Monday, March 23, 2009

androcentric
Pronunciation: \ˌan-drə-ˈsen-trik\
Function: adjective
Date: 1903
: dominated by or emphasizing masculine interests or a masculine point of view
— an·dro·cen·trism \-ˌtri-zəm\ noun

facetious
Pronunciation: \fə-ˈsē-shəs\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle French facetieux, from facetie jest, from Latin facetia
Date: 1599
1 : joking or jesting often inappropriately : waggish
2 : meant to be humorous or funny : not serious
synonyms see witty
— fa·ce·tious·ly adverb
— fa·ce·tious·ness noun

Friday, March 20, 2009

Good Words

emissary
Pronunciation: \ˈe-mə-ˌser-ē, -ˌse-rē\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural em·is·sar·ies
Etymology: Latin emissarius, from emissus, past participle of emittere
Date: 1607
1 : one designated as the agent of another : representative
2 : a secret agent

limpid
Pronunciation: \ˈlim-pəd\
Function: adjective
Etymology: French or Latin; French limpide, from Latin limpidus, perhaps from lympha water — more at lymph
Date: 1613
1 a: marked by transparency : pellucid b: clear and simple in style
2: absolutely serene and untroubled

Saturday, March 14, 2009

A synonym of honesty and the popular Internet tool

pro·bi·ty
Pronunciation: \ˈprō-bə-tē\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English probite, from Latin probitat-, probitas, from probus honest — more at prove
Date: 15th century
: adherence to the highest principles and ideals : uprightness

twit·ter
Pronunciation: \ˈtwi-tər\
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English twiteren; akin to Old High German zwizzirōn to twitter
Date: 14th century
intransitive verb
1: to utter successive chirping noises
2 a: to talk in a chattering fashion b: giggle , titter
3: to tremble with agitation

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Edgar Allan Poe's "Ligeia"

epithet
Pronunciation: \ˈe-pə-ˌthet also -thət\
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin epitheton, from Greek, from neuter of epithetos added, from epitithenai to put on, add, from epi- + tithenai to put — more at do
Date: 1579
1 a: a characterizing word or phrase accompanying or occurring in place of the name of a person or thing b: a disparaging or abusive word or phrase c: the part of a taxonomic name identifying a subordinate unit within a genus
2obsolete : expression

ethereal
Pronunciation: \i-ˈthir-ē-əl\
Function: adjective
Date: 1513
1 a: of or relating to the regions beyond the earth b: celestial , heavenly c: unworldly , spiritual
2 a: lacking material substance : immaterial , intangible b: marked by unusual delicacy or refinement c: suggesting the heavens or heaven
3: relating to, containing, or resembling a chemical

lambent
Pronunciation: \ˈlam-bənt\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin lambent-, lambens, present participle of lambere to lick — more at lap
Date: 1647
1 : playing lightly on or over a surface : flickering
2 : softly bright or radiant
3 : marked by lightness or brilliance especially of expression


motley
Pronunciation: \ˈmät-lē\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, perhaps from mot mote, speck
Date: 14th century
1 : variegated in color
2 : composed of diverse often incongruous elements

Poe is a bit flowery for me but his writing is full of great words and graphic descriptions.