Word of the Day Archive
1999
- emolument: the wages or perquisites arising from office, employment, or labor. (Monday May 03*)
- palindrome: a word, verse, phrase, or sentence that reads the same backward or forward. (Tuesday May 04)
- deprecate: to disapprove of; also, to belittle. (Wednesday May 05)
- bivouac: a usually temporary encampment; also, to encamp. (Thursday May 06)
- umbrage: offense; resentment. (Friday May 07)
- incipient: beginning to exist or appear. (Saturday May 08)
- dapple: a small contrasting blotch; also, to mark with spots. (Sunday May 09)
- pugnacious: combative; quarrelsome. (Monday May 10)
- capitulate: to surrender under agreed conditions. (Tuesday May 11)
- susurrus: a whispering or rustling sound. (Wednesday May 12)
- thaumaturgy: the performing of miracles or magic. (Thursday May 13)
- capacious: able to contain much. (Friday May 14)
- glower: to stare angrily or with a scowl. (Saturday May 15)
- canorous: melodious; musical. (Sunday May 16)
- repast: a meal. (Monday May 17)
- spoonerism: the transposition of usually initial sounds in a pair of words. (Tuesday May 18)
- tenebrous: dark; gloomy. (Wednesday May 19)
- nescience: lack of knowledge or awareness. (Thursday May 20)
- gewgaw: a trinket; a bauble. (Friday May 21)
- effulgence: the state of being bright and radiant. (Saturday May 22)
- assuage: to soften; to ease, or lessen. (Sunday May 23)
- exiguity: smallness; thinness; the quality of being meager. (Monday May 24)
- seriatim: in a series; one after another. (Tuesday May 25)
- tmesis: in grammar and rhetoric, the separation of the parts of a compound word. (Wednesday May 26)
- chthonic: dwelling in or under the earth; also, pertaining to the underworld. (Thursday May 27)
- objurgate: to scold or rebuke sharply. (Friday May 28)
- plethora: excess. (Saturday May 29)
- lissom: supple; nimble. (Sunday May 30)
- badinage: light, playful talk. (Monday May 31)
- propitious: presenting favorable circumstances. (Tuesday June 01)
- inclement: harsh; severe -- especially said of the weather. (Wednesday June 02)
- kobold: a kind of domestic spirit in German mythology. (Thursday June 03)
- knell: the stoke of a bell tolled at a funeral. (Friday June 04)
- cogent: appealing to the mind or to reason; convincing. (Saturday June 05)
- regale: to entertain with something that delights. (Sunday June 06)
- mordant: biting; caustic; sarcastic. (Monday June 07)
- agog: in eager desire. (Tuesday June 08)
- captious: disposed to find fault or raise objections. (Wednesday June 09)
- arbitrage: the nearly simultaneous purchase and sale of an asset in order to profit from price discrepancies. (Thursday June 10)
- redoubt: a stronghold. (Friday June 11)
- chichi: affectedly trendy. (Saturday June 12)
- taw: a large marble. (Sunday June 13)
- vexillology: the study of flags. (Monday June 14)
- quorum: such a number of the officers or members of any body as is legally competent to transact business. (Tuesday June 15)
- abscond: to depart secretly. (Wednesday June 16)
- virtu: love of or taste for fine objects of art; also, productions of art. (Thursday June 17)
- junta: a governmental council or committee, esp. one that rules after a revolution. (Friday June 18)
- gamut: a complete extent or range. (Saturday June 19)
- lexicon: a dictionary; also, the vocabulary of a person, group, etc. (Sunday June 20)
- aestival: of or belonging to the summer. (Monday June 21)
- slugabed: one who stays in bed until a late hour. (Tuesday June 22)
- desultory: jumping from subject to subject; erratic; inconsistent. (Wednesday June 23)
- irascible: easily provoked to anger. (Thursday June 24)
- acumen: quickness or keenness of perception or discernment. (Friday June 25)
- scion: a descendant; an heir. (Saturday June 26)
- bandog: a large and fierce dog. (Sunday June 27)
- multifarious: having great diversity or variety. (Monday June 28)
- sublunary: situated beneath the moon; terrestrial. (Tuesday June 29)
- ebullient: high-spirited. (Wednesday June 30)
