"Canine"

Since I'm a vegetarian, I probably don't use my canine teeth for their intended purpose, but I do tend to use them to chew the inside of my mouth when I'm thinking. It's almost an unconscious habit.

Official Definition

"Bemoan"

When I was pulled over for a burned out license plate bulb, I was tempted to bemoan my situation, but then I realized I was lucky to avoid a fine.

Official Definition

"Acclaim"

Though the film received much acclaim from the big-shot movie reviewers, I wasn't crazy about it.

Official Definition

"Yielding"

My cat, Peyser, is a pretty yielding animal. Unlike most cats, if he is reprimanded and told to stop misbehaving, he generally stops what he's doing.

Official Definition

"Wanton"

The man's mother no longer claims him since he committed the wanton burglary on her home three years ago.

Official Definition

"Vacuous"

After spending an hour and a half trying unsuccessfully to upload several photos at once, I stared at the computer screen with a vacuous expression on my face. Not one to give up easily, I simply tried again, only uploading one photo at a time.

Official Definition

"Unconscionable"

Lou thought her landlord to be an unconscionable man, especially considering that he rarely, if ever, fixed any of the problems in her apartment, but his rent was always outrageously high.

Official Definition

"Talisman"

When I was little, one of my friends had a "lucky" rabbit's foot. My dad said he didn't know how good it was, since the talisman didn't give much luck to the rabbit.

Official Definition

"Sallow"

Almost losing Jasper the Penguin from the sidebar of my other blog turned my face a sallow color. Fortunately, both my virtual pet and the color in my face returned shortly thereafter.

Official Definition

"Rancor"

Suffering with my sidebar width in my other blog yesterday created in me rancor toward the template that I otherwise love.

Official Definition

"Qualitative"

When shopping, I generally consider qualitative details before quantitative ones; unless, of course, there is a huge difference in cost.

Official Definition

"Pandiculation"

Upon first waking, many people commit pandiculation without thinking of it: the muscle-stretching routine is more of a reaction than a conscious thought.

Official Definition

"Obscure"

When I was a kid I used to make obscure music references to confuse the other kids. I guess I thought I was some kind of music expert or something. Now I'm the one who's in the dark these days because I can't keep up with today's Billboard charts, anymore.

Official Definition

"Narcolepsy"

Susan isn't allowed to drive anymore because of her narcolepsy: she once fell asleep at an intersection and ran a red light. Fortunately, no one was injured, but her car was severely damaged when it crashed into a street sign and came to a stop, waking her up.

Official Definition

"Magnanimous"

Though his friends had taken advantage of his kindness, the young man's magnanimous attitude discouraged him from becoming sore and vindictive.

Official Definition

"Laissez-faire"

The libertarians favor a laissez-faire economic system because they believe a free market will regulate itself without external assistance.

Official Definition

"Kinetic"

Many of my goals (I hesitate to call them "resolutions") for 2009 are of a somewhat kinetic nature: exercising, traveling/sightseeing, and actually keeping my room clean!

Official Definition

"Jettison"

After I learned how much the trip to Europe was going to cost, I decided to jettison the whole idea and just stay home.

Official Definition

"Iconoclast"

No one knew if Mr. Periwinkle's marriage would last; Mr. Periwinkle was a strict traditionalist, whereas his wife (who protested an old-fashioned wedding and who insisted on keeping her birth name) was a vehement iconoclast who sought to break every tradition that the Periwinkles held near and dear.

Official Definition

"Hapless"

My master's thesis was basically a collection of hapless misadventures that I endured while trying to travel (and some of the trips were just a couple of hours from home!)

Official Definition

"Gargantuan"

I'll never forget the time I had to drive the old Lincoln on a three-hour trip. I didn't even try to parallel park that gargantuan vehicle. I pulled into an angle space and had my Mom deal with the town driving!

Official Definition

"Fastidious"

My mother is a fastidious blogger: each week she spends hours worrying over her Sunday Scribblings posts until she gets them perfected.

Official Definition

"Eclectic"

I have an eclectic taste in music; I think I like at least one song from any given genre, and I listen to a variety of radio stations. The catch is, I listen to different types of music when I'm in different types of moods.

Official Definition

"Daunt"

Cleaning my room after the holidays is going to be a daunting task; nevertheless, I will tackle the clutter, and hopefully win the battle!

Official Definition

"Candor"

Renee's friends appreciated her candor, but were often offended by the blunt statements she made regarding their choice of attire. Still, they decided that they'd rather hear them from her in a dressing room than from their dates at a restaurant.

Official Definition

"Beleaguer"

My poor mother was beleaguered last night for being late to the writing group and for bringing nothing to read. Alas, I was partaking in the teasing, as well.

Official Definition

"Abstinent"

The girl remained abstinent from alcohol at the party because she didn't want to offend her friends who were opposed to drinking.

Official Definition

"Zealous"

If my grandmother weren't so zealous about my finding work, I'm sure she wouldn't have suggested that I apply to a minimum-wage job. I know she's just looking out for me.

Official Definition

Yegg

Dashiell Hammett creates some interesting yeggs in The Maltese Falcon. Still, I believe his best characterization goes toward the novel's protagonist, Sam Spade.

Official Definition

"Xanthous"

Initially, when Blue said that the True Colour for New Year was due to be gold, I wondered what I had that would qualify. Then I realized that we have some xanthous Christmas decorations. I'd better start looking for some more gold-colored items (that are not of a holiday nature) so I'll be prepared for the next time gold rolls around on TCT!

Official Definition

"Wanderlust"

Making resolutions for the new year has rekindled my sense of wanderlust. Perhaps I'll begin a list of places I'd like to visit to accompany my list of resolutions this year.

Happy New Year, everyone!!!

Official Definition