Maverick
A maverick is a rebel, someone who shows a lot of independence.
A maverick on a motorcycle might blaze his own trail, or show a maverick touch in a rough sport by wearing a helmet with the word "Mom" inside a heart.
Samuel A. Maverick owned a lot of cattle, and he let them roam around Texas without a brand, or identification mark, seared into their skins. Samuel was a maverick for going against the common practice of tracking his animals, and his last name became part of the English language as both an adjective and a noun in the 19th century.
Someone who acts very independently is a maverick, and individual actions that stand out are maverick, as in "her maverick jumping style on the ice was both wild and delicate."
A maverick is a rebel, someone who shows a lot of independence.
A maverick on a motorcycle might blaze his own trail, or show a maverick touch in a rough sport by wearing a helmet with the word "Mom" inside a heart.
Samuel A. Maverick owned a lot of cattle, and he let them roam around Texas without a brand, or identification mark, seared into their skins. Samuel was a maverick for going against the common practice of tracking his animals, and his last name became part of the English language as both an adjective and a noun in the 19th century.
Someone who acts very independently is a maverick, and individual actions that stand out are maverick, as in "her maverick jumping style on the ice was both wild and delicate."
Officious :
Though officious sounds like official, it means being annoyingly eager to do more than is required.
"The officious lunch lady made everyone's food choices her business, and made nasty comments when students chose cookies over carrots."
Officious is a tricky word as it seems like it might mean something like office or official. Instead, it is a word to describe someone that acts more official than they actually are.
People who are officious are busybodies. They want to make their opinions known and followed, despite not having any kind of real power.
Though officious sounds like official, it means being annoyingly eager to do more than is required.
"The officious lunch lady made everyone's food choices her business, and made nasty comments when students chose cookies over carrots."
Officious is a tricky word as it seems like it might mean something like office or official. Instead, it is a word to describe someone that acts more official than they actually are.
People who are officious are busybodies. They want to make their opinions known and followed, despite not having any kind of real power.
Infirm :
To be infirm is to be physically weak. If your great grandmother can't get around without a walker or a wheelchair, you might describe her as infirm.
The adjective infirm is most often used to talk about elderly people whose bodies don't work as well as they used to — there's an implication of old age in the word.
You could also describe an infirm person as decrepit or feeble.
Sometimes a person's morals or character are described as infirm, which means you can't count on them to do the right thing.
The Latin root, infirmus means "weak or feeble," or alternately, "superstitious or inconstant."
To be infirm is to be physically weak. If your great grandmother can't get around without a walker or a wheelchair, you might describe her as infirm.
The adjective infirm is most often used to talk about elderly people whose bodies don't work as well as they used to — there's an implication of old age in the word.
You could also describe an infirm person as decrepit or feeble.
Sometimes a person's morals or character are described as infirm, which means you can't count on them to do the right thing.
The Latin root, infirmus means "weak or feeble," or alternately, "superstitious or inconstant."
ABSTEMIOUS
Reserve abstemious for someone who exercises restraint, especially with regard to alcohol.
A rock musician may sing about enjoying wine and women, but in his private life he may be abstemious.
You might get the idea that abstemious is a relative of abstain with a change of consonant, but in fact the two words only share the abs- prefix, meaning "away."
The -temious bit in this adjective is from Latin temetum, "intoxicating drink," so it came to refer to someone who keeps alcohol (or other temptations) at arm's length. This word has the vowels a, e, i, o and u in alphabetical order; the adverb abstemiouslyadds the y!
Reserve abstemious for someone who exercises restraint, especially with regard to alcohol.
A rock musician may sing about enjoying wine and women, but in his private life he may be abstemious.
You might get the idea that abstemious is a relative of abstain with a change of consonant, but in fact the two words only share the abs- prefix, meaning "away."
The -temious bit in this adjective is from Latin temetum, "intoxicating drink," so it came to refer to someone who keeps alcohol (or other temptations) at arm's length. This word has the vowels a, e, i, o and u in alphabetical order; the adverb abstemiouslyadds the y!
APPROBATION :
Approbation is a formal word for approval or praise.
Approbation is like getting the nod in a big way. Politicians rely on the public’s approbation to get elected.
How is it possible that approbation means approval when probation is a form of being in trouble?
Probation is a testing period, to see if you can be good.
Approbation means it's all good. Or you can remember this rhyme: "Filled with approbation, the audience gave a standing ovation."
Approbation is a formal word for approval or praise.
Approbation is like getting the nod in a big way. Politicians rely on the public’s approbation to get elected.
How is it possible that approbation means approval when probation is a form of being in trouble?
Probation is a testing period, to see if you can be good.
Approbation means it's all good. Or you can remember this rhyme: "Filled with approbation, the audience gave a standing ovation."
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The opposite of approbation is:
Anonymous Poll
9%
influence
78%
condemnation
10%
concentration
3%
innocence
Wheedle :
To wheedle is to sweet talk, or flatter someone in the hopes of getting something in return.
