Word of the Day Archive
2012
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- novation: the introduction of something new; innovation. (Sunday January 01)
- truss: to tie, bind, or fasten. (Monday January 02)
- solecism: a breach of good manners or etiquette. (Tuesday January 03)
- fetial: concerned with declarations of war and treaties of peace. (Wednesday January 04)
- gasconade: extravagant boasting; boastful talk. (Thursday January 05)
- sprat: a small or inconsequential person or thing. (Friday January 06)
- Cimmerian: very dark; gloomy; deep. (Saturday January 07)
- profligacy: reckless extravagance. (Sunday January 08)
- heterotelic: having the purpose of its existence or occurrence apart from itself. (Monday January 09)
- paregmenon: the juxtaposition of words that have a common derivation, as in “sense and sensibility.” (Tuesday January 10)
- expostulate: to reason earnestly with someone against something that person intends to do or has done. (Wednesday January 11)
- bonny: pleasing to the eye. (Thursday January 12)
- viscid: having a glutinous consistency; sticky; adhesive. (Friday January 13)
- desinence: a termination or ending, as the final line of a verse. (Saturday January 14)
- outrance: the utmost extremity. (Sunday January 15)
- perspicacious: having keen mental perception and understanding; discerning. (Monday January 16)
- alate: having wings; winged. (Tuesday January 17)
- persnickety: overparticular; fussy. (Wednesday January 18)
- shiv: a knife, especially a switchblade. (Thursday January 19)
- deucedly: devilishly; damnably. (Friday January 20)
- remora: an obstacle, hindrance, or obstruction. (Saturday January 21)
- natheless: nevertheless. (Sunday January 22)
- slimsy: flimsy; frail. (Monday January 23)
- educe: to draw forth or bring out, as something potential or latent. (Tuesday January 24)
- bleb: a bubble. (Wednesday January 25)
- mettle: courage and fortitude. (Thursday January 26)
- conciliate: to overcome the distrust or hostility of; placate; win over. (Friday January 27)
- birr: force; energy; vigor. (Saturday January 28)
- hotchpot: the bringing together of shares or properties in order to divide them equally. (Sunday January 29)
- neoterism: an innovation in language, as a new word, term, or expression. (Monday January 30)
- idoneous: appropriate; fit; suitable; apt. (Tuesday January 31)
- doyenne: a woman who is the senior member of a group, class, or profession. (Wednesday February 01)
- peroration: a long speech characterized by lofty and often pompous language. (Thursday February 02)
- excogitate: to think out; devise; invent. (Friday February 03)
- caprice: a sudden, unpredictable change, as of one's mind or the weather. (Saturday February 04)
- pied: having patches of two or more colors, as various birds and other animals. (Sunday February 05)
- filiopietistic: pertaining to reverence of forebears or tradition, especially if carried to excess. (Monday February 06)
- crib: to pilfer or steal, especially to plagiarize. (Tuesday February 07)
- piacular: expiatory; atoning; reparatory. (Wednesday February 08)
- screed: a long discourse or essay, especially a diatribe. (Thursday February 09)
- depone: to testify under oath; depose. (Friday February 10)
- burled: having small knots that produce a distorted grain in wood. (Saturday February 11)
- auscultation: the act of listening to sounds within the body as a method of diagnosis. (Sunday February 12)
- exoteric: suitable for or communicated to the general public. (Monday February 13)
- cordate: heart-shaped. (Tuesday February 14)
- vilipend: to regard or treat as of little value or account. (Wednesday February 15)
- mammonism: the greedy pursuit of riches. (Thursday February 16)
- tramontane: being or situated beyond the mountains. (Friday February 17)
- pachyderm: a person who is not sensitive to criticism, ridicule, etc. (Saturday February 18)
- spruce: to make neat or dapper (often followed by up). (Sunday February 19)
- morceau: piece; morsel. (Monday February 20)
- bespeak: to show; indicate. (Tuesday February 21)
- ad rem: without digressing; in a straightforward manner. (Wednesday February 22)
- plenum: a full assembly, as a joint legislative assembly. (Thursday February 23)
- adamantine: utterly unyielding or firm in attitude or opinion. (Friday February 24)
- bandy: to pass from one to another or back and forth; give and take. (Saturday February 25)
- hircine: of, pertaining to, or resembling a goat. (Sunday February 26)