- Brobdingnagian: gigantic; enormous. (Thursday July 01)
- extant: still existing. (Friday July 02)
- verdant: green. (Saturday July 03)
- Whig: a friend and supporter of the American Revolution. (Sunday July 04)
- trepidation: a state of dread or alarm; apprehension. (Monday July 05)
- torrid: drying or scorching with heat; burning; parching. (Tuesday July 06)
- gnomic: uttering, containing, or characterized by maxims. (Wednesday July 07)
- comity: a state of mutual harmony, friendship, and respect. (Thursday July 08)
- tyro: a novice. (Friday July 09)
- avarice: an excessive desire of gain; greediness. (Saturday July 10)
- eke: to gain or supplement with great effort or difficulty. (Sunday July 11)
- tittle-tattle: idle, trifling talk. (Monday July 12)
- bellwether: a leader or leading indicator. (Tuesday July 13)
- torpid: dull; sluggish; apathetic. (Wednesday July 14)
- grok: to understand. (Thursday July 15)
- ameliorate: to make or grow better. (Friday July 16)
- bestow: to give or confer. (Saturday July 17)
- comestible: suitable to be eaten. (Sunday July 18)
- requisite: required; indispensable. (Monday July 19)
- prolix: wordy. (Tuesday July 20)
- sobriquet: a nickname. (Wednesday July 21)
- Zeitgeist: the spirit of the time. (Thursday July 22)
- numismatics: the collection and study of coins. (Friday July 23)
- palpable: plain; distinct; obvious. (Saturday July 24)
- listless: having no desire or inclination. (Sunday July 25)
- antediluvian: extremely old. (Monday July 26)
- melee: a confused conflict. (Tuesday July 27)
- genial: sympathetically cheerful and cheering; kindly. (Wednesday July 28)
- raucous: unpleasantly loud and harsh. (Thursday July 29)
- aberrant: abnormal. (Friday July 30)
- diffident: bashful or unassertive. (Saturday July 31)
- superfluous: more than is wanted or is sufficient. (Sunday August 01)
- gregarious: seeking and enjoying the company of others. (Monday August 02)
- erudite: characterized by extensive reading or knowledge. (Tuesday August 03)
- insouciant: marked by blithe unconcern; nonchalant. (Wednesday August 04)
- salubrious: healthful. (Thursday August 05)
- verbiage: an overabundance of words. (Friday August 06)
- ascribe: to attribute. (Saturday August 07)
- jovial: merry; joyous; jolly. (Sunday August 08)
- adamant: not susceptible to persuasion; unyielding. (Monday August 09)
- desideratum: something desired. (Tuesday August 10)
- ersatz: being a substitute or imitation. (Wednesday August 11)
- solace: comfort in grief. (Thursday August 12)
- triskaidekaphobia: fear of the number 13. (Friday August 13)
- stoic: indifferent to or unaffected by pleasure or pain; also, one who is stoic. (Saturday August 14)
- encumbrance: a burden, impediment, or hindrance. (Sunday August 15)
- puerile: juvenile; childish. (Monday August 16)
- innocuous: harmless; also, unlikely to offend or provoke. (Tuesday August 17)
- colloquial: characteristic of informal spoken language. (Wednesday August 18)
- eleemosynary: relating to charity; charitable. (Thursday August 19)
- dour: stern or unyielding or gloomy. (Friday August 20)
- incongruous: lacking in harmony. (Saturday August 21)
- winsome: light-hearted. (Sunday August 22)
- apposite: of striking appropriateness and relevance. (Monday August 23)
- tumult: the commotion or agitation of a crowd. (Tuesday August 24)
- parvenu: an upstart; one newly risen in class or economic status. (Wednesday August 25)
- riparian: of or pertaining to the bank of a river. (Thursday August 26)
- dilatory: given to, or marked by, procrastination or delay. (Friday August 27)
- edify: to instruct and improve. (Saturday August 28)
- impecunious: habitually without money; poor. (Sunday August 29)
- polyglot: speaking or containing many languages. (Monday August 30)
- sedulous: diligent in application or pursuit. (Tuesday August 31)
- juju: an object superstitiously believed to embody magical powers. (Wednesday September 01)
- chagrin: acute vexation or embarrassment. (Thursday September 02)
