Word of the Day 77-87

Word of the Day 77~~December 16, 2009


Doff \DOF\

transitive verb;

1.
To take off, as an article of clothing.
2.
To tip or remove (one's hat).
3.
To put aside; to rid oneself of.


Origin:
Doff Middle English doffen, from don off, "to do off," from don, "to do" + off, "off."

Word of the Day 78~~December 17, 2009


Paroxysm \PAIR-uhk-siz-uhm\

noun;

1.
(Medicine) A sudden attack, intensification, or recurrence of a disease.
2.
Any sudden and violent emotion or action; an outburst; a fit.


Origin:
Paroxysm is from Greek paroxusmos, from paroxunein, "to irritate, provoke or excite (literally to sharpen excessively)," from para-, "beyond" + oxunein, "to sharpen, to provoke."

Word of the Day 79~~December 18, 2009


Diaphanous \dy-AF-uh-nuhs\

adjective;

1.
Of such fine texture as to allow light to pass through; translucent or transparent.
2.
Vague; insubstantial.


Origin:
Diaphanous ultimately derives from Greek diaphanes, "showing through," from diaphainein, "to show through, to be transparent," from dia-, "through" + phainein, "to show, to appear." It is related to phantom, something apparently sensed but having no physical reality.

Word of the Day 80~~December 19, 2009


Capricious \kuh-PRISH-us; -PREE-shus\

adjective;

1.
Apt to change suddenly; whimsical; changeable.


Origin:
Capricious comes, via French, from Italian capriccio, a shivering, a shudder, finally (influenced by Italian capra, goat) a whim, from capo, head (from Latin caput) + riccio, hedgehog (from Latin ericius). The basic idea is that of a head with hair standing on end, like the spines of a hedgehog.

Word of the Day 81~~December 20, 2009


Iota \eye-OH-tuh\

noun;

1.
The ninth letter of the Greek alphabet, corresponding to the English i.
2.
A very small quantity or degree; a jot; a bit.


Origin:
Iota is the smallest letter in the Greek alphabet. The word jot also derives from iota.

Word of the Day 82~~December 21, 2009


Dolorous \DOH-luh-ruhs\

adjective;

1.
Marked by, causing, or expressing grief or sorrow.


Origin:
Dolorous derives from Latin dolor, "pain, grief, sorrow," from dolere, "to suffer pain, to grieve."

Word of the Day 83~~December 22, 2009


Collude \kuh-LOOD\

intransitive verb;

1.
To act in concert; to conspire; to plot.


Origin:
Collude derives from Latin colludere, from con-, "together" + ludere, "to play."

Word of the Day 84~~December 23, 2009


Clinquant \KLING-kunt\

adjective, noun;

1.
Glittering with gold or silver; tinseled.

noun:

1.
Tinsel; imitation gold leaf.


Origin:
Clinquant is from French, glistening, tinkling, present participle of obsolete clinquer, to clink, perhaps from Middle Dutch klinken.

Word of the Day 85~~December 24, 2009


Lambent \LAM-buhnt\

adjective;

1.
Playing lightly on or over a surface; flickering; as, "a lambent flame; lambent shadows."
2.
Softly bright or radiant; luminous; as, "a lambent light."
3.
Light and brilliant; as, "a lambent style; lambent wit."


Origin:
Lambent is from the present participle of Latin lambere,"to lick."

Word of the Day 86~~December 25, 2009


Embonpoint \ahn-bohn-PWAN\

noun;

1.
Plumpness of person; stoutness.


Origin:
Embonpoint is from French, literally "in good condition" (en, "in" + bon, "good" + point, "situation, condition").

Word of the Day 87~~December 26, 2009


Hauteur \haw-TUR; (h)oh-\

noun;

1.
Haughty manner, spirit, or bearing; haughtiness; arrogance.


Origin:
Hauteur is from the French, from haut, "high," from Latin altus, "high." It is thus related to altitude.