Word of the Day Archive
2002
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- asseverate: to affirm or declare positively or earnestly. (Tuesday January 01)
- sentient: capable of perceiving by the senses. (Wednesday January 02)
- malapropos: unseasonable or unseasonably; inappropriate or inappropriately. (Thursday January 03)
- agitprop: propaganda. (Friday January 04)
- fiat: an arbitrary or authoritative command or order. (Saturday January 05)
- nimiety: excess. (Sunday January 06)
- surreptitious: done, made, or gotten by stealth; also, marked by stealth. (Monday January 07)
- pleonasm: the use of more words than are necessary to express an idea. (Tuesday January 08)
- abominate: to detest intensely. (Wednesday January 09)
- discursive: digressive; rambling; also, marked by analytical reasoning. (Thursday January 10)
- countervail: to counteract; also, to offset. (Friday January 11)
- myrmidon: a loyal follower. (Saturday January 12)
- perforce: by necessity. (Sunday January 13)
- pusillanimous: cowardly. (Monday January 14)
- claque: a group of fawning admirers. (Tuesday January 15)
- fugacious: lasting but a short time. (Wednesday January 16)
- hauteur: haughtiness; arrogance. (Thursday January 17)
- somnolent: drowsy; also, tending to cause sleepiness. (Friday January 18)
- susurration: a whispering; a soft murmur. (Saturday January 19)
- puerile: juvenile; childish. (Sunday January 20)
- gelid: extremely cold; icy. (Monday January 21)
- philomath: a lover of learning; a scholar. (Tuesday January 22)
- redoubt: a stronghold. (Wednesday January 23)
- extant: still existing. (Thursday January 24)
- incipient: beginning to exist or appear. (Friday January 25)
- extempore: without premeditation or preparation. (Saturday January 26)
- potable: drinkable; also, a beverage, especially an alcoholic one. (Sunday January 27)
- irascible: easily provoked to anger. (Monday January 28)
- descry: to catch sight of; to detect. (Tuesday January 29)
- mien: demeanor; also, aspect; appearance. (Wednesday January 30)
- nefarious: wicked in the extreme. (Thursday January 31)
- volte-face: an about-face. (Friday February 01)
- exiguous: extremely scanty. (Saturday February 02)
- pecuniary: relating to money. (Sunday February 03)
- traduce: to vilify. (Monday February 04)
- postprandial: happening or done after a meal. (Tuesday February 05)
- sinecure: an office or position that involves little work or responsibility. (Wednesday February 06)
- apogee: the highest point. (Thursday February 07)
- incontrovertible: indisputable; unquestionable. (Friday February 08)
- furbelow: something showy or superfluous. (Saturday February 09)
- maudlin: excessively sentimental. (Sunday February 10)
- exigent: requiring immediate aid or action; also, demanding. (Monday February 11)
- contravene: to act or be counter to. (Tuesday February 12)
- temerarious: reckless; rash. (Wednesday February 13)
- philter: a potion, charm, or drug supposed to cause the person taking it to fall in love. (Thursday February 14)
- reticent: inclined to keep silent. (Friday February 15)
- pronunciamento: a proclamation; a pronouncement. (Saturday February 16)
- voluble: characterized by a ready flow of speech. (Sunday February 17)
- erudite: characterized by extensive reading or knowledge. (Monday February 18)
- quotidian: occurring daily; also, ordinary. (Tuesday February 19)
- roister: to revel; to carouse. (Wednesday February 20)
- seriatim: in a series; one after another. (Thursday February 21)
- detritus: debris. (Friday February 22)
- sybarite: a person devoted to luxury and pleasure. (Saturday February 23)
- loquacious: very talkative. (Sunday February 24)
- tyro: a novice. (Monday February 25)
- salubrious: healthful. (Tuesday February 26)
- evanescent: fleeting. (Wednesday February 27)
- ineluctable: impossible to avoid or evade. (Thursday February 28)
- prolix: wordy. (Friday March 01)
- cavalcade: a procession. (Saturday March 02)
- celerity: quickness; swiftness. (Sunday March 03)
