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Archive for the ‘Word to the Wise - learning vocabulary words’ Newsletters

Learn to build your vocabulary words with our Word To The Wise english vocabulary learning resources. Become a more persuasive writer and speaker … build your self-confidence and intellect … increase your attractiveness to others … just by spending 10 VERY enjoyable minutes a day with ETR’s new vocabulary resource – Words to the Wise



Today’s Words That Work: Inveterate

Thursday, November 19th, 2009

Inveterate (in-VET-ur-it) — from the Latin for “chronic” or “long standing” — means habitual or firmly established. (more…)

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Today’s Words That Work: Panoptic

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009

Panoptic (pan-OP-tik) — from the Greek for “fully visible” — is another way of saying comprehensive or all-encompassing. (more…)

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Today’s Words That Work: Litany

Tuesday, November 17th, 2009

A litany (LIT-n-ee) — from the Greek for “entreaty” — is a long, formal, ritualistic prayer. The word is also used for any tedious, repetitious speech or recital.

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Today’s Words That Work: Nugatory

Monday, November 16th, 2009

Nugatory (NOO-guh-taw-ree) — from the Latin for “trifling” — means worthless or ineffective; of no real value. (more…)

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The Language Perfectionist: To “Er…” Is Human

Friday, November 13th, 2009

I have long been fascinated by funny mistakes committed by people who should know better. Whenever I find an amusing goof, I seize upon it. “How did the copy editors and proofreaders and fact-checkers miss that one?” I think.

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Today’s Words That Work: Ebullient

Thursday, November 12th, 2009

Ebullient (ih-BUL-yunt) — from the Latin for “boiling up” — means overflowing with fervor, enthusiasm, or excitement.

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Today’s Words That Work: Badger

Wednesday, November 11th, 2009

To badger (BAJ-er) is to harass or nag. The word is, of course, derived from the badger — an animal known for aggressively defending its burrow. The badger’s name may have originated from the word “badgeard,” an allusion to the white mark or “badge” on its head.

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Today’s Words That Work: Rationalize

Tuesday, November 10th, 2009

To rationalize (RASH-uh-nuh-lize) is to invent plausible and self-satisfying, but incorrect, justifications for one’s behavior.

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Today’s Words That Work: Discombobulate

Monday, November 9th, 2009

To discombobulate (dis-kum-BOB-yuh-late) — a fanciful alteration of “discompose” or “discomfort” — is to befuddle, perplex, or frustrate.

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Today’s Words That Work: Bumptious

Thursday, November 5th, 2009

Someone who’s bumptious (BUMP-shus) is pushy; offensively self-assertive. The word was possibly derived from a combination of “bump” and “presumptious.”

Example (as used by John Wood today): “Most successful people are very friendly and will be happy to talk to you. (Provided you aren’t overbearing or bumptious.)”

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Today’s Words That Work: Aplomb

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

Aplomb (uh-PLOM) — from a French phrase meaning “balanced” — is imperturbable self-assurance. (It literally means “on the plumb line.”)

Example (as used by Peter Fogel today): “But though my friend has proven that you don’t need high self-esteem to be an effective speaker (or a successful entrepreneur) — he’s also shown that you need to be able to present your material with aplomb and conviction.”

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Today’s Words That Work: Cognizant

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009

To be cognizant (KOG-nuh-zunt) — from the Latin for “to learn” — is to be fully aware.

Example (as used by Rich Schefren today): “Your job right now is to become cognizant of what you need to know to achieve your main goal.”

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Today’s Words That Work: Pergola

Monday, November 2nd, 2009

A Pergola (PUR-guh-luh) — from the Italian for “arbor” — is an open lattice structure, usually covered with roses or other climbing plants, that forms a decorative, shaded passageway.

Example (as used by Michael Masterson today): “[This] savvy marketer spent the money to build an 8-foot stucco wall around the property… And he created a very elaborate entrance with pillars, pergolas, and arches.”

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A Word To Use Next Time You Get a Chance

Friday, October 30th, 2009

I learned a lovely word today: MacGuffin. A MacGuffin is an irrelevant interest grabber — a story whose purpose is to draw attention to itself and away from something else.

