Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 21, 2012 is: dyslogistic • \diss-luh-JISS-tik\  • adjective : uncomplimentary Examples: The blogger used many dyslogistic adjectives to express his dissatisfaction with the mayor. "One answer lies in ... the dyslogistic school of memoir written by former officials who present themselves as disillusioned innocents." - From a book review by Jacob Heilbrun...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 20, 2012 is: marplot • \MAHR-plaht\  • noun : one who frustrates or ruins a plan or undertaking by meddling Examples: "If Will hadn't been such a nosy marplot," said Darlene, "our plan to surprise Brenda with a party for her birthday might have gone off without a hitch." Did you know? Beginning in the 17th century, people liked to prefix "mar-" to nouns...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 19, 2012 is: de minimis • \dee-MIN-uh-mus\  • adjective : lacking significance or importance : so minor as to merit disregard Examples: Critics complain that the new policy merely introduces de minimis modifications and does nothing to amend the real faults in the system. "Williams told council members that a letter written by borough solicitor Kenelm S...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 18, 2012 is: peruse • \puh-ROOZ\  • verb 1 a : to examine or study attentively and in detail b : to look over or through in a casual or hasty manner 2 : read Examples: Genevieve perused the menu while we waited for a table. "Sample a Texas chenin blanc or an Italian valpolicella as you peruse art from (mostly) regional artists whose imaginations respect...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 17, 2012 is: georgic • \JOR-jik\  • adjective : of or relating to agriculture Examples: City slicker Brian was still getting used to the georgic lifestyle-particularly getting up at 4:30 each morning to milk the cows. "During the last decade of the 1800s, the georgic rhythms and methods of cultivation continued very much as they had when Thomas Jefferso...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 16, 2012 is: maquette • \ma-KET\  • noun : a usually small preliminary model (as of a sculpture or a building) Examples: At the town meeting the architect presented a maquette of the proposed new school, which will include a state-of-the-art gymnasium and media center. "All of the pieces in the gallery, including maquettes of the much larger outdoor wor...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 15, 2012 is: palisade • \pal-uh-SAYD\  • noun 1 a : a fence of stakes especially for defense b : a long strong stake pointed at the top and set close with others as a defense 2 : a line of bold cliffs Examples: "The biggest structure on the lot was a palisade made from wood harvested on the property, making the entrance look like a fortified structure."...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 14, 2012 is: bloviate • \BLOH-vee-ayt\  • verb : to speak or write verbosely and windily Examples: Mitchell spent his Sunday morning listening to talk show pundits bloviating about world affairs. "Does the deluge of financial reporting make us more prone to glaze over when we read about massive debt or when we hear an analyst like CNBC's Jim Cramer blov...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 13, 2012 is: a-go-go • \ah-GOH-goh\  • adjective 1 : of, relating to, or being a disco or the music or dances performed there : go-go 2 : being in a whirl of motion 3 : being up-to-date - often used postpositively Examples: The shop is chock-full of the latest in fashionable home decor-it's decorating trends a-go-go. "All of the major plot points are ei...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 12, 2012 is: nectar • \NEK-ter\  • noun 1 a : the drink of the Greek and Roman gods b : something delicious to drink c : a beverage of fruit juice and pulp 2 : a sweet liquid that is secreted by the nectaries of a plant and is the chief raw material of honey Examples: After working for hours in the hot sun, there is no sweeter nectar than an ice-cold gl...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 11, 2012 is: gibbous • \JIB-us\  • adjective 1 : marked by convexity or swelling b of the moon or a planet : seen with more than half but not all of the apparent disk illuminated 2 : having a hump : humpbacked Examples: The gibbous shadows that could be seen on the horizon were those of oxen pulling plows. "With a simple triangular sweep, you can see th...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 10, 2012 is: scaramouch • \SKAIR-uh-moosh\  • noun a : a cowardly buffoon b : rascal, scamp Examples: Dorothy was wary about lending money to her uncle, a scaramouch who never took responsibility for his actions. "The mischievous Scaramouche dances beneath them, flanked by a chorus of provocatively clad statues that seem poised to descend from their ped...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 9, 2012 is: weald • \WEELD\  • noun 1 : a heavily wooded area : forest 2 : a wild or uncultivated usually upland region Examples: "Challenger's house was on the very edge of the hill, and from its southern face, in which was the study window, one looked across the vast stretch of the weald to where the gentle curves of the South Downs formed an undulati...