- obloquy: ill repute. (Monday March 04)
- extol: to praise. (Tuesday March 05)
- frisson: a brief moment of intense excitement. (Wednesday March 06)
- malediction: a curse. (Thursday March 07)
- lenity: the state or quality of being lenient. (Friday March 08)
- unctuous: marked by a false or smug earnestness or agreeableness. (Saturday March 09)
- expatiate: to speak or write at length. (Sunday March 10)
- nescience: lack of knowledge or awareness. (Monday March 11)
- desideratum: something desired. (Tuesday March 12)
- indomitable: incapable of being subdued or overcome. (Wednesday March 13)
- raconteur: one who excels in telling stories and anecdotes. (Thursday March 14)
- sunder: to break apart. (Friday March 15)
- peccadillo: a slight offense; a petty fault. (Saturday March 16)
- extricate: to free or release from a difficulty or entanglement. (Sunday March 17)
- aspersion: a damaging or derogatory remark. (Monday March 18)
- levity: frivolity. (Tuesday March 19)
- mellifluous: flowing sweetly or smoothly. (Wednesday March 20)
- logorrhea: excessive talkativeness. (Thursday March 21)
- arrogate: to claim or seize without right or justification. (Friday March 22)
- forlorn: sad and lonely because deserted, abandoned, or lost. (Saturday March 23)
- comport: to behave (oneself) in a particular manner. (Sunday March 24)
- farrago: an assortment; a medley. (Monday March 25)
- ratiocination: the process of logical reasoning. (Tuesday March 26)
- varicolored: having a variety of colors. (Wednesday March 27)
- doula: a woman who assists in childbirth. (Thursday March 28)
- nonagenarian: someone whose age is in the nineties. (Friday March 29)
- friable: easily crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder. (Saturday March 30)
- gravitas: high seriousness. (Sunday March 31)
- lachrymose: given to causing tears. (Monday April 01)
- abscond: to depart secretly. (Tuesday April 02)
- probity: complete and confirmed integrity. (Wednesday April 03)
- taciturn: not inclined to talk. (Thursday April 04)
- proclivity: a natural inclination. (Friday April 05)
- demagogue: a leader who obtains power by means of appeals to the emotions and prejudices of the populace. (Saturday April 06)
- exculpate: to clear from alleged fault or guilt. (Sunday April 07)
- recalcitrant: stubbornly resistant to and defiant of authority or restraint. (Monday April 08)
- quondam: former; sometime. (Tuesday April 09)
- pellucid: transparent, shining through; also, easily understandable. (Wednesday April 10)
- desuetude: disuse. (Thursday April 11)
- apposite: of striking appropriateness and relevance. (Friday April 12)
- jocund: light-hearted; mirthful. (Saturday April 13)
- firmament: the sky; the heavens. (Sunday April 14)
- spoonerism: the transposition of usually initial sounds in a pair of words. (Monday April 15)
- perfunctory: done routinely. (Tuesday April 16)
- beholden: obliged; indebted. (Wednesday April 17)
- polyglot: speaking or containing many languages. (Thursday April 18)
- abjure: to renounce, reject, or shun. (Friday April 19)
- collude: to act in concert; to conspire. (Saturday April 20)
- dissolute: loose in morals and conduct. (Sunday April 21)
- mendacious: untruthful; also, untrue. (Monday April 22)
- clemency: disposition to show mercy; also, an act of mercy. (Tuesday April 23)
- ebullient: high-spirited. (Wednesday April 24)
- propitious: presenting favorable circumstances. (Thursday April 25)
- indolent: lazy; inactive. (Friday April 26)
- adamant: not susceptible to persuasion; unyielding. (Saturday April 27)
- bonhomie: a pleasant and easy manner. (Sunday April 28)
- depredation: an act of plundering or ravaging. (Monday April 29)
- lissom: supple; nimble. (Tuesday April 30)
- enervate: to weaken. (Wednesday May 01)
- condign: deserved; adequate. (Thursday May 02)
- blandishment: flattering speech or action. (Friday May 03)
- plenary: full; complete. (Saturday May 04)
- cosset: to treat with excessive indulgence; to pamper. (Sunday May 05)