You might try to wheedle a meter maid into not giving you a parking ticket. Good luck with that.@WordCzar
If you want your parents to do something for you that they don’t want to do, you may have to wheedle them with breakfast in bed and a shower of compliments in order to get what you want.
To wheedle someone is to “charm” that person, though it’s a little more on the “suck up to” side than it is charming. The teacher’s pet might try to wheedle her way into a better grade.
To wheedle is to sweet talk, or flatter someone in the hopes of getting something in return.
You might try to wheedle a meter maid into not giving you a parking ticket. Good luck with that.@WordCzar
If you want your parents to do something for you that they don’t want to do, you may have to wheedle them with breakfast in bed and a shower of compliments in order to get what you want.
To wheedle someone is to “charm” that person, though it’s a little more on the “suck up to” side than it is charming. The teacher’s pet might try to wheedle her way into a better grade.
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Hagiography :
A hagiography is a type of biography that puts the subject in a very flattering light. Hagiographies are often about saints.
The two halves of hagiography refer to holiness and writing, and it is something written about holy people. Originally, a hagiography was a biography of a saint written without skepticism or criticism. A hagiography idealizes the subject and puts them on a pedestal.
These days, a hagiography is not necessarily written about a saint, but it still idolizes the subject. A hagiography makes the subject seems like a hero, or at least a wonderful, nearly perfect person.
A hagiography is a type of biography that puts the subject in a very flattering light. Hagiographies are often about saints.
The two halves of hagiography refer to holiness and writing, and it is something written about holy people. Originally, a hagiography was a biography of a saint written without skepticism or criticism. A hagiography idealizes the subject and puts them on a pedestal.
These days, a hagiography is not necessarily written about a saint, but it still idolizes the subject. A hagiography makes the subject seems like a hero, or at least a wonderful, nearly perfect person.
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Swanky :
Swanky things are fancy and stylish, like a swanky hotel lobby with sparkling chandeliers, plush furniture, and elegant guests.
You can also call swanky things ritzy or classy.
They're expensive and luxurious, like a swanky car, a swanky apartment building with a doorman, or a swanky neighborhood where only movie stars can afford to live.
The adjective swanky comes from its less-common synonym swank, which stems from the now-obsolete verb swank, "to behave ostentatiously."
Swanky things are fancy and stylish, like a swanky hotel lobby with sparkling chandeliers, plush furniture, and elegant guests.
You can also call swanky things ritzy or classy.
They're expensive and luxurious, like a swanky car, a swanky apartment building with a doorman, or a swanky neighborhood where only movie stars can afford to live.
The adjective swanky comes from its less-common synonym swank, which stems from the now-obsolete verb swank, "to behave ostentatiously."
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Forestall
It takes a bit of planning to forestall something, meaning stop it from happening.
To forestall the effects of aging, exercise and take care of your health all your life.
You can break the word forestall into parts to figure out its meaning. The prefix fore is one you've seen in words like forewarn, which means "to warn in advance." And you probably know that stall means "delay." So to forestall is to stall in advance, or put another way, to try to prevent or put off something you don't want to happen
It takes a bit of planning to forestall something, meaning stop it from happening.
To forestall the effects of aging, exercise and take care of your health all your life.
You can break the word forestall into parts to figure out its meaning. The prefix fore is one you've seen in words like forewarn, which means "to warn in advance." And you probably know that stall means "delay." So to forestall is to stall in advance, or put another way, to try to prevent or put off something you don't want to happen
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Snob
If your best friend tells you that you've become a snob, he means that you've become condescending and you like to think you're better than everyone else. Of course maybe he's a snob for looking down on your behavior — how annoying!
Snob has a funny history. It used be slang for "shoemaker," then "common person," and then came to mean "someone who doesn't have a degree from a fancy university," and then it started to mean "people who liked to pretend they have degrees and are generally fancy and look down on common people like shoemakers."
Nowadays, snob isn't only for people with false pretentions. Rich people who despise less tasteful folks are snobs, too.
If your best friend tells you that you've become a snob, he means that you've become condescending and you like to think you're better than everyone else. Of course maybe he's a snob for looking down on your behavior — how annoying!
Snob has a funny history. It used be slang for "shoemaker," then "common person," and then came to mean "someone who doesn't have a degree from a fancy university," and then it started to mean "people who liked to pretend they have degrees and are generally fancy and look down on common people like shoemakers."
Nowadays, snob isn't only for people with false pretentions. Rich people who despise less tasteful folks are snobs, too.
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Obliterate
When you see obliterate, think of evil alien invaders that zap a planet with a destructive ray.
In one blast, the planet and all of the people on it are vaporized. The planet is truly obliterated, or completely wiped out.
A long time ago, obliterate had to do with blotting out words on a page. This is why you see the word literate in there. Today it means to erase or destroy completely so that there is nothing left. @WordCzar
While you can still obliterate text, you can also obliterate hope, an opponent, or all traces of your presence.
Whatever you obliterate is completely gone.
When you see obliterate, think of evil alien invaders that zap a planet with a destructive ray.
