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Word For The Day, Thursday, April 30, 2015-- didactic ; In order that we might all raise the level of discourse and expand our language abilities, here is the daily post of "Word for the Day". didactic [dahy-dak-tik]hear it pronounced adjective 1. intended for instruction; instructive: didactic poetry. 2. inclined to teach or lecture others too much: a boring, didactic speaker. 3. teaching or intending to teach a moral lesson. 4. didactics, (used with a singular verb) the art or science of teaching. Origin: 1650s, from French didactique, from Greek didaktikos "apt at teaching," from didaktos "taught," past participle of...

Word For The Day, Thursday, April 23, 2015-- pannier ; In order that we might all raise the level of discourse and expand our language abilities, here is the daily post of "Word for the Day". pannier [pan-yer, -ee-er]hear it pronounced noun 1. a basket, especially a large one, for carrying goods, provisions, etc. 2. a basket for carrying on a person's back, or one of a pair to be slung across the back of a beast of burden. 3. a similar type of bag, usually one of a pair, fastened over a bicycle's rear wheel. 4. (on a dress,...

Word For The Day, Thursday, April 16, 2015-- palliate ; In order that we might all raise the level of discourse and expand our language abilities, here is the daily post of "Word for the Day". palliate [pal-ee-eyt]hear it pronounced verb, transitive (used with object) palliated, palliating. 1. to relieve or lessen without curing; mitigate; alleviate. 2. to try to mitigate or conceal the gravity of (an offense) by excuses, apologies, etc.; extenuate. Origin: 1540-50, from Late Latin palliāre to cover up, from Latin pallium a cloak, pallium Related forms palliation, noun palliator, noun nonpalliation, noun unpalliated, adjective palliative, adjective,...

Word For The Day, Thursday, April 9, 2015-- cachet ; In order that we might all raise the level of discourse and expand our language abilities, here is the daily post of "Word for the Day". cachet [ka-shey, kash-ey; French ka-she]plural cachets [ka-sheyz, kash-eyz; French ka-she] hear it pronounced noun 1. an official seal, as on a letter or document. 2. a distinguishing mark or feature; stamp: Courtesy is the cachet of good breeding. 3. a sign or expression of approval, especially from a person who has a great deal of prestige. 4. superior status; prestige: The job has a...

Word For The Day, Thursday, April 2, 2015-- via dolorosa ; In order that we might all raise the level of discourse and expand our language abilities, here is the daily post of "Word for the Day". via dolorosa [dol-uh-roh-suh, doh-luh-]hear it pronounced noun 1. (initial capital letters) Christ's route to Golgotha. 2. a trying, painful, or sorrowful course or series of experiences. Origin: Latin via dolōrōsa literally, sorrowful road Rules: Everyone must leave a post using the Word for the Day in a sentence. The sentence must, in some way, relate to the news of the day.

Word For The Day, Thursday, March 26, 2015-- hogshead ; In order that we might all raise the level of discourse and expand our language abilities, here is the daily post of "Word for the Day". hogshead [hawgz-hed, hogz-]hear it pronounced noun 1. a large cask, especially one containing from 63 to 140 gallons (238 to 530 liters). 2. any of various units of liquid measure, especially one equivalent to 63 gallons (238 liters). Abbreviation: hhd.British Dictionary definitions for hogshead: 1. a unit of capacity, used especially for alcoholic beverages. It has several values, being 54 imperial gallons in the...

Word For The Day, Thursday, March 19, 2015-- subsume ; In order that we might all raise the level of discourse and expand our language abilities, here is the daily post of "Word for the Day". subsume [suh b-soom]hear it pronounced verb, transitive (used with object) 1.to consider or include (an idea, term, proposition, etc.) as part of a more comprehensive one. 2. to bring (a case, instance, etc.) under a rule. 3. to take up into a more inclusive classification. Origin: From Latin subsumere, from sub- (under) + sumere (to take). Ultimately from the Indo-European root em- (to take...

