Tuesday, June 30, 2009

"Badinage"

The witty badinage continued until the boy tired of his girlfriend's sarcastic remarks.

Official Definition

Monday, June 29, 2009

"Clandestine"

The clandestine organization was brought to the surface when one of its members leaked information to the outside world. Then the little boys had to open up their clubhouse to their little sisters, 'cuz Mom said so.

Official Definition

Sunday, June 28, 2009

"Orotund"

The preacher's orotund speaking ability entranced those around him. Even when he wasn't in the pulpit.

Official Definition

Saturday, June 27, 2009

"Quidnunc"

The young girls at the water cooler were no match for the quidnunc Bob, who seemed to always know the latest scandals--mainly because he was always directly involved in them.

Official Definition

Friday, June 26, 2009

"Encomium"

So often, when people try to give an encomium, the praise comes across sounding insincere.

Official Definition

Thursday, June 25, 2009

"Sough"

With a sough of yearning and sadness, the young woman watched her former love repeat his vows to another woman--and that's when I turned off the TV.

Official Definition

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

"Daedal"

Not everyone appreciates the daedal pyramid at the Louvre.

Official Definition

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

"Pule"

Hearing a kitten pule, my dad went on a search and rescue mission and brought her back, safe and sound.

Official Definition

Monday, June 22, 2009

"Copse"

Frightened by the noise of nearby traffic, the rabbits dashed into the safety of a small copse of grasses and brush.

Official Definition

Sunday, June 21, 2009

"Tutelary"

Raised to believe that St. Christopher was the tutelary of travel, his namesake always brought his St. Christopher medal along with him on any trips he took, long or short.

Official Definition

Saturday, June 20, 2009

"Ebullient"

The evangelist's ebullient tent meeting revival brought in crowds of people from miles around.

Official Definition

Friday, June 19, 2009

"Nimiety"

A poster child of nimiety, he always went further in debt to try to buy friendships with elaborate and exotic gifts.

Official Definition

Thursday, June 18, 2009

"Prescience"

Believing in the prescience of fortune-tellers, the young girl had an amateur read her cards; unfortunately for her, the amateur grabbed the wrong stack, and thus, the young girl got her playing cards read.

Official Definition

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

"Gravid"

The gravid mother cat's belly dragged the ground when she walked.

Official Definition

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

"Salutary"

During the summer months, she practices salutary diet and exercise habits; in the winter, she lets herself go, indulging in all sorts of pies, cookies, cocoas, and coffees.

Official Definition

Monday, June 15, 2009

"Effulgence"

The effulgence of the carnival lights made the children dizzy with delight.

Official Definition

Sunday, June 14, 2009

"Aver"

The child will always aver that his opinion is right and his mother's is wrong.

Official Definition

Saturday, June 13, 2009

"Prestidigitation"

The children were awed by the magician's prestidigitation at the school carnival.

Official Definition

Friday, June 12, 2009

"Megrim"

My friend finally decided to see the doctor when her megrim was so bad that she nearly passed out just walking to class.

Official Definition

Thursday, June 11, 2009

"Redivivus"

Sometimes I think dictionary.com likes to feature archaic words redivivus.

Official Definition

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

"Disport"

The children miraculously found ways to disport themselves during the long days of summer vacation.

Official Definition

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

"Paragon"

The model student was to be a paragon of excellence and an inspiration to the entire student body, but the pressure became too much and he dropped out of school.

Official Definition

Monday, June 8, 2009

"Tergiversation"

His tergiversation on the capital punishment issue was a factor in his failing the persuasive argument assignment in composition class.

Official Definition

Sunday, June 7, 2009

"Oneiric"

Sometimes the oneiric world is pleasant, but oftentimes it is frightening.

Official Definition

Saturday, June 6, 2009

"Mores"

Nobody stopped to consider that the social club's mores were a little bizarre; it had become tradition to begin each meeting by throwing a glass of water on one's head, and the meetings degenerated from there.

Official Definition

Friday, June 5, 2009

"Abstemious"

Though the wide array of desserts tempted her, she remained abstemious and only chose one low-fat fruit dish.

Official Definition

Thursday, June 4, 2009

"Pother"

Choosing a motto for the new English club created such a pother than the club's president adjourned the meeting to another time and inserted one of his own quotes into the newsletter's letterhead.

Official Definition

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

"Espy"

Good thing I watched that episode of Monty Python; I am now able to espy a larch tree from quite a long way away.

Official Definition

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

"Hortatory"

I recently finished reading about Elmer Gantry and his hortatory sermons.

Official Definition

Monday, June 1, 2009

"Cosset"

His mother thought it best to cosset him all his life; the poor guy never did learn to be independent or think for himself.

Official Definition