Perseverate
\per-SEV-uh-reyt\
intransitive verb;
1.
To involuntarily repeat a particular response, such as a word, phrase, or gesture, despite the absence or cessation of a stimulus, usually caused by brain injury or other organic disorder.
2.
To repeat something insistently or redundantly.
Origin:
Perseverate is a back formation of perseveration from Middle French perseveration from Old French and classical Latin persevertiōn-, singular of persevērātiō.
Word of the Day 49~~November 18, 2009
Exegesis
\ek-suh-JEE-sis\
noun;
plural exegeses \-seez\
1.
Exposition; explanation; especially, a critical explanation of a text.
Origin:
Exegesis comes from Greek, from exegeisthai, "to explain, to interpret," from ex-, "out of" + hegeisthai, "to lead, to guide." Thus an exegesis is, at root, "a leading or guiding out of" a complexity.
Word of the Day 50~~November 19, 2009
Obfuscate
\OB-fuh-skayt\
transitive verb;
1.
To darken or render indistinct or dim.
2.
To make obscure or difficult to understand or make sense of.
3.
To confuse or bewilder.
Origin:
Obfuscate comes from Late Latin obfuscatus, past participle of obfuscare, "to darken," from Latin ob- + fuscare, "to darken," from fuscus, "dark." The noun form is obfuscation.
Word of the Day 51~~November 20, 2009
Billingsgate
\BIL-ingz-gayt; -git\
noun;
1.
Coarsely abusive, foul, or profane language.
Origin:
Billingsgate is so called after Billingsgate, a former market in London celebrated for fish and foul language.
Word of the Day 52~~November 21, 2009
Germane
\juhr-MAYN\
adjective;
1.
Appropriate or fitting; relevant.
Origin:
Germane comes from Middle English germain, literally, "having the same parents," ultimately deriving from Latin germanus, from germen, "a bud, a shoot."
Word of the Day 53~~November 22, 2009
Affable
\AF-uh-buhl\
adjective;
1.
Easy to speak to; receiving others kindly and conversing with them in a free and friendly manner.
2.
Gracious; benign.
Origin:
Affable is from Latin affabilis, from affari, "to speak to," from ad-, "to" + fari, "to speak."
Word of the Day 54~~November 23, 2009
Benison
\BEN-uh-suhn; -zuhn\
noun;
1.
Blessing; benediction.
Origin:
Benison comes from Old French beneison, from Latin benedictio, from benedicere, "to bless," from bene, "well" + dicere, "to say."
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