- sang-froid: coolness in trying circumstances. (Monday May 06)
- brio: vigor; vivacity. (Tuesday May 07)
- vociferous: clamorous; noisy. (Wednesday May 08)
- protean: readily assuming different shapes or forms. (Thursday May 09)
- eschew: to shun; to avoid. (Friday May 10)
- somniferous: causing or inducing sleep. (Saturday May 11)
- gregarious: seeking and enjoying the company of others. (Sunday May 12)
- lassitude: lack of vitality or energy. (Monday May 13)
- inchoate: partly but not fully in existence or operation. (Tuesday May 14)
- esurient: hungry; greedy. (Wednesday May 15)
- subterfuge: a deceptive device or stratagem. (Thursday May 16)
- gastronome: a lover of good food and drink. (Friday May 17)
- affable: easy to speak to; also, gracious. (Saturday May 18)
- precipice: a very steep, perpendicular, or overhanging place. (Sunday May 19)
- purblind: having greatly reduced vision. (Monday May 20)
- fulminate: to issue or utter verbal attacks or censures. (Tuesday May 21)
- cogitate: to think; to ponder. (Wednesday May 22)
- lambent: playing on the surface; flickering. (Thursday May 23)
- Zeitgeist: the spirit of the time. (Friday May 24)
- pugnacious: combative; quarrelsome. (Saturday May 25)
- acumen: quickness or keenness of perception or discernment. (Sunday May 26)
- rapine: the act of plundering. (Monday May 27)
- autodidact: one who is self-taught. (Tuesday May 28)
- dilatory: given to, or marked by, procrastination or delay. (Wednesday May 29)
- bete noire: something or someone particularly detested or avoided. (Thursday May 30)
- chary: wary; cautious. (Friday May 31)
- kvetch: to complain habitually. (Saturday June 01)
- platitude: a banal, trite, or stale thought or remark. (Sunday June 02)
- ablution: the washing of the body or some part of it. (Monday June 03)
- ameliorate: to make or grow better. (Tuesday June 04)
- chagrin: acute vexation or embarrassment. (Wednesday June 05)
- tortuous: marked by repeated turns and bends. (Thursday June 06)
- kismet: destiny; fate. (Friday June 07)
- exacerbate: to aggravate; to make worse. (Saturday June 08)
- penchant: a strong liking. (Sunday June 09)
- ennui: a feeling of weariness and dissatisfaction arising from lack of interest. (Monday June 10)
- garrulous: talkative; also, wordy. (Tuesday June 11)
- acrid: sharp and harsh; bitter. (Wednesday June 12)
- rubicund: inclining to redness; ruddy. (Thursday June 13)
- sojourn: to dwell for a time; also, a temporary stay. (Friday June 14)
- laudable: praiseworthy; commendable. (Saturday June 15)
- aesthete: one who cultivates great sensitivity to beauty. (Sunday June 16)
- perspicacity: clearness of understanding. (Monday June 17)
- rara avis: a rare or unique person or thing. (Tuesday June 18)
- turpitude: baseness; depravity. (Wednesday June 19)
- diffident: bashful or unassertive. (Thursday June 20)
- persiflage: frivolous or bantering talk. (Friday June 21)
- moribund: dying. (Saturday June 22)
- sobriquet: a nickname. (Sunday June 23)
- polymath: a person of great or varied learning. (Monday June 24)
- appurtenance: an adjunct or accessory. (Tuesday June 25)
- hirsute: covered with hair or bristles. (Wednesday June 26)
- nadir: the lowest point. (Thursday June 27)
- wastrel: a person who wastes; a loafer. (Friday June 28)
- facetious: playfully jocular; humorous. (Saturday June 29)
- afflatus: a divine inspiration. (Sunday June 30)
- cupidity: eager or excessive desire, especially for wealth. (Monday July 01)
- intransigent: uncompromising. (Tuesday July 02)
- cynosure: a center of attention. (Wednesday July 03)
- refulgent: brilliant; resplendent. (Thursday July 04)
- concomitant: accompanying; attending. (Friday July 05)
- ribald: characterized by, or given to, vulgar humor. (Saturday July 06)
- sesquipedalian: (of words) long; having many syllables. (Sunday July 07)
- deleterious: harmful. (Monday July 08)
- temerity: unreasonable or foolhardy contempt of danger. (Tuesday July 09)