- métier: an occupation, especially in which one excels. (Friday September 03)
- facile: easily done or performed. (Saturday September 04)
- perforce: by necessity. (Sunday September 05)
- evanescent: fleeting. (Monday September 06)
- quotidian: occurring daily; also, ordinary. (Tuesday September 07)
- specious: apparently right but not so in reality. (Wednesday September 08)
- munificent: very generous. (Thursday September 09)
- indolent: lazy; inactive. (Friday September 10)
- intransigent: uncompromising. (Saturday September 11)
- tortuous: marked by repeated turns and bends. (Sunday September 12)
- paucity: fewness; insufficiency. (Monday September 13)
- autodidact: one who is self-taught. (Tuesday September 14)
- fatuous: inanely foolish; stupid; also, illusory. (Wednesday September 15)
- complement: something that fills up or completes. (Thursday September 16)
- taciturn: not inclined to talk. (Friday September 17)
- en masse: all together; as a whole. (Saturday September 18)
- confluence: a flowing or coming together. (Sunday September 19)
- maudlin: excessively sentimental. (Monday September 20)
- enervate: to weaken. (Tuesday September 21)
- recondite: difficult to understand. (Wednesday September 22)
- paroxysm: an outburst; a fit. (Thursday September 23)
- copious: large in quantity; also, affording an abundant supply. (Friday September 24)
- exalt: to praise, glorify, or honor. (Saturday September 25)
- erroneous: containing or characterized by error. (Sunday September 26)
- prescience: knowledge of events before they take place. (Monday September 27)
- ineluctable: impossible to avoid or evade. (Tuesday September 28)
- obdurate: hardened in feelings or in wrongdoing; unyielding. (Wednesday September 29)
- banal: commonplace; trivial. (Thursday September 30)
- affable: easy to speak to; also, gracious. (Friday October 01)
- noisome: offensive or disgusting; also, harmful; unwholesome. (Saturday October 02)
- exacerbate: to aggravate; to make worse. (Sunday October 03)
- misnomer: a misnaming. (Monday October 04)
- lackadaisical: lacking spirit or liveliness. (Tuesday October 05)
- hauteur: haughtiness; arrogance. (Wednesday October 06)
- skulk: to hide in a sneaking manner. (Thursday October 07)
- voluble: characterized by a ready flow of speech. (Friday October 08)
- ostracize: to banish or expel. (Saturday October 09)
- autocrat: a ruler with unlimited authority. (Sunday October 10)
- beholden: obliged; indebted. (Monday October 11)
- aplomb: confidence; coolness. (Tuesday October 12)
- disheveled: in loose disorder; disarranged. (Wednesday October 13)
- precocious: characterized by or characteristic of exceptionally early development. (Thursday October 14)
- reticent: inclined to keep silent. (Friday October 15)
- legerdemain: sleight of hand. (Saturday October 16)
- vituperate: to overwhelm with wordy abuse. (Sunday October 17)
- foment: to nurse to life or activity; to incite. (Monday October 18)
- contumely: rudeness compounded of haughtiness and contempt. (Tuesday October 19)
- philomath: a lover of learning; a scholar. (Wednesday October 20)
- aesthete: one who cultivates great sensitivity to beauty. (Thursday October 21)
- nefarious: wicked in the extreme. (Friday October 22)
- proclivity: a natural inclination. (Saturday October 23)
- flout: to treat with contempt and disregard. (Sunday October 24)
- sesquipedalian: (of words) long; having many syllables. (Monday October 25)
- inchoate: partly but not fully in existence or operation. (Tuesday October 26)
- circumlocution: the use of many words to express an idea that might be expressed by few. (Wednesday October 27)
- wayworn: wearied by traveling. (Thursday October 28)
- potable: drinkable; also, a beverage, especially an alcoholic one. (Friday October 29)
- crepuscular: pertaining to twilight. (Saturday October 30)
- doppelganger: a ghostly double. (Sunday October 31)
- chimerical: merely imaginary; fanciful. (Monday November 01)
- sybarite: a person devoted to luxury and pleasure. (Tuesday November 02)
