Fulsome (fool-suhm) adj. - grossly overdone
To be used in place of "excessive," "immoderate," etc.
It is not my intention to be fulsome, but I confess that I covet your skull. - Arthur Conan Doyle
Friday, January 25, 2013
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Unbecoming
Unbecoming (uhn-bi-kuhm-ing) adj. - ill-fitting
To be used in place of "unseemly," "unsightly," "unsuitable," etc.
It's unbecoming for him to show so much passion.
To be used in place of "unseemly," "unsightly," "unsuitable," etc.
It's unbecoming for him to show so much passion.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Casuistry
Casuistry (kazh-wi-stree) n. - deceptive reasoning; sophistry
To be used in place of "equivocation," "specious reasoning," etc.
Don't give in to their casuistry - they're leading you away from the facts.
To be used in place of "equivocation," "specious reasoning," etc.
Don't give in to their casuistry - they're leading you away from the facts.
Monday, January 21, 2013
Obeisance
Obeisance (oh-bey-suhns) n. - deference
To be used in place of "homage," "respect," etc.
All the knights paid obeisance to the queen.
To be used in place of "homage," "respect," etc.
All the knights paid obeisance to the queen.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Nicety
Nicety (nahy-si-tee) n. - subtlety
To be used in place of "nuance," "subtlety," etc.
Let's not get into the niceties of the policy just yet.
To be used in place of "nuance," "subtlety," etc.
Let's not get into the niceties of the policy just yet.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Adventive
Adventive (ad-ven-tiv) adj. - nonnative
To be used in place of "foreign," "alien," etc.
An adventive garland of flowers was hung on the wall to remind them of their Hawaii honeymoon.
To be used in place of "foreign," "alien," etc.
An adventive garland of flowers was hung on the wall to remind them of their Hawaii honeymoon.
Friday, January 18, 2013
Abstemious
Abstemious (ab-stee-mee-uhs) adj. - temperate
To be used in place of "self -controlled," "disciplined," etc.
"A man may choose whether he will have abstemiousness and knowledge, or claret and ignorance." - Samuel Johnson
To be used in place of "self -controlled," "disciplined," etc.
"A man may choose whether he will have abstemiousness and knowledge, or claret and ignorance." - Samuel Johnson
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Tenebrous
Tenebrous (ten-uh-bruhs) adj. - dark; gloomy
To be used in place of "dark," and "obscure."
I prefer not to study in the musty and tenebrous school library.
The meaning of your argument is tenebrous and your logic is feeble.
To be used in place of "dark," and "obscure."
I prefer not to study in the musty and tenebrous school library.
The meaning of your argument is tenebrous and your logic is feeble.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Nonpareil
Nonpareil (non-puh-rel) adj. - having no parallel
To be used in place of "extraordinary," "amazing," etc. (as well as "par excellence" and "extraordinaire").
Last week's game was exciting, but today's was nonpareil.
She is a violinist nonpareil.
To be used in place of "extraordinary," "amazing," etc. (as well as "par excellence" and "extraordinaire").
Last week's game was exciting, but today's was nonpareil.
She is a violinist nonpareil.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Cantankerous
Cantankerous (kan-tang-ker-uhs) adj. - off-putting; ill-tempered
To be used in place of "obnoxious" "disagreeable," etc.
I'd come if the place wasn't full of cantankerous old men.
To be used in place of "obnoxious" "disagreeable," etc.
I'd come if the place wasn't full of cantankerous old men.
Monday, January 14, 2013
Bowdlerize
Bowdlerize (bohd-luh-rahyz) v. - to censor, expurgate, clean up
To be used in place of "censor," "water down," etc.
Many of the parents objected to a bowdlerized version of Huck Finn on the basis that works should be read as they were written.
To be used in place of "censor," "water down," etc.
Many of the parents objected to a bowdlerized version of Huck Finn on the basis that works should be read as they were written.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Heeled
Heeled (heeld) adj. - having money
To be used in place of "wealthy," "rich," etc.
The mayor was joined by his well-heeled coterie.
To be used in place of "wealthy," "rich," etc.
The mayor was joined by his well-heeled coterie.
Monday, January 7, 2013
Trammel
Trammel (tram-uhl) n. - impediment; constraint
To be used as "trammels" and in place of "obstacle," "limitation," etc.
He dreamed of a day when Wall Street would be free from the trammels of financial regulation.
To be used as "trammels" and in place of "obstacle," "limitation," etc.
He dreamed of a day when Wall Street would be free from the trammels of financial regulation.
Friday, January 4, 2013
Lily-livered
Lily-livered (lil-ee-liv-erd) adj. - cowardly
To be used in place of "cowardly," "spineless," etc.
Because I'm a lily-livered, bleeding-heart, liberal, egghead communist. - West Wing
To be used in place of "cowardly," "spineless," etc.
Because I'm a lily-livered, bleeding-heart, liberal, egghead communist. - West Wing
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Antipode
Antipode (an-ti-pohd) n. - opposite
To be used in place of "opposite." The pronunciation is not to be mistaken with "antipodes" from which the word derives. Antipodes (an-tip-uh-deez) - two places on earth in diametrically opposed locations; a group of islands belonging to New Zealand.
One reporter called the newcomer the antipode of the incumbent.
To be used in place of "opposite." The pronunciation is not to be mistaken with "antipodes" from which the word derives. Antipodes (an-tip-uh-deez) - two places on earth in diametrically opposed locations; a group of islands belonging to New Zealand.
One reporter called the newcomer the antipode of the incumbent.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Otiose
Otiose (oh-shee-ohs) adj. - futile; superfluous
To be used in place of "unnecessary," "vain," "useless," etc.
Belief is otiose; reality is sufficiently awesome as it stands. - Martin Amis
To be used in place of "unnecessary," "vain," "useless," etc.
Belief is otiose; reality is sufficiently awesome as it stands. - Martin Amis
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Countenance
Countenance (koun-tn-uhns) v. - permit; allow
To be used in place of "tolerate," "put up with," etc.
I will not countenance such behavior.
To be used in place of "tolerate," "put up with," etc.
I will not countenance such behavior.
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