Word to the Wise - learning vocabulary words

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

Visceral
by ETR (06/24/2009)

Dilatory
by ETR (06/23/2009)

“Dilatory” (DIL-uh-tor-ee) - from the Latin for “to delay” - means given to procrastination; tending to put off what ought to be done at once.

permutation
by ETR (06/20/2009)

A “permutation” (pur-myoo-TAY-shun) - from the Latin for “exchange” - is a complete change or transformation.

Cosset
by ETR (06/19/2009)

To “cosset” - possibly from the Anglo-Norman for a pet lamb - is to treat with excessive indulgence; to pamper.

Word to the Wise: Juju
by ETR (06/12/2009)

Word to the Wise: Hauteur
by ETR (06/12/2009)

Word to the Wise: Vituperate
by ETR (06/12/2009)

Proselytize
by ETR (06/08/2009)

To “proselytize” (PROS-uh-lih-tize) - from the Latin - is to convert (or attempt to convert) a person from one belief, doctrine, cause, or faith to another.

Puerile
by ETR (06/06/2009)

“Puerile” (PYOO-ur-ul) - from the Latin for “boy” - means childishly foolish; immature or trivial.Example (as used by David Brooks in a New York Times review of The American Future: A History by Simon Schama): “Schama’s book is called ‘The American Future: A History’ (which is a puerile paradox before you even open the cover), and it has nothing whatsoever to do with the American future.”

Querulous
by ETR (06/05/2009)

Someone who’s “querulous” (KWER-uh-lus) - from the Latin for “to complain” - is habitually apt to find fault.

Diadem
by ETR (06/04/2009)

A “diadem” (DYE-uh-dem) - from the Greek for “a band” - is a crown.

Quintessential
by ETR (06/01/2009)

The word "quintessential" (kwin-tuh-SEN-shul) - from the Latin - is used to describe the most perfect embodiment of something.

Locution
by ETR (05/30/2009)

A “locution” (loh-KYOO-shun) - from the Latin for “to speak” - is a particular word, phrase, expression, or idiom.

Miscreant
by ETR (05/26/2009)

A "miscreant" (MIS-kree-unt) - from the Latin for "wrongly" + "believe" - is a villain; a vicious or depraved person.

Redux
by edwin (05/23/2009)

“Redux” (rih-DUHKS) - from the Latin - means brought back or returning.

Prink
by ETR (05/22/2009)

To "prink" (PRINGK) - from the Middle English for "to show off" - is to dress for show; to primp.

Latitudinarian
by ETR (05/13/2009)

A “latitudinarian” (lat-uh-too-din-AIR-ee-un) - from the Latin for “wide” - is someone who is broadminded and tolerant, especially in religious matters.

Laconic
by ETR (05/12/2009)

“Laconic” (luh-KON-ik) - from the Greek - means expressing a lot by using a few words.

Lionize
by ETR (05/08/2009)

To “lionize” (LY-uh-nize) - from the word “lion” - is to treat or regard as an object of great interest or importance.

Labile
by ETR (05/07/2009)

“Labile” (LAY-bile) - from the Latin for “to slip” - means apt or likely to change; adaptable.

Sallow
by ETR (05/06/2009)

Someone who’s “sallow” (SAL-oh) - from the Old English for “dusky/dark” - has a sickly, yellowish complexion.

Froward
by ETR (05/05/2009)

“Froward” (FROH-werd) - Old English for the opposite of toward - means contrary, not easily managed.

Voluble
by ETR (05/04/2009)

"Voluble" (VOL-yuh-bul) - from the Latin for "to turn easily") - means talkative/fluent/glib, having a ready and continuous flow of words.

Assuage
by ETR (04/29/2009)

To “assuage” (uh-SWAYJ) - from the Latin for “sweet” - is to make milder or less severe.

Travail
by ETR (04/28/2009)

“Travail” (truh-VALE) - from the Latin for a three-staked instrument of torture - is painful or arduous work.

Doppelganger
by ETR (04/25/2009)

A "doppelganger" - literally German for "double-walker" - is a ghostly image of a living person, especially one that haunts its counterpart.

Luculent
by ETR (04/24/2009)

“Luculent” (LOO-kyuh-lunt) - from the Latin for “light” - means clear, easily understood.

Ignoble
by ETR (04/22/2009)

"Ignoble" (ig-NOH-bul) - from the Latin for "not noble" - means common, base, or humble in quality, character, or purpose.

Countermand
by ETR (04/20/2009)

To “countermand” (KOWN-tur-mand) - from the Latin - is to give an order contrary to one that was previously given.

Tautological
by ETR (04/15/2009)

"Tautological" (tawt-l-OJ-ih-kul) - from the Greek for "repeating what has been said" - means unnecessarily or uselessly repetitive.
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