- flexuous: full of bends or curves; sinuous. (Monday February 27)
- pettifog: to bicker or quibble over trifles or unimportant matters. (Tuesday February 28)
- quadrennial: occurring every four years. (Wednesday February 29)
- alembic: anything that transforms, purifies, or refines. (Thursday March 01)
- cant: to talk hypocritically. (Friday March 02)
- liege: loyal; faithful. (Saturday March 03)
- oracular: ambiguous; obscure. (Sunday March 04)
- profluent: flowing smoothly or abundantly forth. (Monday March 05)
- appertain: to belong as a part, right, possession or attribute. (Tuesday March 06)
- rutilant: glowing or glittering with ruddy or golden light. (Wednesday March 07)
- pococurante: caring little; indifferent; nonchalant. (Thursday March 08)
- furcate: to form a fork; branch. (Friday March 09)
- esculent: something edible, especially a vegetable. (Saturday March 10)
- antipode: a direct or exact opposite. (Sunday March 11)
- remit: to slacken or relax. (Monday March 12)
- astringent: sharply incisive; pungent. (Tuesday March 13)
- dowager: an elderly woman of stately dignity, especially one of elevated social position. (Wednesday March 14)
- iniquitous: characterized by injustice or wickedness; wicked; sinful. (Thursday March 15)
- gasser: something that is extraordinarily pleasing or successful, especially a very funny joke. (Friday March 16)
- selcouth: strange; uncommon. (Saturday March 17)
- brisance: the shattering effect of a high explosive. (Sunday March 18)
- carp: to find fault or complain querulously or unreasonably. (Monday March 19)
- vernal: appearing or occurring in spring. (Tuesday March 20)
- conniption: a fit of hysterical excitement or anger. (Wednesday March 21)
- moschate: having a musky smell. (Thursday March 22)
- ruck: a large number or quantity; mass. (Friday March 23)
- adroit: cleverly skillful, resourceful, or ingenious. (Saturday March 24)
- Tellurian: of or characteristic of the earth or its inhabitants; terrestrial. (Sunday March 25)
- catechize: to question closely. (Monday March 26)
- chelonian: belonging or pertaining to the order Chelonia, comprising the turtles. (Tuesday March 27)
- luxate: to put out of joint; dislocate. (Wednesday March 28)
- eudemonia: happiness; well-being. (Thursday March 29)
- fugitive: fleeting, transitory, elusive. (Friday March 30)
- boon: something to be thankful for; blessing; benefit. (Saturday March 31)
- pyknic: having a rounded build or body structure. (Sunday April 01)
- grouse: to grumble; complain. (Monday April 02)
- zeitgeber: an environmental cue, as the length of daylight, that helps to regulate the cycles of an organism's biological clock. (Tuesday April 03)
- sylph: a slender, graceful woman or girl. (Wednesday April 04)
- ephebe: a young man. (Thursday April 05)
- agley: off the right line; awry; wrong. (Friday April 06)
- pleach: to interweave branches or vines for a hedge or arbor. (Saturday April 07)
- apotropaic: intended to ward off evil. (Sunday April 08)
- cumshaw: a present; gratuity; tip. (Monday April 09)
- caparison: to dress richly; deck. (Tuesday April 10)
- tony: high-toned; stylish. (Wednesday April 11)
- macaronic: composed of a mixture of languages. (Thursday April 12)
- approbate: to approve officially. (Friday April 13)
- irriguous: well-watered, as land. (Saturday April 14)
- palladium: anything believed to provide protection or safety; safeguard. (Sunday April 15)
- aperçu: a hasty glance; a glimpse. (Monday April 16)
- xenophilia: an attraction to foreign peoples, cultures, or customs. (Tuesday April 17)
- reconnoiter: to make an inspection or observation. (Wednesday April 18)
- bona fides: good faith; the state of being exactly as claims or appearances indicate. (Thursday April 19)
- agnomen: a nickname. (Friday April 20)
- hsien: one of a group of benevolent spirits promoting good in the world. (Saturday April 21)
- obtuse: not quick or alert in perception, feeling, or intellect. (Sunday April 22)
- germinal: being in the earliest stage of development. (Monday April 23)
- fard: to apply cosmetics. (Tuesday April 24)
- barnburner: something that is highly exciting or impressive. (Wednesday April 25)
- adenoidal: being characteristically pinched and nasal in tone quality. (Thursday April 26)
- nosh: to snack or eat between meals. (Friday April 27)
- littoral: pertaining to the shore of a lake, sea, or ocean. (Saturday April 28)