Word For The Day, Thursday, March 12, 2015-- comminute ; In order that we might all raise the level of discourse and expand our language abilities, here is the daily post of "Word for the Day". comminute [kom-uh-noot, -nyoot]hear it pronounced verb, transitive (used with object), comminuted, comminuting. 1. to pulverize; triturate. adjective 2. comminuted; divided into small parts. 3. powdered; pulverized. Origin: Related forms comminution, noun uncomminuted, adjective Rules: Everyone must leave a post using the Word for the Day in a sentence. The sentence must, in some way, relate to the news of the day.

Word For The Day, Thursday, March 5, 2015-- escarp ; In order that we might all raise the level of discourse and expand our language abilities, here is the daily post of "Word for the Day". escarp [ih-skahrp]hear it pronounced noun 1. Fortification. the inner slope or wall of the ditch surrounding a rampart. 2. any similar steep slope. verb (used with object) 3. to make into an escarp; give a steep slope to; furnish with escarps. Origin: "steep slope," 1680s, from French escarpe (16c.), from Italian scarpa (see scarp). Related forms escarpment, noun 1. Geology. a long, precipitous, clifflike...

Word For The Day, Wednesday, March 4, 2015-- repletion ; In order that we might all raise the level of discourse and expand our language abilities, here is the daily post of "Word for the Day". repletion [ri-plee-shuh n]hear it pronounced noun 1. the state or condition of being replete; fullness, especially excessive fullness due to overeating 2. the satisfaction of a need or desire Origin: 1350-1400; Middle English replecioun surfeit (< Middle French) < Late Latin replētiōn- (stem of replētiō), equivalent to Latin replēt(us) (see replete) + -iōn- -ion Related forms replete, adjectiveRules: Everyone must leave a post using...

Word For The Day, Wednesday, February 25, 2015-- hormesis ; In order that we might all raise the level of discourse and expand our language abilities, here is the daily post of "Word for the Day". hormesis [hor-me-sis]hear it pronounced noun a theoretical phenomenon of dose-response relationships in which something (as a heavy metal or ionizing radiation) that produces harmful biological effects at moderate to high doses may produce beneficial effects at low doses Origin: Hormesis (from Greek hórmēsis "rapid motion, eagerness," from ancient Greek hormáein "to set in motion, impel, urge on") is the term for generally favorable biological...

Word For The Day, Wednesday, February 18, 2015-- akimbo ; In order that we might all raise the level of discourse and expand our language abilities, here is the daily post of "Word for the Day". akimbo [uh-kim-boh]hear it pronounced adjective, adverb 1. with hand on hip and elbow bent outward: to stand with arms akimbo. Origin: 1375-1425; late Middle English in kenebowe < Old Norse *i keng boginn bent into a crook (i in, keng accusative of kengr hook, boginn past participle of bjūga to bend) Additional Word Origin and History: c.1400, in kenebowe, of unknown origin, perhaps from...

Word For The Day, Wednesday, February 11, 2015-- sybarite ; In order that we might all raise the level of discourse and expand our language abilities, here is the daily post of "Word for the Day". sybarite [ sib-uh-rahyt]hear it pronounced noun 1. (usually lowercase) a person devoted to luxury and pleasure. 2. an inhabitant of Sybaris. Origin: C16: from Latin Sybarīta, from Greek Subaritēs inhabitant of Sybaris: "person devoted to pleasure," 1610s (implied in Sybaritical), literally "inhabitant of Sybaris," ancient Greek town in southern Italy, whose people were noted for their love of luxury. From Latin Sybarita, from Greek...

