Propitiate November 27, 2009
Posted by Michael W. Ollinger in Verbs.Tags: 16th, Latin
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My attempts to propitiate the crying baby with candy were foiled by the child’s over-protective parents.
Main Entry: pro·pi·ti·ate
Pronunciation: (proh pih shee ayt)
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): pro·pi·ti·at·ed; pro·pi·ti·at·ing
Etymology: Latin propitiatus, past participle of propitiare, from propitius propitious
Date: 1583
: to gain or regain the favor or goodwill of : appease
Leery November 26, 2009
Posted by Michael W. Ollinger in Adjectives.Tags: 19th
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Even after years of counseling, Margaret always remained leery of clowns; nothing could erase Mr. Binky’s big red nose from her memory.
Main Entry: leery
Variant(s): also leary
Pronunciation: (lihr ree)
Function: adjective
Date: 1896
: suspicious, wary —often used with of
Latent November 25, 2009
Posted by Michael W. Ollinger in Adjectives.Tags: 15th, Greek, Latin, Middle English
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Jill’s latent desire to be a back-up dancer for Madonna only showed itself after a few too many glasses of egg nog at the company Christmas party.
Main Entry: la·tent
Pronunciation: (lay tehnt)
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin latent-, latens, from present participle of latēre to lie hidden; akin to Greek lanthanein to escape notice
Date: 15th century
: present and capable of becoming though not now visible, obvious, active, or symptomatic
Augury November 24, 2009
Posted by Michael W. Ollinger in Verbs.Tags: 14th, French
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It’s a shame that journalists’ pre-season augury for Ole Miss turned out to be so wrong.
Main Entry: au·gu·ry
Pronunciation: (aw guh ree)
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural au·gu·ries
Date: 14th century
*1 : divination from auspices or omens; also : an instance of this
2 : omen, portent
*Indicates meaning used in sentence.
Doctrinaire November 23, 2009
Posted by Michael W. Ollinger in Adjectives.Tags: 19th, French
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My doctrinaire dentist insisted on drilling without any sort of analgesia because a keynote from the last dental conference he attended spouted some applesauce that novacaine hurt more than the drilling itself.
Main Entry: doc·tri·naire
Pronunciation: (dahk truh nayr)
Function: adjective
Date: 1834
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a doctrinaire, one who attempts to put into effect an abstract doctrine or theory with little or no regard for practical difficulties
Diurnal November 20, 2009
Posted by Michael W. Ollinger in Adjectives.Tags: 14th, Latin, Middle English
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My diurnal urge to dance subsides as soon as the sun sets.
Main Entry: di·ur·nal
Pronunciation: (die uhr nuhl)
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin diurnalis — more at journal
Date: 14th century
1 a : recurring every day b : having a daily cycle
*2 a : of, relating to, or occurring in the daytime b : active chiefly in the daytime c : opening during the day and closing at night
*Indicates meaning used in sentence.
Dither November 19, 2009
Posted by Michael W. Ollinger in Verbs.Tags: 15th, Middle English
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We’re all worried that Susan is dithering on what to do with her life; having gone from firefighting to stripping, the only common bond between her last two jobs is a pole.
Main Entry: dith·er
Pronunciation: (dihth er)
Function: intransitive verb
Inflected Form(s): dith·ered; dith·er·ing \-th(ə-)riŋ\
Etymology: Middle English didderen
Date: 15th century
1 : shiver, tremble
*2 : to act nervously or indecisively : vacillate
*Indicates meaning used in sentence.
Austere November 18, 2009
Posted by Michael W. Ollinger in Adjectives.Tags: 14th, Anglo-French, Latin, Middle English
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The new hire’s austere countenance misled me into believing that Tony was in the office to “kick ass and take names” instead of his true purpose, which was to water the plants and refill the vending machines.
Main Entry: aus·tere
Pronunciation: (aw steer)
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin austerus, from Greek austēros harsh, severe; akin to Greek hauos dry — more at sere
Date: 14th century
*1 a : stern and cold in appearance or manner b : somber, grave
2 : morally strict : ascetic
3 : markedly simple or unadorned
4 : giving little or no scope for pleasure
5 of a wine : having the flavor of acid or tannin predominant over fruit flavors usually indicating a capacity for aging
*Indicates meaning used in sentence.
Amortize November 17, 2009
Posted by Michael W. Ollinger in Verbs.Tags: 19th, Latin, Middle English
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Dougie was able to amortize his gambling debts to La Cosa Nostra partly through mowing the Godfather’s lawns.
Main Entry: am·or·tize
Pronunciation: (uh mohr tiez)
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): am·or·tized; am·or·tiz·ing
Etymology: Middle English amortisen to kill, alienate in mortmain, from Anglo-French amorteser, alteration of amortir, from Vulgar Latin *admortire to kill, from Latin ad- + mort-, mors death — more at murder
Date: 1867
1 : to pay off (as a mortgage) gradually usually by periodic payments of principal and interest or by payments to a sinking fund
*2 : to gradually reduce or write off the cost or value of (as an asset)
*Indicates meaning used in sentence.
Lapidary November 16, 2009
Posted by Michael W. Ollinger in Adjectives.Tags: 18th, Latin
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After pressure from his long-time girlfriend, Jeff begrudgingly consulted a lapidary guide for more information on engagement rings.
Main Entry: lapidary
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin lapidarius of stone, from lapid-, lapis stone
Date: 1724
1 : having the elegance and precision associated with inscriptions on monumental stone
2 a : sculptured in or engraved on stone *b : of, relating to, or suggestive of precious stones or the art of cutting them
*Indicates meaning used in sentence.