- ensconce: to settle securely or snugly. (Sunday April 29)
- aphotic: lightless; dark. (Monday April 30)
- ort: a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal. (Tuesday May 01)
- kowtow: to act in an obsequious manner; show servile deference. (Wednesday May 02)
- numen: divine power, especially one who inhabits a particular object. (Thursday May 03)
- fulcrum: the support, or point of rest, on which a lever turns. (Friday May 04)
- besot: to infatuate; obsess. (Saturday May 05)
- mensch: a decent, upright, mature, and responsible person. (Sunday May 06)
- sudorific: causing sweat. (Monday May 07)
- pother: a heated discussion, debate, or argument; fuss; to-do. (Tuesday May 08)
- cicatrix: new tissue that forms over a wound. (Wednesday May 09)
- obtest: to supplicate earnestly; beseech. (Thursday May 10)
- sibilant: hissing. (Friday May 11)
- prorogue: to defer; postpone. (Saturday May 12)
- matrilineal: inheriting or determining descent through the female line. (Sunday May 13)
- intromit: to introduce; to send, put, or let in. (Monday May 14)
- altiloquent: high flown or pretentious (of language). (Tuesday May 15)
- spruik: to make or give a speech, especially extensively; spiel. (Wednesday May 16)
- omphalos: the central point. (Thursday May 17)
- pip: to peep or chirp. (Friday May 18)
- phatic: denoting speech used to create an atmosphere of goodwill. (Saturday May 19)
- gambit: a remark made to open or redirect a conversation. (Sunday May 20)
- belabor: to explain, worry about, or work more than is necessary. (Monday May 21)
- cumulus: a heap; pile. (Tuesday May 22)
- chrestomathy: a collection of selected literary passages. (Wednesday May 23)
- demiurge: the creator of a world. (Thursday May 24)
- ingeminate: to repeat; reiterate. (Friday May 25)
- betide: to happen to; come to; befall. (Saturday May 26)
- ventose: given to empty talk; windy. (Sunday May 27)
- asperse: to sprinkle; bespatter. (Monday May 28)
- varlet: a knavish person; rascal. (Tuesday May 29)
- skirr: to go rapidly; fly; scurry. (Wednesday May 30)
- haimish: homey; cozy and unpretentious. (Thursday May 31)
- armamentarium: a fruitful source of devices or materials available or used for an undertaking. (Friday June 01)
- bosh: absurd or foolish talk; nonsense. (Saturday June 02)
- levigate: to rub, grind, or reduce to a fine powder. (Sunday June 03)
- histrionics: behavior or speech for effect, as insincere or exaggerated expression of an emotion. (Monday June 04)
- apoplectic: intense enough to threaten or cause a stroke. (Tuesday June 05)
- larrup: to beat or thrash. (Wednesday June 06)
- natch: of course; naturally. (Thursday June 07)
- divulse: to tear away or apart. (Friday June 08)
- pochismo: an English word or expression borrowed into Spanish. (Saturday June 09)
- mignon: small and pretty; delicately pretty. (Sunday June 10)
- ravelment: entanglement; confusion. (Monday June 11)
- fantast: a visionary or dreamer. (Tuesday June 12)
- mewl: to cry, as a baby, young child, or the like; whimper. (Wednesday June 13)
- imponderable: a thing that cannot be precisely determined or measured. (Thursday June 14)
- cunctation: delay; tardiness. (Friday June 15)
- Sardanapalian: excessively luxurious. (Saturday June 16)
- agnate: a relative whose connection is traceable exclusively through males. (Sunday June 17)
- volant: moving lightly; nimble. (Monday June 18)
- pensée: a reflection or thought. (Tuesday June 19)
- noctilucent: visible during the short night of the summer. (Wednesday June 20)
- enchiridion: a handbook; manual. (Thursday June 21)
- subitize: to perceive at a glance the number of items presented. (Friday June 22)
- chockablock: extremely full; crowded; jammed. (Saturday June 23)
- instauration: renewal; restoration; renovation; repair. (Sunday June 24)
- makebate: a person who causes contention or discord. (Monday June 25)
- glutch: to swallow. (Tuesday June 26)
- abstergent: cleansing. (Wednesday June 27)
- syndic: a person chosen to represent and transact business for a corporation. (Thursday June 28)
- agemate: a person of about the same age as another. (Friday June 29)
- pilikia: trouble. (Saturday June 30)
- mumpsimus: using an erroneous use of language, out of habit or obstinacy. (Sunday July 01)
- sumpsimus: using a strictly correct term, as a rejection of another form. (Monday July 02)
- surfeit: excess; an excessive amount. (Tuesday July 03)
- gallant: brave, spirited, noble-minded, or chivalrous. (Wednesday July 04)
