. flute]

2007-07-08T08:13:00.000-07:00

haliphagia /hăl.ĭ`fā.jēē.ə/…noun: The eating of an excessive amount of salts.[fr. Greek]

2007-07-07T09:30:00.000-07:00

rigmarole /`rĭg.mə.rōl/…noun: 1. A procedure of complex and unnecessary steps. 2. Incoherent or meaningless speech; nonsense.[fr. earlier ragman roll, meaning catalogue]

2007-07-06T08:42:00.000-07:00

acerbity /ə`sər.bĭ.tēē/…noun: Sourness and dryness in taste or behavior.[fr. Latin]

2007-07-05T09:22:00.000-07:00

brummagem /`brŭ.mə.jəm/…adjective: Cheap, gimmicky, or worthless.[after Birmingham, England where conterfeit coins used to be made]

2007-07-04T10:15:00.000-07:00

curmudgeon /kər`mŭj.ən/…noun: An irritable and cantankerous person with stubborn opinions.[unknown origin]

2007-07-03T08:07:00.000-07:00

somnambulist /sɑm`năb.yū.lĭz.əm/…noun: One who sleepwalks.[fr. Latin]

2007-07-02T09:03:00.000-07:00

ovine /`ō.vīn/…adjective: Of, resembling, or having to do with sheep.[fr. Latin]

2007-07-01T22:24:00.000-07:00

thwartwise /`thwōrt.wīz/…adjective: Spread or extended across the length of.[thwart + -wise]

2007-06-30T21:02:00.000-07:00

stultiloquy /stŭl`tĭl.ə.kwēē/…noun: Foolish or silly speech.[fr. Latin]

2007-06-29T19:02:00.000-07:00

bowdlerize /`bou(ō)d.lər.īz/…transitive verb: To take obscenities away from a written work; to expurgate.[after Thomas Bowdler]

2007-06-28T21:13:00.000-07:00

bloviate /`blō.vēē.āt/…intransitive verb: To speak or write pretentiously.[alteration of blow]

2007-06-27T21:51:00.000-07:00

anatine /`ăn.ə.tīn/…adjective: Of, relating to, or resembling a duck.[fr. Latin]

2007-06-26T21:28:00.000-07:00

argillaceous /ɑr.jə`lā.shəs/…adjective: Made up of or like clay.[fr. Latin]

2007-06-25T20:46:00.000-07:00

tractate /`trăk.tāt/…noun: An essay, analysis, or treatise.[fr. Latin]

2007-06-24T22:42:00.000-07:00

janiform /`jăn.ĭ.fōrm/…adjective: Having two faces; Janus-faced.[fr. Latin]

2007-06-23T21:23:00.000-07:00

ultracrepidarian /ŭl.trə.crĕp.ĭd`ĕr.ēē.ən/…adjective: Relating to opinions on a subject above one's knowledge.[fr. Greek and Latin]

2007-06-22T23:15:00.000-07:00

vaccimulgence /văk.sĭ`mŭl.jəns/…noun: Cow-milking.[fr. Latin, cf. vaccine]

2007-06-21T22:40:00.000-07:00

quassation /kwə`sā.shən/…noun: The act or state of shaking or being shaken.[fr. Latin]

2007-06-20T21:36:00.000-07:00

conflagration /cɑn.flə`grā.shən/…noun: A long-lasting and damaging fire.[cf. flagrant]

2007-06-19T20:56:00.000-07:00

valetudinarian /văl.ə.tūd.ĭn`ĕr.ēē.ən/…noun: A feeble, sickly person, especially one who regularly worried about his or her health.…adjective: 1. Weak; sickly. 2. Regularly worried about one's health.[fr. Latin]

2007-06-18T21:09:00.000-07:00

dulcitude /`dŭl.sə.tūd/…noun: Sweetness; sugariness.[fr. Latin]

2007-06-17T22:54:00.000-07:00

Cockaigne /kɑ`kān/…noun: An fanciful land of relaxation and luxury.[fr. Old French, plenty, fr. Middle Low German, cf. cake]

2007-06-16T21:16:00.000-07:00

coprolalia /kɑp.rə`lāl.ēē.ə/…noun: The obsessive use of vulgar language, sometimes occurring in disorders like Tourette's syndrome.[fr. Greek]

2007-06-15T22:08:00.000-07:00

bawdry /`bɑd.rēē/…noun: Obscene or vulgar speech or writing.[cf. English bold]

2007-06-14T21:30:00.000-07:00

palilalia /păl.ə`lāl.ēē.ə/…noun: The involuntary repeating of a word or phrase.[fr. Greek]

2007-06-13T23:24:00.000-07:00

galactophagist /găl.ək`tɑf.ə.jĭst/…noun: One who drinks or lives on milk.[fr. Greek]

2007-06-12T20:49:00.000-07:00

subterfuge /`sŭb.tər.fyūj/…noun: A scheme devised to mislead, or a stratagem.[fr. Latin]

2007-06-11T23:51:00.000-07:00

ichthyophagous /ĭk.thēē`ɑf.ə.gəs/…adjective: Eating fish.[fr. Greek]

