WotD Archives – November 2011

November 29th, 2011

Pragmatic/prag-MAT-ik/
adjective
1. More concerned with practical results than with theories and principles.

November 28th, 2011

Coquetry/KOH-kuh-tree/
noun
1. A flirtatious act or attitude.

November 23rd, 2011

Austere/aw-STEER/
adjective
1. Markedly simple without adornment or ornamentation.
2. Strict or stern in appearance or manner.

November 18th, 2011

Omnibus/OM-nuh-buhs/
noun
1. A volume of reprinted works of a single author or of works related in interest or theme.
2. A bus.
adjective
1. Pertaining to, including, or dealing with numerous objects or items at once.

November 16th, 2011

Epoch /EE-pok/
noun
1. A period of time in history or a person’s life, typically one marked by notable events or particular characteristics.
2. The beginning of a distinctive period in the history of someone or something.

November 15th, 2011

Apocrypha /uh-POK-ruh-fuh/
noun
1. Various religious writings of uncertain origin regarded by some as inspired, but rejected by most authorities.
2. A group of 14 books, not considered canonical, included in the Septuagint and the Vulgate as part of the Old Testament, but usually omitted from Protestant editions of the Bible.
3. Writings, statements, etc., of doubtful authorship or authenticity.

November 14th, 2011

Fascicle /FAS-i-kuhl/
noun
1. A section of a book or set of books published in installments as separate pamphlets or volumes.
2. A small bundle, tight cluster, or the like.

November 11, 2011

Zeal /ZEEL/
noun
1. Fervor for a person, cause, or object; eager desire or endeavor; enthusiastic diligence; ardor.

November 10th, 2011

Diphthong /DIF-thawng/
noun
1. Phonetics. An unsegmentable, gliding speech varying continuously in phonetic quality but held to be a single sound or phoneme and identified by its apparent beginning and ending sound, as the oi-sound of toy or boil.
2. A digraph, as the ea of meat.
3. A ligature, as æ.

November 9th, 2011

Enervate /EN-er-veyt/
adjective
1. To deprive of force or strength; destroy the vigor of; weaken.

November 8th, 2011

Mendacious /men-DEY-shuhs/
adjective
1. Given to or characterized by deception or falsehood or divergence from absolute truth.
2. Lying; untruthful.

November 7th, 2011

Uncouth /uhn-KOOTH/
adjective
1. Awkward, clumsy, or unmannerly.
2. Strange and ungraceful in appearance or form.
3. Unusual or strange.

November 4th, 2011

Mythos /MITH-os/
noun
1. The underlying system of beliefs, especially those dealing with supernatural forces, characteristic of a particular cultural group.
2. Myth.
3. Mythology.

November 3rd, 2011

Genteel /jen-TEEL/
adjective
1. Belonging or suited to polite society.
2. Well-bred or refined; polite; elegant; stylish.
3. Affectedly or pretentiously polite, delicate, etc.

November 2nd, 2011

Onomatopoeia /ah-nuh-mah-tuh-PEE-uh/
noun
1. The naming of a thing or action by a vocal imitation of the sound associated with it (as buzz, hiss).
2. The use of words whose sound suggests the sense.