- stymie: to hinder, block, or thwart. (Thursday July 05)
- tractate: a treatise; essay. (Friday July 06)
- aliquant: contained in a number or quantity, but not dividing it evenly. (Saturday July 07)
- vamp: to patch up; repair. (Sunday July 08)
- scherzando: playful; sportive. (Monday July 09)
- ectopic: occurring in an abnormal position or place; displaced. (Tuesday July 10)
- hypethral: wholly or partly open to the sky. (Wednesday July 11)
- paronymous: containing the same root or stem, as the words wise and wisdom. (Thursday July 12)
- tawpie: a foolish or thoughtless young person. (Friday July 13)
- baccate: berrylike. (Saturday July 14)
- mote: a small particle or speck, especially of dust. (Sunday July 15)
- requisition: a demand made. (Monday July 16)
- deflagrate: to burn, especially suddenly and violently. (Tuesday July 17)
- beguile: to influence by trickery, flattery, etc.; mislead; delude. (Wednesday July 18)
- nary: not any; no; never a. (Thursday July 19)
- qualia: a quality, as bitterness, regarded as an independent object. (Friday July 20)
- desolate: to lay waste; devastate. (Saturday July 21)
- integument: a natural covering, as a skin, shell, or rind. (Sunday July 22)
- nubilous: cloudy or foggy. (Monday July 23)
- Bildungsroman: a novel about the education and development of a young protagonist. (Tuesday July 24)
- jubilate: to show or feel great joy; rejoice; exult. (Wednesday July 25)
- precipitancy: headlong or rash haste. (Thursday July 26)
- intrapreneur: an employee of a company who is given freedom to create new products. (Friday July 27)
- banausic: serving utilitarian purposes only; mechanical; practical. (Saturday July 28)
- traject: to transport, transmit, or transpose. (Sunday July 29)
- usageaster: a self-styled authority on language usage. (Monday July 30)
- matte: having a dull or lusterless surface. (Tuesday July 31)
- incondite: ill-constructed; unpolished. (Wednesday August 01)
- cathect: to invest emotion or feeling in an idea, object, or another person. (Thursday August 02)
- foible: a minor weakness or failing of character; slight flaw or defect. (Friday August 03)
- billet-doux: a love letter. (Saturday August 04)
- compeer: close friend; comrade. (Sunday August 05)
- hew: to uphold, follow closely, or conform. (Monday August 06)
- guff: empty or foolish talk; nonsense. (Tuesday August 07)
- orectic: of or pertaining to desire; appetitive. (Wednesday August 08)
- vicinage: the region near or about a place; vicinity. (Thursday August 09)
- pillory: to expose to public derision, ridicule, or abuse. (Friday August 10)
- pelagic: of or pertaining to the open seas or oceans. (Saturday August 11)
- natty: neatly or trimly smart in dress or appearance; spruce. (Sunday August 12)
- fallow: not in use; inactive. (Monday August 13)
- aseptic: free from the germs of disease, fermentation, or putrefaction. (Tuesday August 14)
- concatenate: to link together; unite in a series or chain. (Wednesday August 15)
- belletristic: related to literature regarded as a fine art. (Thursday August 16)
- phthisis: a wasting away. (Friday August 17)
- nomothetic: giving or establishing laws; legislative. (Saturday August 18)
- lodestar: something that serves as a guide or on which the attention is fixed. (Sunday August 19)
- simper: to smile in a silly, self-conscious way. (Monday August 20)
- velleity: volition in its weakest form. (Tuesday August 21)
- hieratic: highly restrained or severe in emotional import. (Wednesday August 22)
- bole: the stem or trunk of a tree. (Thursday August 23)
- concertina: to fold, crush together, or collapse in the manner of a concertina. (Friday August 24)
- antic: ludicrous; funny. (Saturday August 25)
- fabulist: a liar. (Sunday August 26)
- compère: a host, master of ceremonies. (Monday August 27)
- bathetic: displaying or characterized by insincere emotion. (Tuesday August 28)
- truncate: to shorten by cutting off a part; cut short. (Wednesday August 29)
- crucible: a severe, searching test or trial. (Thursday August 30)
- gull: to deceive, trick, or cheat. (Friday August 31)
- demulcent: soothing or mollifying, as a medicinal substance. (Saturday September 01)
- vigorish: interest paid to a moneylender, especially a usurer. (Sunday September 02)
- ataraxia: a state of freedom from emotional disturbance and anxiety. (Monday September 03)
- ramose: having many branches. (Tuesday September 04)