2007-06-10T22:29:00.000-07:00

klinorhynchy /klīn.ə`rĭn.kēē/…noun: The quality of having a downward set face.[fr. Greek]

2007-06-09T23:59:00.000-07:00

interpel /ĭn.tər`pĕl/…intransitive verb: To interrupt or intervene.[fr. Latin]

2007-06-08T23:26:00.000-07:00

adustion /ə`dŭst.shən/…noun: The act of burning or heating. 2. The state or quality of being heated or burnt.[fr. Latin]

2007-06-07T21:28:00.000-07:00

asperity /ə`spĕr.ĭ.tēē/…noun: 1. Harshness and coarseness in texture or manner. 2. A rough point of a surface.[fr. Latin]

2007-06-06T21:32:00.000-07:00

metachronism /mə`tăk.rə.nĭzm/…noun: An error in chronological order where a character or event is ascribed a later time.[fr. Greek]

2007-06-05T22:30:00.000-07:00

orthoepy /ōr`thēē.ə.pēē/…noun: The study of standard pronunciation.[fr. Greek, cf. orthography]

2007-06-04T22:42:00.000-07:00

bavardage /bɑv.ɑr`dɑj/…noun: Excessive talking.[fr. French]

2007-06-03T23:23:00.000-07:00

cephalalgia /sĕf.ə`lăl.jēē.ə/…noun: Pain that occurs in the head; headache.[fr. Greek]

2007-06-02T11:32:00.000-07:00

thurification /thər.ĭf.ĭ.kā`shən/…noun: The action of burning incense.[fr. Latin]

2007-06-01T22:41:00.000-07:00

conglaciation /kɑn.glā.sēē`ā.shən/…noun: The act or state of turning or being turned into ice.[fr. Latin]

2007-05-31T22:06:00.000-07:00

aestuous /`ās.chyū.əs/…adjective: Glowing or exited by heat.[fr. Latin]

2007-05-30T23:19:00.000-07:00

ustulate /`ŭs.chyū.lət/…adjective: Darkened as if burnt or charred.[fr. Latin]

2007-05-29T20:44:00.000-07:00

horripilate /hōr`ĭp.əl.āt/…intransitive verb: To have one's hair bristling.[fr. Latin]

2007-05-28T22:32:00.000-07:00

aestival /`ĕs.tĭ.vəl/…adjective: Occurring in or relating to summer.[fr. Latin]

2007-05-27T22:02:00.000-07:00

elix /ə`lĭks/…transitive verb: To draw out or extract.[fr. Latin]

2007-05-26T21:14:00.000-07:00

pyrolatry /pī`rɑ.lə.trēē/…noun: The worship of fire.[fr. Latin]

2007-05-25T21:38:00.000-07:00

febrifacient /fĕb.rə`fā.shənt/…adjective: Bringing fever about.[fr. Latin]

2007-05-24T08:27:00.000-07:00

pyrexia /pī`rĕk.sēē.ə/…noun: Irregularly high body temperature; fever.[fr. Greek, cf. pyre, pyromania, fire]

2007-05-23T21:17:00.000-07:00

incalescent /ĭn.kə`lĕs.ənt/…adjective: Becoming more hot or passionate.[fr. Latin]

2007-05-22T22:42:00.000-07:00

calid /`kăl.ĭd/…adjective: Burning; fiery.[fr. Latin]

2007-05-21T21:55:00.000-07:00

ebulliate /ə`byū.lēē.āt/…intransitive verb: To come or boil up in bubbles.[fr. Latin]

2007-05-20T20:53:00.000-07:00

athermanous /ā`thər.mən.əs/…adjective: Not conducting heat.[fr. Greek]

2007-05-19T22:18:00.000-07:00

heretofore /hir.tū`fōr/…adverb: Before now; up to now.[fr. here & obsolete tofore, before]

2007-05-18T20:23:00.000-07:00

internecine /ĭn.tər.nə`sēēn/…adjective: 1. Harmful to both sides. 2. Relating to the difficulty within a group or organization. 3. (obsolete) Fought to the death.[fr. Latin, cf. necrophilia]

2007-05-17T21:07:00.000-07:00

onychotillomania /ɑn.ĭ.kə.tĭl.ō`mān.ēē.ə/…noun: Constant picking at one's toenails or fingernails.[fr. Greek]

2007-05-16T20:21:00.000-07:00

fluminous /`flūm.ĭn.əs/…adjective: Of or relating to rivers.[fr. Latin]

2007-05-15T22:45:00.000-07:00

foraminous /fōr`ăm.ĭn.əs/…adjective: Covered in holes.[fr. Latin]

2007-05-14T20:08:00.000-07:00

anthomania /ăn.thō`mān.ēē.ə/…noun: An excessive affection for flowers.[fr. Greek, cf. anther]

2007-05-13T21:56:00.000-07:00

shittle /`shĭt.əl/…adjective: Disturbed, unsettled, unsteady, or uneasy.[unknown origin]

2007-05-12T20:44:00.000-07:00

frigorific /frĭg.ər`ĭf.ĭk/…adjective: Causing cold or algidity.[fr. Latin]