- gourmand: one who enjoys good food in great quantities. (Wednesday November 03)
- animadversion: harsh criticism or disapproval. (Thursday November 04)
- desuetude: disuse. (Friday November 05)
- pusillanimous: cowardly. (Saturday November 06)
- inculcate: to teach and impress by frequent repetition or instruction. (Sunday November 07)
- mien: demeanor; also, aspect; appearance. (Monday November 08)
- garrulous: talkative; also, wordy. (Tuesday November 09)
- aggrandize: to make or make appear great or greater. (Wednesday November 10)
- sojourn: to dwell for a time; also, a temporary stay. (Thursday November 11)
- bombast: pompous or pretentious speech or writing. (Friday November 12)
- cupidity: eager or excessive desire, especially for wealth. (Saturday November 13)
- berate: to scold severely or angrily. (Sunday November 14)
- supererogatory: going beyond what is required or expected; also, superfluous, unnecessary. (Monday November 15)
- encomium: expression of praise. (Tuesday November 16)
- sardonic: scornful, mocking. (Wednesday November 17)
- raconteur: one who excels in telling stories and anecdotes. (Thursday November 18)
- polymath: a person of great or varied learning. (Friday November 19)
- extempore: without premeditation or preparation. (Saturday November 20)
- blandishment: flattering speech or action. (Sunday November 21)
- hugger-mugger: secret; also, muddled, disorderly. (Monday November 22)
- quiddity: the essence or nature of a thing. (Tuesday November 23)
- implacable: incapable of being pacified. (Wednesday November 24)
- edacious: given to eating. (Thursday November 25)
- surfeit: excess; an excessive amount. (Friday November 26)
- perspicacity: clearness of understanding. (Saturday November 27)
- aberrant: abnormal. (Sunday November 28)
- ennui: a feeling of weariness and dissatisfaction arising from lack of interest. (Monday November 29)
- invidious: tending to provoke envy or ill will. (Tuesday November 30)
- jocund: light-hearted; mirthful. (Wednesday December 01)
- panoply: a splendid or impressive array. (Thursday December 02)
- miscreant: a scoundrel, a villain; also, a heretic. (Friday December 03)
- fugacious: lasting but a short time. (Saturday December 04)
- respite: an interval of rest or relief. (Sunday December 05)
- somnolent: drowsy; also, tending to cause sleepiness. (Monday December 06)
- cavil: to raise trivial objections; also, a trivial objection. (Tuesday December 07)
- daedal: skillful; artistic; ingenious. (Wednesday December 08)
- sang-froid: coolness in trying circumstances. (Thursday December 09)
- clinquant: glittering; tinsel-like; also, tinsel. (Friday December 10)
- assiduous: constant in application or attention. (Saturday December 11)
- intractable: not easily governed, managed, or directed. (Sunday December 12)
- detritus: debris. (Monday December 13)
- eschew: to shun; to avoid. (Tuesday December 14)
- apogee: the highest point. (Wednesday December 15)
- cant: to talk hypocritically. (Thursday December 16)
- imbroglio: a complicated and embarrassing state of things. (Friday December 17)
- levity: frivolity. (Saturday December 18)
- choler: anger. (Sunday December 19)
- inure: to make used to; also, to take or have effect. (Monday December 20)
- bonhomie: a pleasant and easy manner. (Tuesday December 21)
- land of Nod: sleep. (Wednesday December 22)
- ineffable: incapable of being expressed. (Thursday December 23)
- vociferous: clamorous; noisy. (Friday December 24)
- beneficence: the practice of doing good. (Saturday December 25)
- plenary: full; complete. (Sunday December 26)
- lassitude: lack of vitality or energy. (Monday December 27)
- chary: wary; cautious. (Tuesday December 28)
- descry: to catch sight of; to detect. (Wednesday December 29)
- cynosure: a center of attention. (Thursday December 30)
- fin de siecle: characteristic of the close of the century; sophisticated; world-weary. (Friday December 31)
* The first Word of the Day was on May 3, 1999.
