hunker down
When you hunker down, you settle into a safe, sheltered position. Some people evacuate their homes during a big hurricane, while others hunker down and wait for the storm to pass.
This term is such a popular way to describe taking shelter from a storm that it's become a weather report clichรฉ. You might hunker down in your basement during a tornado watch, but you can also hunker down during an argument, refusing to budge from your stated position.
Hunker comes from Scottish โ it means "crouch on your heels" or "squat." Sometimes the phrase is also used to mean "get to work," like when you hunker down and finish your homework.
When you hunker down, you settle into a safe, sheltered position. Some people evacuate their homes during a big hurricane, while others hunker down and wait for the storm to pass.
This term is such a popular way to describe taking shelter from a storm that it's become a weather report clichรฉ. You might hunker down in your basement during a tornado watch, but you can also hunker down during an argument, refusing to budge from your stated position.
Hunker comes from Scottish โ it means "crouch on your heels" or "squat." Sometimes the phrase is also used to mean "get to work," like when you hunker down and finish your homework.
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Triage
Grouping patients based on the severity of their injuries and the likelihood of their survival is called triage.
In a triage situation, urgent cases are seen by doctors first, and non-life-threatening emergencies go last.
You can also apply the sorting and prioritizing of triage to more general situations. If you're overwhelmed with homework, you can perform triage by organizing it into subjects and prioritizing assignments based on their due dates.
The word triage comes from the French word trier meaning to sort. Although the medical sense is now the most common, it wasn't used that way until World War One.
Grouping patients based on the severity of their injuries and the likelihood of their survival is called triage.
In a triage situation, urgent cases are seen by doctors first, and non-life-threatening emergencies go last.
You can also apply the sorting and prioritizing of triage to more general situations. If you're overwhelmed with homework, you can perform triage by organizing it into subjects and prioritizing assignments based on their due dates.
The word triage comes from the French word trier meaning to sort. Although the medical sense is now the most common, it wasn't used that way until World War One.
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Catharsis
Use the noun catharsis to refer to the experience a person can have of releasing emotional tension and feeling refreshed afterwards.
Conceived by Aristotle as the cleansing effect of emotional release that tragic drama has on its audience, catharsis stems from a Greek verb meaning "to purify, purge."
Today, it can be used to describe any emotional release, including a good long laugh or cry that is followed by a sense of balance and freshness afterwards.
Use the noun catharsis to refer to the experience a person can have of releasing emotional tension and feeling refreshed afterwards.
Conceived by Aristotle as the cleansing effect of emotional release that tragic drama has on its audience, catharsis stems from a Greek verb meaning "to purify, purge."
Today, it can be used to describe any emotional release, including a good long laugh or cry that is followed by a sense of balance and freshness afterwards.
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Recidivism
/rษชหsษชdษชvษชz(ษ)m/
noun
the tendency of a convicted criminal to reoffend.
"the prison has succeeded in reducing recidivism"
/rษชหsษชdษชvษชz(ษ)m/
noun
the tendency of a convicted criminal to reoffend.
"the prison has succeeded in reducing recidivism"
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perspicacious
Perspicacious is an adjective that means "shrewd" and "wise." A perspicacious child can't be fooled when her parents try to keep a secret by talking in Pig Latin.
The adjective perspicacious is a long word for a short definition: "keen" or "shrewd." This word is descended from the Latin word perspicere, which means "to look closely."
In other words, if you look closely at something you are paying attention to it and know it well.
A definition of perspicacious that is out of date but still relevant is "having keen eyesight" and people who can see clearly are also aware and attentive!
Perspicacious is an adjective that means "shrewd" and "wise." A perspicacious child can't be fooled when her parents try to keep a secret by talking in Pig Latin.
The adjective perspicacious is a long word for a short definition: "keen" or "shrewd." This word is descended from the Latin word perspicere, which means "to look closely."
In other words, if you look closely at something you are paying attention to it and know it well.
A definition of perspicacious that is out of date but still relevant is "having keen eyesight" and people who can see clearly are also aware and attentive!
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If it's the day before a big event and you have no idea what to wear and nothing in your closet is going to cut it, you are facing a sartorial dilemma โ one that pertains to clothing, fashion, or dressing.
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insinuation
An insinuation is a sly way of saying something, usually something insulting. It can also be a way of worming your way into a group or situation.
"You're dumb!" is an insult. An insinuation is different: it's a way of indirectly saying something. Insinuation evolved from the Latin insinuationem, meaning "entrance through a narrow way.โ So an insinuation is like an insult that sneaks in the back door. Mentioning that your cousin could try harder in school could be an insinuation that your cousinโs lazy. Another kind of insinuation is when someone, often through flattery, gets herself accepted by others. Both kinds of insinuations are sneaky.