- extirpate: to eradicate; to destroy. (Wednesday July 10)
- lineament: a distinguishing or characteristic feature. (Thursday July 11)
- monomania: obsession with a single subject. (Friday July 12)
- pari passu: at an equal pace or rate. (Saturday July 13)
- prelapsarian: pertaining to the time or state before the Fall. (Sunday July 14)
- coeval: existing during the same period of time; also, a contemporary. (Monday July 15)
- immure: to imprison. (Tuesday July 16)
- bumptious: crudely, presumptuously, or noisily self-assertive. (Wednesday July 17)
- apostasy: desertion or departure from one's faith, principles, or party. (Thursday July 18)
- importunate: troublesomely urgent. (Friday July 19)
- busker: a street musician or performer. (Saturday July 20)
- disconcert: to disturb the composure of. (Sunday July 21)
- malfeasance: wrongdoing, misconduct, or misbehavior. (Monday July 22)
- intractable: not easily governed, managed, or directed. (Tuesday July 23)
- equivocate: to be deliberately ambiguous or unclear. (Wednesday July 24)
- factotum: a person employed to do all kinds of work. (Thursday July 25)
- peregrination: a traveling from place to place. (Friday July 26)
- diaphanous: allowing light to pass through. (Saturday July 27)
- quorum: such a number of the officers or members of any body as is legally competent to transact business. (Sunday July 28)
- relegate: to assign or remove, usually to an inferior position. (Monday July 29)
- fanfaronade: empty boasting; bluster. (Tuesday July 30)
- roseate: cheerful; bright; also, rose-colored. (Wednesday July 31)
- camarilla: a group of secret and often scheming advisers. (Thursday August 01)
- torpid: dull; sluggish; apathetic. (Friday August 02)
- concomitant: accompanying; attending. (Saturday August 03)
- stasis: a state of balance, equilibrium, or stagnation. (Sunday August 04)
- prepotency: predominance. (Monday August 05)
- bagatelle: a trifle; also, a short, light literary or musical piece. (Tuesday August 06)
- insensate: lacking sensation or awareness. (Wednesday August 07)
- confute: to refute conclusively. (Thursday August 08)
- revenant: one who returns after death or a long absence. (Friday August 09)
- corroborate: to strengthen or make more certain with other evidence. (Saturday August 10)
- exegete: one who explains or interprets difficult parts of written works. (Sunday August 11)
- dubiety: the condition or quality of being doubtful; also, a matter of doubt. (Monday August 12)
- carapace: a shell; a protective covering. (Tuesday August 13)
- tocsin: a warning. (Wednesday August 14)
- puissant: powerful. (Thursday August 15)
- aplomb: confidence; coolness. (Friday August 16)
- procrastination: To put off doing something. (Saturday August 17)
- opportune: suitable for a given purpose or occasion. (Sunday August 18)
- renascent: rising again into being; showing renewed vigor. (Monday August 19)
- fettle: a state or condition of fitness, order, or mind. (Tuesday August 20)
- proponent: an advocate. (Wednesday August 21)
- cursory: hastily or superficially performed. (Thursday August 22)
- numinous: spiritual. (Friday August 23)
- evince: to show in a clear manner. (Saturday August 24)
- recondite: difficult to understand. (Sunday August 25)
- pelf: money; riches. (Monday August 26)
- flagitious: grossly wicked; scandalous. (Tuesday August 27)
- auspicious: favorable; also, prosperous; fortunate. (Wednesday August 28)
- deliquesce: to melt away or become liquid. (Thursday August 29)
- prescient: knowing or anticipating the outcome of events before they happen. (Friday August 30)
- indigent: extremely poor. (Saturday August 31)
- palpable: plain; distinct; obvious. (Sunday September 01)
- billingsgate: foul, abusive language. (Monday September 02)
- anodyne: serving to relieve pain. (Tuesday September 03)
- schadenfreude: a malicious satisfaction in the misfortunes of others. (Wednesday September 04)
- euphonious: pleasing or sweet in sound. (Thursday September 05)