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 8, 2012 is: aught • \AWT\  • pronoun 1 : anything 2 : all, everything Examples: "Xury said it was a lion, and it might be so for aught I know." - From Daniel Defoe's 1719 novel Robinson Crusoe "He dropped, dead, into the shallow water, but I was too late for aught but revenge." - From Judson Roberts' 2011 novel Viking Warrior Did you know? "If you know...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 7, 2012 is: oriflamme • \OR-uh-flam\  • noun : a banner, symbol, or ideal inspiring devotion or courage Examples: For many Americans, the photograph of the Iwo Jima flag raising served as an oriflamme and a reminder of the sacrifices and courage of the American servicemen. "Researchers now think there's a da Vinci painting underneath. The Italian phrase...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 6, 2012 is: affront • \uh-FRUNT\  • verb 1 a : to insult especially to the face by behavior or language b : to cause offense to 2 : to face in defiance : confront 3 : to appear directly before Examples: He affronted us with his rude behavior and seeming indifference to our feelings. "She has fine acting skills, moving effortlessly from the Prima Donna's...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 5, 2012 is: wiseacre • \WYZE-ay-ker\  • noun : one who pretends to knowledge or cleverness; especially : smart aleck Examples: A few wiseacres in the audience began heckling the young comedian after his first couple of jokes fell flat. "Following the stuttering relationship between Billy Crystal's smart wiseacre and Meg Ryan's prim moralist, the film un...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 4, 2012 is: scarlet pimpernel • \SKAHR-lut-PIM-per-nel\  • noun 1 : a European pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis) naturalized in North America and having scarlet, white, or purplish flowers that close in cloudy weather 2 : a person who rescues others from mortal danger by smuggling them across a border Examples: The refugees will always be grateful to the s...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 3, 2012 is: mettlesome • \MET-ul-sum\  • adjective : full of vigor and stamina : spirited Examples: The mettlesome bronco kicked and bucked, but the rider kept her balance and rode her out. "An accomplished actor, Prete writes electrifying dialogue, and his galvanizing descriptions are poetic and mettlesome." - From a book review Donna Seaman in Booklis...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 2, 2012 is: cerebrate • \SAIR-uh-brayt\  • verb : to use the mind : think Examples: Jane is apt to cerebrate at length before making even minor decisions. "You can't cerebrate over what you can't see, which therefore becomes an object of loathing and mistrust." - From an article by Howard Portnoy at Examiner.com, June 25, 2012 Did you know? When you thi...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 1, 2012 is: tonsorial • \tahn-SOR-ee-ul\  • adjective : of or relating to a barber or the work of a barber Examples: "Rookie Adam Henrique is trying to spark the Devils with a tonsorial adjustment. Henrique has shaved off his beard, leaving him with a bristly mustache for Game 4." -From an Associated Press article appearing in the Wall Street Journal, J...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 31, 2012 is: gimbal • \GHIM-bul\  • noun : a device that permits a body to incline freely in any direction or suspends it so that it will remain level when its support is tipped - usually used in plural; called also gimbal ring Examples: "In general, typical tracking mechanisms have the laser mounted on a gimbal, which is controlled with digital servos."...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 30, 2012 is: spoonerism • \SPOO-nuh-riz-um\  • noun : a transposition of usually initial sounds of two or more words Examples: Children will be delighted by Jon Scieszka's use of wordplay in Baloney (Henry P.), including the spoonerism "sighing flossers" for "flying saucers." "Thursday afternoon, Barack Obama presided over the unveiling of George W. Bush'...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 29, 2012 is: deep-six • \DEEP-SIKS\  • verb 1 : to get rid of : discard, eliminate 2 : to throw overboard Examples: Citing budget concerns, the city council announced that it has deep-sixed plans to repave the city's bike trails. "The nationalist and confrontational Putin has already made it clear that he intends to deep-six Mr. Medvedev's friendly and co...

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 28, 2012 is: vilipend • \VIL-uh-pend\  • verb 1 : to hold or treat as of little worth or account 2 : to express a low opinion of : disparage Examples: As a women's movement pioneer, Susan B. Anthony fought against the dictums of those who would vilipend women by treating them as second-class citizens. "But many accepted canine breeds began in lowly circum...