- cacology: defectively produced speech; socially unacceptable diction. (Wednesday September 05)
- piceous: inflammable; combustible. (Thursday September 06)
- rollick: to move or act in a carefree, frolicsome manner. (Friday September 07)
- manifold: of many kinds; numerous and varied. (Saturday September 08)
- spleenful: ill-humored; irritable or peevish; spiteful. (Sunday September 09)
- primrose: pale yellow. (Monday September 10)
- cerise: moderate to deep red. (Tuesday September 11)
- celadon: a pale gray-green. (Wednesday September 12)
- heliotrope: a light tint of purple; reddish lavender. (Thursday September 13)
- ecru: very light brown in color, as raw silk, unbleached linen, etc. (Friday September 14)
- quail: to lose heart or courage in difficulty or danger. (Saturday September 15)
- coetaneous: of the same age or duration. (Sunday September 16)
- diapason: a full, rich outpouring of melodious sound. (Monday September 17)
- Tartuffery: behavior or character of hypocritical piety. (Tuesday September 18)
- bollix: to do something badly; bungle. (Wednesday September 19)
- hustings: the political campaign trail. (Thursday September 20)
- strepitous: boisterous; noisy. (Friday September 21)
- hematic: of or pertaining to blood. (Saturday September 22)
- pharisaic: advocating strict observance of religion without regard to the spirit. (Sunday September 23)
- sententious: abounding in pithy aphorisms or maxims. (Monday September 24)
- privity: participation in the knowledge of something private or secret. (Tuesday September 25)
- palter: to talk or act insincerely or deceitfully. (Wednesday September 26)
- austral: southern. (Thursday September 27)
- fiducial: based on or having trust. (Friday September 28)
- catholicon: a universal remedy; panacea. (Saturday September 29)
- thetic: positive; dogmatic. (Sunday September 30)
- utile: useful. (Monday October 01)
- hamartia: tragic flaw. (Tuesday October 02)
- true: to make true; shape, adjust, place exactly or accurately. (Wednesday October 03)
- agita: agitation; anxiety. (Thursday October 04)
- hirtellous: minutely hirsute. (Friday October 05)
- fracas: a noisy, disorderly disturbance or fight; riotous brawl; uproar. (Saturday October 06)
- tardigrade: slow in pace or movement. (Sunday October 07)
- apophasis: denial of one's intention to speak of a subject that is in fact named. (Monday October 08)
- catachresis: misuse or strained use of words in error or for rhetorical effect. (Tuesday October 09)
- anacoluthon: a construction involving a break in grammatical sequence. (Wednesday October 10)
- litotes: understatement, especially that in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of its contrary. (Thursday October 11)
- zeugma: the use of a word to modify two or more words when it is appropriate to only one. (Friday October 12)
- draggle: to soil by dragging over damp ground or in mud. (Saturday October 13)
- crasis: composition; constitution; makeup. (Sunday October 14)
- versicolor: changeable in color. (Monday October 15)
- mucro: a short point projecting abruptly, as at the end of a leaf. (Tuesday October 16)
- fulgurant: flashing like lightning. (Wednesday October 17)
- ombudsman: a government official who investigates complaints by private citizens. (Thursday October 18)
- veloce: played at a fast tempo. (Friday October 19)
- assoil: to absolve; acquit; pardon. (Saturday October 20)
- recusant: a person who refuses to submit, comply, etc. (Sunday October 21)
- acephalous: without a leader or ruler. (Monday October 22)
- parturient: bearing or about to bear young; travailing. (Tuesday October 23)
- delate: to inform against; denounce or accuse. (Wednesday October 24)
- uncanny: having or seeming to have a supernatural or inexplicable basis; beyond the ordinary. (Thursday October 25)
- supernormal: in excess of the normal or average. (Friday October 26)
- teratoid: resembling a monster. (Saturday October 27)
- cantrip: a magic spell; trick by sorcery. (Sunday October 28)
- eidolon: a phantom; apparition. (Monday October 29)
- loup-garou: a werewolf; lycanthrope. (Tuesday October 30)
- lily-livered: weak or lacking in courage; cowardly; pusillanimous. (Wednesday October 31)
- beatitude: supreme blessedness; exalted happiness. (Thursday November 01)
- canonize: to glorify and honor. (Friday November 02)
- splendiferous: magnificent; fine. (Saturday November 03)
- siesta: a midday or afternoon rest or nap. (Sunday November 04)
- climacteric: a critical period. (Monday November 05)
