Word of the Day Archive for July 2009

confrere - a person who is member of one's class or profession; an intimate colleague
libation - a beverage, especially an alcoholic one
impregnable - cannot be stormed or taken by assault; incapable of being overcome
addle - make or become muddled or confused
distrait - divided in attention, especially because of anxiety; inattentive
oblivious - failing to keep in mind; forgetful
congeries - a collection; aggregation; miscellany
purblind - having greatly reduced vision
propound - to offer for consideration; suggest
callow - immature; inexperienced having not reached adulthood
chary - careful, wary; cautious
provender - food for domestic livestock; a stock or supply of foods
schadenfreude - the malicious delight in another person's misfortune
upbraid - to scold or criticize severely
castigate - to punish severely; to chastise verbally; to criticize severely
pettifogger - a person, especially a lawyer or politician, who uses unethical methods
paterfamilias - father of the family (tribe) or male head of the household
exigency - requiring urgent aid or action; pressing needs
ubiquitous - existing or being everywhere, or in all places, at once; omnipresent
descry - to catch sight of, usually objects distant or obscure; to recognize; to discern
sardonic - scornful, mocking; disdainfully or ironically humorous
heterodox - holding unorthodox opinions or doctrines
indefatigable - incapable of being fatigued; not yielding to fatigue
febrile - pertaining to fever; indicating fever, or derived from it; feverish
-
commensurate - equal in measure or extent
corpulent - very fat; obese; bulky
malediction - a proclaiming of evil against someone; a curse or execration
consanguineous - of the same blood; related by birth
plenipotentiary - containing or conferring full power; invested with full power to act independently
nascent - beginning to exist or grow; coming into being; emerging