Words 
September 3, 2006 | 15:55

insouciant - Definitions from Dictionary.com (etymology):

insouciant (in-SOO-see-uhnt) adjective

Marked by blithe unconcern; nonchalant.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

August 27, 2006 | 10:31

habitue - Definitions from Dictionary.com:

habitue (huh-BICH-oo-ay; huh-bich-oo-AY) noun

One who frequents a particular place, especially a place offering a specific pleasurable activity.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

August 20, 2006 | 09:21

adumbrate - Definitions from Dictionary.com:

adumbrate (AD-uhm-brayt; uh-DUHM-) transitive verb

  1. To give a sketchy outline of.
  2. To prefigure indistinctly; foreshadow.
  3. To disclose partially or guardedly.
  4. To overshadow; shadow or obscure.

Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

August 13, 2006 | 02:00

Online Etymology Dictionary (etyemology):

eremite (ER-uh-myt) noun

A recluse or hermit, especially a religious recluse.

Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

August 6, 2006 | 13:44

nescience - Definitions from Dictionary.com:

nescience (NESH-uhn(t)s; NESH-ee-uhn(t)s) noun

  1. Absence of knowledge or awareness; ignorance.
  2. Agnosticism.

Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

July 30, 2006 | 12:30

indurate - Definitions from Dictionary.com:

indurate (IN-dur-it; -dyur-) adjective

Hardened; obstinate; unfeeling.

Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

July 23, 2006 | 09:52

vituperation - Definitions from Dictionary.com (etymology):

vituperation (vy-too-puh-RAY-shuhn, -tyoo-) noun

  1. The act or an instance of vituperating; abusive censure.
  2. Sustained, harshly abusive language; invective.

Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Editio
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

July 16, 2006 | 09:21

connubial - Definitions from Dictionary.com (etemology):

connubial (kuh-NOO-bee-ul; -NYOO-) adjective

Relating to marriage or the married state; conjugal.

Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

July 9, 2006 | 02:00

distrait - Definitions from Dictionary.com:

distrait (dis-TRAY) adjective

Inattentive or preoccupied, especially because of anxiety: “When she did not occupy her accustomed chair at the seminar, Freud felt uneasy and distrait” (Times Literary Supplement).

Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

July 2, 2006 | 10:18

venal - Definitions from Dictionary.com (etymology):

venal (VEE-nuhl) adjective

    1. Open to bribery; mercenary: a venal police officer.
    2. Capable of betraying honor, duty, or scruples for a price; corruptible.
  1. Marked by corrupt dealings, especially bribery: a venal administration.
  2. Obtainable for a price.

Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

June 25, 2006 | 14:34

sobriquet - Definitions from Dictionary.com (etymology):

sobriquet (SO-brih-kay; -ket; so-brih-KAY; -KET) noun

  1. An affectionate or humorous nickname.
  2. An assumed name.

Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.


n : a familiar name for a person (often a shortened version of a person's given name); "Joe's mother would not use his nickname and always called him Joseph"; "Henry's nickname was Slim" [syn: nickname, moniker, cognomen, soubriquet]

June 18, 2006 | 17:44

raillery - Definitions from Dictionary.com (etymology):

raillery (RAY-luh-ree) noun

  1. Good-natured teasing or ridicule; banter.
  2. An instance of bantering or teasing.

Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

June 12, 2006 | 16:46

paucity - Definitions from Dictionary.com (etymology):

paucity (PAW-suh-tee) noun

  1. Smallness of number; fewness.
  2. Scarcity; dearth: a paucity of natural resources.

Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

June 4, 2006 | 20:38

glabrous - Definitions from Dictionary.com:

glabrous (GLAY-bruhs) adjective

Having no hairs, projections, or pubescence; smooth: a glabrous scalp; glabrous leaves.

Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

May 28, 2006 | 02:00

moil - Definitions from Dictionary.com (etymology):

moil (MOYL) intransitive verb

  1. To toil; slave.
  2. To churn about continuously.

Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

May 21, 2006 | 14:01

punctilious - Definitions from Dictionary.com (eytmology):

punctilious (puhnk-TIL-ee-uhs) adjective

  1. Strictly attentive to minute details of form in action or conduct. See Synonyms at meticulous.
  2. Precise; scrupulous.

Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

May 14, 2006 | 09:38

Dictionary.com/contretemps:

contretemps (KAHN-truh-tahn) noun

An unforeseen event that disrupts the normal course of things; an inopportune occurrence.

Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

May 7, 2006 | 02:00

Dictionary.com/wag (etymology):

wag (WAG) noun

A humorous or droll person; a wit.

Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

April 30, 2006 | 08:56

Dictionary.com/nonplussed:

nonplussed (NON-plussed) adjective

filled with bewilderment; "at a loss to understand those remarks"; "puzzled that she left without saying goodbye" [syn: at a loss(p), nonplused, puzzled]

Source: WordNet ® 2.0, © 2003 Princeton University

April 23, 2006 | 11:58

Dictionary.com/discomfit (etymology):

discomfit (dis-KUHM-fit; dis-kuhm-FIT) transitive verb

  1. To make uneasy or perplexed; disconcert. See Synonyms at embarrass.
  2. To thwart the plans of; frustrate.
  3. Archaic. To defeat in battle; vanquish.

Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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