It comes from a plot device invented by Alfred Hitchcock. He borrowed it from a shaggy-dog story that goes something like this:

A couple, riding in an English train, notice a tall man carrying a large, odd-looking package. They ask him what it contains. Instead of telling them to mind their own business, he says, “A MacGuffin.” (more…)

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A Concatenation of Confusables

Friday, October 30th, 2009

In my reading, I frequently encounter misused and confused words. Here are five recent sightings, most from major newspapers:

  • “Anyone who passes even feint praise on anything containing Adam Sandler…”

The writer means faint praise — not very much. A feint is a deceptive or diversionary action. (more…)

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Angst

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

Angst (ENGK-stuh) — from the German — is a feeling of dread or anxiety.

Example (as used by Dr. Srikumar Rao today): “If happiness is our nature, why do we not experience it more often? Why are our lives filled with angst and sorrow?”

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Asseverate

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

To asseverate (uh-SEV-uh-rate) — from the Latin for “spoken in earnest” — is to emphatically declare. (more…)

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Minatory

Tuesday, October 27th, 2009

Minatory (MIN-uh-taw-ree) — from the Latin for “to threaten” — means menacing or ominous. (more…)

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Degenerate

Monday, October 26th, 2009

A degenerate (dih-JEN-uh-rit) — from the Latin for “to decline” — is a person who has lost the moral and ethical qualities considered to be normal or desirable. (more…)

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Let’s Split this Scene

Friday, October 23rd, 2009

A contentious issue among language enthusiasts is the use of the split infinitive. Before reviewing the arguments of the two sides, let’s look at a few examples: (more…)

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Weltanschauung

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009

Weltanschauung (VELT-ahn-shou-oong) — German for “world” + “perception” — is an individual’s personal philosophy, the ideas and beliefs through which he sees and interprets the world. (more…)

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Acrimonious

Tuesday, October 20th, 2009

Something that’s acrimonious (ak-ruh-MOH-nee-us) — from the Latin for “sharp” or “sour” — is resentful, caustic, or bitter. (more…)

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Polymath

Monday, October 19th, 2009

A polymath (POL-ee-math) — from the Greek for “learned” — is someone with broad knowledge in several fields. (more…)

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Nocuous

Thursday, October 15th, 2009

Something that is nocuous (NOK-yoo-us) — from the Latin for “to harm” — is likely to cause damage or injury.

Example (as used by Dr. Srikumar Rao today): “Each individual negative thought is inconsequential. But when taken together, they form a massive, nocuous structure.” (more…)

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Eighty-six

Wednesday, October 14th, 2009

“Eighty-six” is diner slang for taking an item off the menu or canceling an order. It’s also used by bars and restaurants when they refuse to serve an unruly or drunk customer. By extension, it can mean rejecting, discarding, or getting rid of anything or anyone (especially gangster style). (more…)

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Laissez-faire

Tuesday, October 13th, 2009

Laissez-faire (lay-zay-FARE) — French for “allow to do” — is the economic policy of allowing markets to be free of intervention by the government. (more…)

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Parsimonious

Monday, October 12th, 2009

Parsimonious (par-suh-MOH-nee-us) is another way of saying miserly or excessively frugal.

Example (as used by Michael Masterson today): “Stingy rich people are parsimonious because they enjoy being so. Pinching pennies isn’t a financial planning strategy for them, it’s a twisted hobby.” (more…)

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Predilection

Friday, October 9th, 2009

A predilection (pred-l-EK-shun) — from the Latin for “to choose or love before others” — is a preconceived preference — a tendency to think favorably of something in particular. (more…)

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Consternation

Thursday, October 8th, 2009

Consternation (kon-ster-NAY-shun) — from the Latin for “to throw into confusion” — is the state of being utterly bewildered.

Example (as used by Bob Cox today): “Imagine my consternation (and embarrassment) when the new CEO declined to come downstairs to the conference room to meet with us.”

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Lexicon

Wednesday, October 7th, 2009

A lexicon (LEK-sih-kon) — from the Greek for “speech” or “word” — is the vocabulary used by a particular language, profession, social class, or individual.

Example (as used by Rich Schefren today): “There is something about the [Starbucks] lexicon that makes us feel like we are members of a club. (With club locations seemingly on every street corner.)”

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