- quaff: to drink heartily. (Friday September 06)
- ostensible: appearing to be true, but not necessarily so. (Saturday September 07)
- xenophobia: fear or hatred of what is strange or foreign. (Sunday September 08)
- recrimination: a counter accusation. (Monday September 09)
- malleable: capable of being shaped; also, adaptable. (Tuesday September 10)
- perdurable: very durable; long lasting. (Wednesday September 11)
- onus: burden; also, blame; stigma. (Thursday September 12)
- triskaidekaphobia: fear of the number 13. (Friday September 13)
- bravado: a real or pretended show of courage or boldness. (Saturday September 14)
- littoral: pertaining to the shore of a lake, sea, or ocean. (Sunday September 15)
- redivivus: living again; revived; restored. (Monday September 16)
- paladin: a champion of a cause. (Tuesday September 17)
- bootless: unavailing; useless. (Wednesday September 18)
- gimcrack: a showy but useless or worthless object. (Thursday September 19)
- munificent: very generous. (Friday September 20)
- hobnob: to associate familiarly. (Saturday September 21)
- fiduciary: relating to the holding of something in trust for another. (Sunday September 22)
- indelible: incapable of being removed or erased. (Monday September 23)
- fortuitous: happening by chance. (Tuesday September 24)
- diktat: an authoritative decree or order. (Wednesday September 25)
- boulevardier: a man-about-town. (Thursday September 26)
- convivial: relating to feasting, drinking, and good company; festive. (Friday September 27)
- legerdemain: sleight of hand. (Saturday September 28)
- foment: to nurse to life or activity; to incite. (Sunday September 29)
- concatenation: a chain; a succession. (Monday September 30)
- parsimonious: frugal to excess. (Tuesday October 01)
- moiety: a half; a small part. (Wednesday October 02)
- venial: capable of being forgiven; excusable. (Thursday October 03)
- accede: to agree or assent; also, to become a party. (Friday October 04)
- portend: to foreshadow; to bode. (Saturday October 05)
- chthonic: dwelling in or under the earth; also, pertaining to the underworld. (Sunday October 06)
- mercurial: changeable; temperamental; volatile. (Monday October 07)
- ineffable: incapable of being expressed. (Tuesday October 08)
- adventitious: added extrinsically; not essentially inherent. (Wednesday October 09)
- omnipresent: present in all places at the same time. (Thursday October 10)
- gourmand: one who enjoys good food in great quantities. (Friday October 11)
- crepuscular: pertaining to twilight. (Saturday October 12)
- exalt: to praise, glorify, or honor. (Sunday October 13)
- contradistinction: distinction by contrast. (Monday October 14)
- soporific: causing sleep; also, something that causes sleep. (Tuesday October 15)
- deride: to laugh at with contempt. (Wednesday October 16)
- laconic: using or marked by the use of a minimum of words. (Thursday October 17)
- bellwether: a leader or leading indicator. (Friday October 18)
- effulgence: the state of being bright and radiant. (Saturday October 19)
- riparian: of or pertaining to the bank of a river. (Sunday October 20)
- mordant: biting; caustic; sarcastic. (Monday October 21)
- woebegone: woeful; also, run-down. (Tuesday October 22)
- scintilla: a tiny amount; a spark. (Wednesday October 23)
- halcyon: peaceful; undisturbed; happy. (Thursday October 24)
- tendentious: marked by a strong tendency in favor of a particular point of view. (Friday October 25)
- palimpsest: an object or place whose older layers or aspects are apparent. (Saturday October 26)
- ostentation: excessive or pretentious display. (Sunday October 27)
- captious: disposed to find fault or raise objections. (Monday October 28)
- ersatz: being a substitute or imitation. (Tuesday October 29)
- paroxysm: an outburst; a fit. (Wednesday October 30)
- tenebrous: dark; gloomy. (Thursday October 31)
- cadre: a core or nucleus of trained or otherwise qualified personnel around which an organization is formed. (Friday November 01)