- franchise: the right to vote. (Tuesday November 06)
- glean: to learn, discover, or find out, usually little by little or slowly. (Wednesday November 07)
- quid: a piece of something to be chewed but not swallowed. (Thursday November 08)
- cahoots: in partnership; in league. (Friday November 09)
- nictitate: to wink. (Saturday November 10)
- armistice: a temporary suspension of hostilities by agreement of the warring parties. (Sunday November 11)
- troth: faithfulness, fidelity, or loyalty. (Monday November 12)
- disbosom: to reveal; confess. (Tuesday November 13)
- pigeonhole: to assign to a definite place in some orderly system. (Wednesday November 14)
- dovetail: to join or fit together compactly or harmoniously. (Thursday November 15)
- bird-dog: to follow, watch carefully, or investigate. (Friday November 16)
- dog-ear: to fold down the corner of a page in a book. (Saturday November 17)
- terpsichorean: pertaining to dancing. (Sunday November 18)
- ogle: to look at amorously, flirtatiously, or impertinently. (Monday November 19)
- fob: a short chain, usually with a medallion or similar ornament, worn hanging from a pocket. (Tuesday November 20)
- giblets: the heart, liver, gizzard, and the like, of a fowl, often cooked separately. (Wednesday November 21)
- agape: unselfish love of one person for another without sexual implications. (Thursday November 22)
- balsamaceous: possessing healing or restorative qualities. (Friday November 23)
- potvaliancy: brave only as a result of being drunk. (Saturday November 24)
- amygdaliform: shaped like an almond. (Sunday November 25)
- fainaigue: to shirk; evade work or responsibility. (Monday November 26)
- rime: a coating of tiny, white, granular ice particles, caused by the rapid freezing of water droplets. (Tuesday November 27)
- svelte: slender, especially gracefully slender in figure. (Wednesday November 28)
- biblioklept: a person who steals books. (Thursday November 29)
- trundle: to move or walk with a rolling gait. (Friday November 30)
- empurple: to color or become purple or purplish. (Saturday December 01)
- alexipharmic: warding off poisoning or infection; antidotal. (Sunday December 02)
- effervescent: high-spirited; vivacious; lively. (Monday December 03)
- pontificate: to speak in a pompous or dogmatic manner. (Tuesday December 04)
- erinaceous: of the hedgehog kind or family. (Wednesday December 05)
- quench: to slake, satisfy, or allay as in thirst, desires, or passion. (Thursday December 06)
- howdah: a seat or platform for one or more persons placed on the back of an elephant. (Friday December 07)
- anopisthograph: a manuscript, parchment, or book having writing on only one side. (Saturday December 08)
- mulligrubs: ill temper; colic; grumpiness. (Sunday December 09)
- moor: to fix firmly; secure. (Monday December 10)
- cruciverbalist: a designer or aficionado of crossword puzzles. (Tuesday December 11)
- adiaphorous: doing neither good nor harm. (Wednesday December 12)
- plication: the act or procedure of folding. (Thursday December 13)
- apopemptic: pertaining to leave-taking or departing; valedictory. (Friday December 14)
- buttress: to give encouragement or support. (Saturday December 15)
- axial: situated in or on the line about which a rotating body turns. (Sunday December 16)
- lagan: anything sunk in the sea, but attached to a buoy or the like so that it may be recovered. (Monday December 17)
- whinge: to complain; whine. (Tuesday December 18)
- echolalia: the imitation by a baby of the vocal sounds produced by others. (Wednesday December 19)
- counterblast: an unrestrained and vigorously powerful response to an attacking statement. (Thursday December 20)
- algid: cold; chilly. (Friday December 21)
- decathect: to withdraw one's feelings from something in anticipation of a future loss. (Saturday December 22)
- douce: sedate; modest; quiet. (Sunday December 23)
- glissade: to perform a sliding or gliding step. (Monday December 24)
- tidings: news, information, or intelligence. (Tuesday December 25)
- avidity: enthusiasm or dedication. (Wednesday December 26)
- stridulous: making or having a harsh or grating sound. (Thursday December 27)
- antepenultimate: third from the end. (Friday December 28)
- fastigiate: rising to a pointed top. (Saturday December 29)
- anthropogenic: caused or produced by humans. (Sunday December 30)
- compotation: an act or instance of drinking or tippling together. (Monday December 31)