An insinuation is a sly way of saying something, usually something insulting. It can also be a way of worming your way into a group or situation.
"You're dumb!" is an insult. An insinuation is different: it's a way of indirectly saying something. Insinuation evolved from the Latin insinuationem, meaning "entrance through a narrow way.โ So an insinuation is like an insult that sneaks in the back door. Mentioning that your cousin could try harder in school could be an insinuation that your cousinโs lazy. Another kind of insinuation is when someone, often through flattery, gets herself accepted by others. Both kinds of insinuations are sneaky.
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insouciance
/ษชnหsuหsiหษns/
โ noun
the cheerful feeling you have when nothing is troubling you
synonyms : carefreeness, lightheartedness, lightsomeness
/ษชnหsuหsiหษns/
โ noun
the cheerful feeling you have when nothing is troubling you
synonyms : carefreeness, lightheartedness, lightsomeness
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A parsimonious person is unwilling to spend a lot of money.
You know those people who count up every penny when it's time to split a restaurant bill? You can call them parsimonious. Or cheap.
Stingy is the most common and general synonym of parsimonious, but there are many other near synonyms, including thrifty, frugal, penurious, niggardly, penny-pinching, miserly, tight-fisted, tight.
The adjective parsimonious was formed in English from the noun parsimony, "the quality of being careful in spending." It is a combination of the Latin verb parcere, "to spare," plus an Old French suffix โous, "having the quality of."
You know those people who count up every penny when it's time to split a restaurant bill? You can call them parsimonious. Or cheap.
Stingy is the most common and general synonym of parsimonious, but there are many other near synonyms, including thrifty, frugal, penurious, niggardly, penny-pinching, miserly, tight-fisted, tight.
The adjective parsimonious was formed in English from the noun parsimony, "the quality of being careful in spending." It is a combination of the Latin verb parcere, "to spare," plus an Old French suffix โous, "having the quality of."
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Something that's mangled is damaged or even ruined from being crushed, torn, or sliced.
Your recycling bin will be full of mangled soda cans if you stomp on them with your work boots before tossing them in.
Cars can be mangled after a bad accident, and even buildings might be mangled after an explosion.
Mangled debris may mark the site of a bomb or plane crash.
You can also use this adjective figuratively, to mean "ruined," like when you perform a mangled rendition of your favorite song at the school talent show.
Mangled comes from the Old French mangoner, "cut to pieces."
Your recycling bin will be full of mangled soda cans if you stomp on them with your work boots before tossing them in.
Cars can be mangled after a bad accident, and even buildings might be mangled after an explosion.
Mangled debris may mark the site of a bomb or plane crash.
You can also use this adjective figuratively, to mean "ruined," like when you perform a mangled rendition of your favorite song at the school talent show.
Mangled comes from the Old French mangoner, "cut to pieces."
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The Latin phrase quid pro quo means making a certain kind of deal: you do this for me, and I'll do that for you.
Ever hear the expression
That describes a quid pro quo: doing a favor you expect to be paid back, instead of doing the favor for its own sake.
Politicians are often accused of doing a quid pro quo: someone donated to their campaign and is now getting favors in return. @WordCzar
Quid pro quo definitely has a shady feel, but it just means making a deal that trades one thing for another.
Ever hear the expression
, "You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours"?
That describes a quid pro quo: doing a favor you expect to be paid back, instead of doing the favor for its own sake.
Politicians are often accused of doing a quid pro quo: someone donated to their campaign and is now getting favors in return. @WordCzar
Quid pro quo definitely has a shady feel, but it just means making a deal that trades one thing for another.
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Something that is iniquitous is extremely immoral or wicked, such as an iniquitous political regime that assassinates its enemies.
Itโs a strong word โ don't use it lightly. If you go see a movie thatโs boring and too long, for example, itโs just a bad movie.
But a movie that encourages people to take violent action against a minority group? That's iniquitous because the movie's message is grossly immoral
Use the adjective iniquitous to describe something that is truly bad, morally wrong, extremely wicked, or completely unfair. @Grammarfy
Itโs a strong word โ don't use it lightly. If you go see a movie thatโs boring and too long, for example, itโs just a bad movie.
But a movie that encourages people to take violent action against a minority group? That's iniquitous because the movie's message is grossly immoral
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Asunder is an adverb that means โinto separate pieces.โ So if youโve torn your ex's love letter asunder, youโve forcefully ripped it into separate pieces โ and rightly so.
Asunder comes from the Old English phrase on sundran, which means "into separate places."
It is a somewhat archaic and uncommon word and many people know it only from religious marriage ceremonies:
In most cases, you can use its more common synonym "apart" and convey the same meaning, unless you want to express a particularly violent or forceful ripping.