- gubernatorial: of or pertaining to a governor. (Saturday November 02)
- inscrutable: difficult to fathom or understand. (Sunday November 03)
- parley: a conference or discussion; also, to confer. (Monday November 04)
- clarion: a kind of trumpet; also, loud and clear. (Tuesday November 05)
- circumambient: surrounding; encompassing. (Wednesday November 06)
- trammel: something that impedes activity, progress, or freedom; also, to hamper. (Thursday November 07)
- matutinal: relating to or occurring in the morning. (Friday November 08)
- beneficence: the practice of doing good. (Saturday November 09)
- aver: to assert as true. (Sunday November 10)
- nugatory: insignificant; also, ineffectual. (Monday November 11)
- multifarious: having great diversity or variety. (Tuesday November 12)
- impassive: devoid of emotion; also, showing no emotion. (Wednesday November 13)
- fealty: fidelity; allegiance; faithfulness. (Thursday November 14)
- segue: to proceed without interruption. (Friday November 15)
- visage: the face; also, appearance; aspect. (Saturday November 16)
- obsequious: servilely attentive; fawning. (Sunday November 17)
- pukka: genuine, authentic, or good; proper. (Monday November 18)
- coruscate: to emit vivid flashes of light; sparkle; scintillate; gleam. (Tuesday November 19)
- foment: to nurse to life or activity; to incite. (Wednesday November 20)
- missive: a written message; a letter. (Thursday November 21)
- hale: free from disease and weakening conditions; healthy. (Friday November 22)
- edacious: given to eating. (Saturday November 23)
- algorithm: a step-by-step procedure for solving a problem. (Sunday November 24)
- bouleversement: complete overthrow; a reversal. (Monday November 25)
- practicable: feasible; also, usable. (Tuesday November 26)
- encumbrance: a burden, impediment, or hindrance. (Wednesday November 27)
- repast: a meal. (Thursday November 28)
- panacea: a cure-all. (Friday November 29)
- circumlocution: the use of many words to express an idea that might be expressed by few. (Saturday November 30)
- meticulous: extremely careful about details. (Sunday December 01)
- wayworn: wearied by traveling. (Monday December 02)
- parlous: fraught with danger; hazardous. (Tuesday December 03)
- vim: energy; vigor. (Wednesday December 04)
- booboisie: a class of people regarded as stupid or foolish. (Thursday December 05)
- orotund: full in sound; also, bombastic. (Friday December 06)
- palindrome: a word, verse, phrase, or sentence that reads the same backward or forward. (Saturday December 07)
- flippant: showing inappropriate levity; pert. (Sunday December 08)
- irrefragable: impossible to refute. (Monday December 09)
- cogent: appealing to the mind or to reason; convincing. (Tuesday December 10)
- ukase: an edict. (Wednesday December 11)
- fetid: stinking. (Thursday December 12)
- badinage: light, playful talk. (Friday December 13)
- atelier: a workshop; a studio. (Saturday December 14)
- posit: to postulate; also, to suggest. (Sunday December 15)
- callow: immature. (Monday December 16)
- succinct: brief; concise. (Tuesday December 17)
- lugubrious: mournful; gloomy; dismal. (Wednesday December 18)
- officious: meddlesome. (Thursday December 19)
- castigate: to punish or criticize severely. (Friday December 20)
- propinquity: nearness. (Saturday December 21)
- descant: a discourse; also, to discourse. (Sunday December 22)
- robustious: boisterous; vigorous. (Monday December 23)
- subfusc: dark or dull in color. (Tuesday December 24)
- jollification: merrymaking; revelry. (Wednesday December 25)
- doff: to take off; to remove; also, to rid oneself of. (Thursday December 26)
- conurbation: an aggregation or continuous network of urban communities. (Friday December 27)
- pugilist: a boxer. (Saturday December 28)
- gewgaw: a trinket; a bauble. (Sunday December 29)
- quiddity: the essence or nature of a thing. (Monday December 30)
- complement: something that fills up or completes. (Tuesday December 31)