2007-05-11T20:41:00.000-07:00

gelid /`jĕl.ĭd/…adjective: Algid; very cold and icy.[fr. Latin]

2007-05-10T21:22:00.000-07:00

leptodactylous /lĕp.tō`dăk.tĭl.əs/…adjective: Having long, slender fingers or toes.[fr. Greek]

2007-05-09T20:03:00.000-07:00

mendacious /mĕn`dā.shəs/…adjective: 1. Untrustworthy; untruthful. 2. False.[fr. Latin]

2007-05-08T22:14:00.000-07:00

alphanumeric /ăl.fə.nū`mĕr.ĭk/…adjective: Containing both letters and numbers, and often punctuation marks, diacritics, and other special characters.[alpha(bet) & numeric]

2007-05-07T23:42:00.000-07:00

tolly /`tɑl.ēē/…noun: A candle.[alteration of tallow]

2007-05-06T21:31:00.000-07:00

bromidic /brō.mĭd.ĭk/…adjective: Commonplace, hackneyed, or cliched because of frequent use.[fr. Latin, cf. bromine]

2007-05-05T21:24:00.000-07:00

Witzelsucht /`vĭt.zəl.zŭkt/…noun: Excessive playfulness or inappropriateness in humor.[fr. German]

2007-05-04T22:57:00.000-07:00

ataraxia /ăt.ə`răk.sēē.ə/…noun: The state of having no anxiety and calmness in one's mind.[fr. Latin]

2007-05-03T22:10:00.000-07:00

turgent /`tər.jənt/…adjective: 1. Becoming swollen or bulging. 2. Bombastic; grandiloquent.[fr. Latin]

2007-05-02T20:09:00.000-07:00

sacrosanct /`săk.rō.sāngkt/…adjective: Viewed as sacred and incorruptible.[fr. Latin, cf. saint]

2007-05-01T21:42:00.001-07:00

misogyny /mĭs`ɑj.ĭn.ēē/…noun: The hatred of women. [fr. Greek]

2007-04-30T20:33:00.000-07:00

mendicant /`mĕn.dĭ.kənt/…noun: One who begs.…adjective: Making a living by collecting alms; begging.[fr. Latin]

2007-04-29T22:01:00.000-07:00

onychophagia /ɑn.ĭ.kō`fā.jēē.ə/…noun: The custom of biting one's nails.[fr. Greek]

2007-04-28T21:29:00.000-07:00

nascent /`năs.ənt/…adjective: Starting to exist or form.[fr. Latin]

2007-04-27T22:07:00.000-07:00

bootless /`būt.ləs/…adjective: Without advantage or benefit; useless.[boot + -less]

2007-04-26T22:06:00.000-07:00

evanescence /ĕv.ə`nĕs.əns/…noun: The state of fading or slowly vanishing.[fr. Latin]

2007-04-25T21:05:00.000-07:00

breviloquence /brĕv`ĭl.ō.kwəns/…noun: A brief, relevant manner of speech.[cf. brief, breve]

2007-04-24T21:06:00.000-07:00

zygodactylous /zī.gō`dăk.təl.əs/…adjective: Having two toes come forward and two pointing backward.[fr. Latin]

2007-04-23T20:56:00.000-07:00

guttiform /`gŭt.ĭ.fōrm/…adjective: Having the shape of or resembling a drop.[fr. Latin, cf. gutta]

2007-04-22T20:59:00.000-07:00

echt /ĕkt/…adjective: Genuine; real; bona fide.[fr. German]

2007-04-21T20:54:00.000-07:00

insusurration /ĭn.sŭs.ər`ā.shən/…noun: The act of whispering in with someone.[fr. Latin, cf. susurrus]

2007-04-20T21:03:00.000-07:00

tectiform /`tĕk.tĭ.fōrm/…adjective: Shaped like a roof.[fr. Latin]

2007-04-19T22:33:00.000-07:00

falciform /`făl.sĭ.fōrm/…adjective: Having the curve of a sickle.[fr. Latin]

2007-04-18T20:59:00.000-07:00

modicum /`mɑ.dĭ.kəm/…noun: A small or trifle; an iota.[fr. Latin]

2007-04-17T21:07:00.000-07:00

contumely /(`)kɑ(ə)n`tūm.lēē/…noun: 1. Incivility and contemptuousness because of pride. 2. A contemptuous and overbearing comment.[fr. Latin]

2007-04-16T22:34:00.000-07:00

Zeitgeist /`zīt.jīst/…noun: The spirit of a certain time; the qualities and feeling of a time.[fr. German cf. ghost, poltergeist]

2007-04-15T21:27:00.000-07:00

domicile /`dō.mĭ.sīl, `dō.mĭ.səl/…noun: One's home, settlement, or habitat.[fr. Latin, cf. cult, cultivate]

2007-04-14T21:19:00.000-07:00

Beau Brummel /bō`brŭm.əl/…noun: An overly fancily dressed man; a fop.[after George Bryan Brummel, sometimes known as Beau Brummel]