Word For The Day, Wednesday, February 4, 2015-- polymath ; In order that we might all raise the level of discourse and expand our language abilities, here is the daily post of "Word for the Day". polymath [pol-ee-math]hear it pronounced noun 1. a person of great learning in several fields of study Origin: 1615-25; < Greek polymathḗs learned, having learned much, equivalent to poly- poly- + -mathēs, adj. derivative of manthánein to learn Related forms polymathic, adjective polymathy (po-lim -a-thee) noun Rules: Everyone must leave a post using the Word for the Day in a sentence. The sentence must, in...

Word For The Day, Wednesday, January 28, 2015-- Baedeker ; In order that we might all raise the level of discourse and expand our language abilities, here is the daily post of "Word for the Day". Baedeker [bey-di-ker]or [bay-di-ker]hear it pronounced noun 1. Karl, 1801–59, German publisher, notably of guidebooks for travelers. 2. any of the series of guidebooks for travelers issued by the him or his successors. 3. any guidebook, pamphlet, or the like, containing information useful to travelers: a Baedeker to the restaurants of the region. Origin: "travel guide," 1863, from German printer and bookseller Karl Baedeker (1801-1859)...

Word For The Day, Wednesday, January 21, 2015-- tumbrel ; In order that we might all raise the level of discourse and expand our language abilities, here is the daily post of "Word for the Day". tumbrel [tuhm-bruh l]hear it pronounced noun 1. one of the carts used during the French Revolution to convey victims to the guillotine. 2. a farmer's cart, especially one for hauling manure, that can be tilted to discharge its load. 3. Obsolete. a two-wheeled covered cart accompanying artillery for carrying tools, ammunition, etc. 4. an obsolete word for a ducking stool, which is: a former...

Word For The Day, Wednesday, January 14, 2015-- caryatid ; In order that we might all raise the level of discourse and expand our language abilities, here is the daily post of "Word for the Day". caryatid [kar-ee-at-id]hear it pronounced noun, plural caryatids, caryatidesArchitecture 1. a sculptured female figure used as a column. Origin: C16: from Latin Caryātides, from Greek Karuatides priestesses of Artemis at Karuai (Caryae), village in Laconia Related forms caryatidal, caryatidean, caryatic, caryatidic , adjective Rules: Everyone must leave a post using the Word for the Day in a sentence. The sentence must, in some way, relate...

Word For The Day, Wednesday, January 7, 2015-- preternatural ; In order that we might all raise the level of discourse and expand our language abilities, here is the daily post of "Word for the Day". preternatural [pree-ter-nach-er-uh l, -nach-ruh l]hear it pronounced adjective 1.out of the ordinary course of nature; exceptional or abnormal: preternatural powers. 2. outside of nature; supernatural. Origin: 1570s, from Medieval Latin preternaturalis (mid-13c.), from Latin phrase praeter naturam (praeterque fatum) "beyond nature (and beyond fate)," from praeter "beyond" + accusative of natura "nature" Related forms preternaturalism, noun preternaturality [pree-ter-nach-uh-ral-i-tee] , noun preternaturalness, noun preternaturally, adverb...

Word For The Day, Wednesday, December 31, 2014—gallivant (Also, galavant) ; In order that we might all raise the level of discourse and expand our language abilities, here is the daily post of "Word for the Day". gallivant [gal-uh-vant]hear it pronounced verb, intransitive, i.e., used without an object 1. to wander about, seeking pleasure or diversion; gad. 2. to go about with members of the opposite sex. Origin: 1815-25; perhaps fanciful alteration of gallant Word Origin and History for gallivant 1809, probably a playful elaboration of gallant in an obsolete verbal sense of "play the gallant, flirt, gad about." Related:...

Word For The Day, Wednesday, December 24, 2014-- manger ; In order that we might all raise the level of discourse and expand our language abilities, here is the daily post of "Word for the Day". [meyn-jer]hear it pronounced noun 1. a box or trough in a stable or barn from which horses or cattle eat. 2. Nautical. 1. a space at the bow of a ship, having a partition for confining water entering at the hawseholes until it can be drained. 2. a sunken bottom in a chain locker, covered by a grating and used to collect water from...