Word to the Wise

Word to the Wise: Disport
by ETR (05/10/2008)

Word to the Wise: Deliquesce
by ETR (05/09/2008)

To "deliquesce" (del-ih-KWES) - from the Latin for "to be fluid" - is to melt away or disappear as if by melting.

Word to the Wise: Militate
by ETR (05/08/2008)

To "militate" (MIL-ih-tate) - from the Latin for "soldier" - is to have force or influence.

Word to the Wise: Roue
by ETR (05/07/2008)

A "roue" (roo-AY) - from the French - is a man devoted to a life of sensual pleasure.

Word to the Wise: Potboiler
by ETR (05/06/2008)

A "potboiler" (POT-boy-lur) is an inferior literary work, produced quickly for the purpose of making money.

Word to the Wise: Perspicacity
by ETR (05/05/2008)

Perspicacity (pur-spih-KAS-ih-tee) - from the Latin for "sharp-sighted" - is acute perception, discernment, or understanding.

Word to the Wise: Cum
by ETR (05/03/2008)

"Cum" (KUM) is Latin for "with." It is often used to mean "combined with."

Word to the Wise: Gamine
by ETR (05/02/2008)

A "gamine" (gam-EEN) - from the French for a child who wanders the streets - is a playfully mischievous girl or young woman.

Word to the Wise: Pervicacious
by ETR (05/01/2008)

"Pervicacious" (pur-vih-KAY-shus) means stubborn or obstinate - refusing to change your ideas or behavior.

Word to the Wise: Truculent
by ETR (04/30/2008)

"Truculent" (TRUK-yuh-lun) - from the Latin for "savage" - means ferocious or cruel.

Word to the Wise: Provender
by ETR (04/29/2008)

"Provender" (PROV-un-dur) is another way of saying "food."

Word to the Wise: Bugbear
by ETR (04/28/2008)

A "bugbear" (BUG-bare) is a persistent problem or source of annoyance.

Word to the Wise: Predilection
by ETR (04/26/2008)

A "predilection" (preh-dih-LEK-shun) - from the Latin for "to choose" - is an established preference.

Word to the Wise: Small Beer
by ETR (04/25/2008)

The expression "small beer" - derived from a name for beer with very little alcohol content - refers to something that's insignificant.

Word to the Wise: Shibboleth
by ETR (04/24/2008)

"Shibboleth" (SHIB-uh-lith) - from the Hebrew - is a word, saying, custom, or belief identified with a group or cause.

Word to the Wise: Coeval
by ETR (04/23/2008)

"Coeval" (koh-EE-vul) means of the same age, originating or existing during the same period of time.

Word to the Wise: Brummagem
by ETR (04/22/2008)

Something that's "brummagem" (BRUM-uh-jum) is cheap and showy or counterfeit.

Word to the Wise: Syncretic
by ETR (04/19/2008)

Something that's "syncretic" (sin-KRET-ik) unites and blends together different systems (e.g., philosophical, moral, or religious).

Word to the Wise: Exigency
by ETR (04/18/2008)

An "exigency" (EK-sih-jun-see) is an emergency - a pressing or urgent situation that requires prompt action.

Word to the Wise: Tarradiddle
by ETR (04/18/2008)

A "tarradiddle" (tare-uh-DID-ul) - a word of unknown origin - is a petty lie.

Word to the Wise: Excrescence
by ETR (04/17/2008)

An "excrescence" (ik-SKRESS-unts) is something - especially something abnormal - growing out from something else.

Word to the Wise: Amanuensis
by ETR (04/16/2008)

An "amanuensis" (uh-man-yoo-EN-sis) is a person employed to take dictation or copy manuscripts.

Word to the Wise: Ambit
by ETR (04/15/2008)

"Ambit" (AM-bit) - from the Latin for "to go around" - is an area in which something acts, operates, or has power or control.

Word to the Wise: Forfend
by ETR (04/14/2008)

To "forfend" (for-FEND) - from the Middle English for "to ward off" - is to defend, protect, preserve. It can also mean prevent or avert.

Word to the Wise: Discursive
by ETR (04/12/2008)

"Discursive" (dis-KUR-siv) - from the Latin for "to run in different directions" - means digressive or rambling.

Word to the Wise: Profligate
by ETR (04/11/2008)

"Profligate" (PROF-lih-git) - from the Latin for "to ruin" - means recklessly wasteful.

Word to the Wise: Extempore
by ETR (04/10/2008)

Something that's "extempore" (ik-STEM-puh-ree) - Latin for "out of the time" - is done on the spur of the moment, without preparation.

Word to the Wise: Locution
by ETR (04/09/2008)

A "locution" (loh-KYOO-shun) is a form of expression - a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations.

Word to the Wise: Protracted
by ETR (04/08/2008)

"Protracted" (proh-TRAK-tid) - from the Latin for "to drag forth" - means drawn out or prolonged.

Word to the Wise: Obfuscate
by ETR (04/07/2008)

To "obfuscate" (OB-fuh-skate) - from the Latin for "to darken" - is to make something so confusing or unclear that it is difficult to understand.
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