In one blast, the planet and all of the people on it are vaporized. The planet is truly obliterated, or completely wiped out.
A long time ago, obliterate had to do with blotting out words on a page. This is why you see the word literate in there. Today it means to erase or destroy completely so that there is nothing left. @WordCzar
While you can still obliterate text, you can also obliterate hope, an opponent, or all traces of your presence.
Whatever you obliterate is completely gone.
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Cognitive :
If it's related to thinking, it's considered cognitive.
Anxious parents might defend using flashcards with toddlers as "nurturing their cognitive development." @WordCzar
The adjective, cognitive, comes from the Latin cognoscere "to get to know" and refers to the ability of the brain to think and reason as opposed to feel.
A child's cognitive development is the growth in his or her ability to think and solve problems.
Many English words that involve knowing and knowledge have cogn- in them such as cognizant "aware of" and recognize "to know someone in the present because you knew them from the past."
If it's related to thinking, it's considered cognitive.
Anxious parents might defend using flashcards with toddlers as "nurturing their cognitive development." @WordCzar
The adjective, cognitive, comes from the Latin cognoscere "to get to know" and refers to the ability of the brain to think and reason as opposed to feel.
A child's cognitive development is the growth in his or her ability to think and solve problems.
Many English words that involve knowing and knowledge have cogn- in them such as cognizant "aware of" and recognize "to know someone in the present because you knew them from the past."
lotus eater
noun
GREEK MYTHOLOGY
a member of a people represented by Homer as living in a state of dreamy forgetfulness and idleness as a result of eating the fruit of the lotus plant.
"on arrival at the land of the lotus eaters, Odysseus sends out a reconnaissance party"
a person who spends their time indulging in pleasure and luxury rather than dealing with practical concerns.
"life as a lotus eater in sunny climes appears to be well and truly over"
someone indifferent to the busy world
Synonyms: stargazer
noun
GREEK MYTHOLOGY
a member of a people represented by Homer as living in a state of dreamy forgetfulness and idleness as a result of eating the fruit of the lotus plant.
"on arrival at the land of the lotus eaters, Odysseus sends out a reconnaissance party"
a person who spends their time indulging in pleasure and luxury rather than dealing with practical concerns.
"life as a lotus eater in sunny climes appears to be well and truly over"
someone indifferent to the busy world
Synonyms: stargazer
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ken
The noun ken means "range of vision or comprehension." If quantum mechanics is beyond your ken, you don't understand it, or it is beyond your scope of knowledge.
Ken is rarely used today outside of the phrase, "beyond one's ken."
It goes all the way back, however, to Proto Indo-European, the reconstructed ancestor of most European, Near Eastern, and South Asian languages. Coming from the root *gno- "to know," ken has many relatives in modern English such as incognito, cunning, and know itself.
The noun ken means "range of vision or comprehension." If quantum mechanics is beyond your ken, you don't understand it, or it is beyond your scope of knowledge.
Ken is rarely used today outside of the phrase, "beyond one's ken."
It goes all the way back, however, to Proto Indo-European, the reconstructed ancestor of most European, Near Eastern, and South Asian languages. Coming from the root *gno- "to know," ken has many relatives in modern English such as incognito, cunning, and know itself.
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Sacrilege
If you show up to an animal rights rally with a bucket full of fried chicken for lunch, you may be accused of committing sacrilege.
You are violating a belief held sacred, at least by some individuals.
Sacrilege has its roots in the Latin sacr-, meaning "holy." Sacrilege was originally reserved for talking about blasphemous acts that disrespect, violate, or misuse holy traditions or objects.
However, today the term sacrilege carries a broader, and lighter, meaning than its origins suggest. For example, it's usually considered sacrilege to root for the out-of-town team that's playing against your home team. Ancient users of this word might think our looser definition is sacrilege.
If you show up to an animal rights rally with a bucket full of fried chicken for lunch, you may be accused of committing sacrilege.
You are violating a belief held sacred, at least by some individuals.
Sacrilege has its roots in the Latin sacr-, meaning "holy." Sacrilege was originally reserved for talking about blasphemous acts that disrespect, violate, or misuse holy traditions or objects.
However, today the term sacrilege carries a broader, and lighter, meaning than its origins suggest. For example, it's usually considered sacrilege to root for the out-of-town team that's playing against your home team. Ancient users of this word might think our looser definition is sacrilege.
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Dead rubber
is a term used in sporting parlance to describe a match in a series where the series result has already been decided by earlier matches.
The dead rubber match therefore has no effect on the winner and loser of the series, other than the total number of matches won and lost.
is a term used in sporting parlance to describe a match in a series where the series result has already been decided by earlier matches.
The dead rubber match therefore has no effect on the winner and loser of the series, other than the total number of matches won and lost.
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Philomath :
Lover of learning.
Type of: bookman, scholar, scholarly person, student
a learned person (especially in the humanities); someone who by long study has gained mastery in one or more disciplines
Lover of learning.
Type of: bookman, scholar, scholarly person, student
a learned person (especially in the humanities); someone who by long study has gained mastery in one or more disciplines
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