@WordCzar
Asunder comes from the Old English phrase on sundran, which means "into separate places."
It is a somewhat archaic and uncommon word and many people know it only from religious marriage ceremonies:
"What God has joined together let no man put asunder."
In most cases, you can use its more common synonym "apart" and convey the same meaning, unless you want to express a particularly violent or forceful ripping.
@WordCzar
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People who gallivant are out to have a good time as they wander.
When you gallivant, you meander from one place to another in search of fun.
A little kid might gallivant around the preschool classroom during free time, visiting her friends and playing with various toys.
Professional musicians are sometimes able to gallivant from city to city in between performances.
Gallivant comes from an old-fashioned definition of gallant, "a dashing man."
To "play the gallant" was once a popular way to say "to gad about" or to gallivant.
You might decide to take a year off between high school and college so you can gallivant around the country for a while. @WordCzar
When you gallivant, you meander from one place to another in search of fun.
A little kid might gallivant around the preschool classroom during free time, visiting her friends and playing with various toys.
Professional musicians are sometimes able to gallivant from city to city in between performances.
Gallivant comes from an old-fashioned definition of gallant, "a dashing man."
To "play the gallant" was once a popular way to say "to gad about" or to gallivant.
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Abjure means to swear off, and it applies to something you once believed.
You can abjure a religious faith, you can abjure your love of another person, and you can abjure the practice of using excessive force in interrogation.
Abjure is a more dramatic way to declare your rejection of something you once felt or believed.
When you abjure something, you swear it away and dissociate yourself with it.
You might abjure the field of astrology after receiving a bad fortune, or you might abjure marriage after a bitter divorce.
You can abjure a religious faith, you can abjure your love of another person, and you can abjure the practice of using excessive force in interrogation.
Abjure is a more dramatic way to declare your rejection of something you once felt or believed.
When you see its Latin roots, it makes sense: from ab- (meaning "away") and jurare ("to swear").@WordCzar
When you abjure something, you swear it away and dissociate yourself with it.
You might abjure the field of astrology after receiving a bad fortune, or you might abjure marriage after a bitter divorce.
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Beatific
That blissful grin on your face? It could be described as beatific, meaning it projects a peaceful sense of joy.
If you have a beatific smile on your face, then the happiness it shows is the real thing.
This word doesnโt describe phony smiles or quick grins that show a little amusement.
Itโs often used to describe a smile, but it can be used to describe anything in a
That blissful grin on your face? It could be described as beatific, meaning it projects a peaceful sense of joy.
If you have a beatific smile on your face, then the happiness it shows is the real thing.
This word doesnโt describe phony smiles or quick grins that show a little amusement.
Use beatific to describe something characterized by complete and perfect joy. @WordCzar
Itโs often used to describe a smile, but it can be used to describe anything in a
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JADED
If you've done something so much that it doesn't excite you anymore but just leaves you tired, consider yourself jaded.
If someone says you look a little jaded, it just means that you look tired.
The history of jaded is not clear, but perhaps it is related to the noun jade, an old term for a worn-out horse.
The word can also mean cynical because of bad experiences with something, like a jaded journalist who doesn't see the person behind the politician.
If you've done something so much that it doesn't excite you anymore but just leaves you tired, consider yourself jaded.
If someone says you look a little jaded, it just means that you look tired.
The history of jaded is not clear, but perhaps it is related to the noun jade, an old term for a worn-out horse.
Even if not, picturing a tired old horse may be a nice way to remember that jaded means dulled or tired from too much of something.
The word can also mean cynical because of bad experiences with something, like a jaded journalist who doesn't see the person behind the politician.
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Platitude
If an executive gives a speech that begins,
his employees might get sick of listening to these meaningless clichรฉs and tell him to cut the platitudes.
The English language contains many old, worn-out clichรฉs, or platitudes.
Phrases like "
" and
are so overused that they've almost lost their meaning.
People rely on these tired old remarks when they can't think of anything original to say. @WordCzar
Be warned: if you throw too many platitudes into your conversations, people are eventually going to get tired of listening to you.
If an executive gives a speech that begins,
"This business is all about survival of the fittest. You need to burn the midnight oil and take one for the team,"
his employees might get sick of listening to these meaningless clichรฉs and tell him to cut the platitudes.
The English language contains many old, worn-out clichรฉs, or platitudes.
Phrases like "
ants in your pants
" and
"as American as apple pie"
are so overused that they've almost lost their meaning.
People rely on these tired old remarks when they can't think of anything original to say. @WordCzar
Be warned: if you throw too many platitudes into your conversations, people are eventually going to get tired of listening to you.
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