COLLOQUIAL
adjective
1. characteristic of or appropriate to ordinary or
familiar conversation rather than formal speech or
writing; informal.
2. involving or using conversation.
Word Origin & History
1751, from colloquy "a conversation" (1459), from L. colloquium
"conference, conversation," from com- "together" + loqui "speak.“
Examples of COLLOQUIAL
<the new coworker's rudeness soon began—to use a colloquial expression—to rub me the
wrong way>
<a colloquial essay on what makes a marriage successful>
But I think part of this pickle that we're in—if I may be colloquial, even though I'm not
running for office—is that we've lost their sense of responsibility. —Sarah Vowell,
Entertainment Weekly, 24 Oct. 2008
Señora Kauper's Spanish classes
MISNOMER
noun
1 : the misnaming of a person in a legal instrument
2 a : a use of a wrong or inappropriate name
b : a wrong name or inappropriate designation
Origin of MISNOMER
Middle English misnoumer, from Anglo-French mesnomer, from mesmis- + nomer to name, from Latin nominare — more at nominate First
Known Use: 15th century
Examples of MISNOMER
“International Airport” is something of a misnomer, since almost all the arriving and
departing flights are local.
Señora Kauper's Spanish classes
STAUNCH
adjective, -er, -est.
1. firm or steadfast in principle, adherence, loyalty, etc., as
a person: a staunch Republican; a staunch friend.
2. characterized by firmness, steadfastness, or loyalty: He
delivered a staunch defense of the government.
3. strong; substantial: a staunch little hut in the woods.
4. impervious to water or other liquids; watertight: a
staunch vessel.
Word Origin & History
1412, "impervious to water," from O.Fr. estanche "firm, watertight," fem. of
estanc "dried, exhausted, wearied, vanquished," from V.L. *stanticare, probably
from L. stans (gen. stantis), prp. of stare "to stand," from PIE base *sta- "to
stand. Sense of "strong,
Señora Kauper's Spanish classes
VILIFICATION
adjective, -er, -est.
1. firm or steadfast in principle, adherence, loyalty, etc., as
a person: a staunch Republican; a staunch friend.
2. characterized by firmness, steadfastness, or loyalty: He
delivered a staunch defense of the government.
3. strong; substantial: a staunch little hut in the woods.
4. impervious to water or other liquids; watertight: a
staunch vessel.
Word Origin & History
vilify
mid-15c., "to lower in worth or value," from L.L. vilificare "to make cheap or
base," from L. vilis "cheap, base" (see vile) + root of facere "to make" (see
facticious). Meaning "to slander, speak evil of" is first recorded 1590s.
Related: Vilified, vilifying.
Examples of VILIFICATION
<warned that the constant vilification of candidates for public office was
undermining the people's faith in the political system
Señora Kauper's Spanish classes
ATROPHY
noun
1 : decrease in size or wasting away of a body part or
tissue; also : arrested development or loss of a part or
organ incidental to the normal development or life of an
animal or plant
2 : a wasting away or progressive decline <was not a
solitude of atrophy, of negation, but of perpetual flowering
— Willa Cather>
Origin of ATROPHY
Late Latin atrophia, from Greek, from atrophos ill fed, from a- + trephein to
nourish First Known Use: 1601
Examples of ATROPHY
The doctor is concerned about possible atrophy of the shoulder muscles.
Señora Kauper's Spanish classes
SOPHMORIC
Adjective
1. of or pertaining to a sophomore or sophomores.
2. suggestive of or resembling the traditional sophomore;
intellectually pretentious, overconfident, conceited, etc.,
but immature: sophomoric questions.
Origin:
1805–15, Americanism ; sophomore + -ic
Examples of SOPHOMORIC
His behavior at the party was sophomoric.
Example Sentences
It is curious that an editorial page so consistently self-righteous should stoop
to such a sophomoric stunt.
The editors allege that the administration is trying to muzzle the
sophomoric and often vulgar publication.
In all these cases, it seems to have an extremely inflated sense of
economic/nationalist pride that make it appear sophomoric.
Señora Kauper's Spanish classes
noun
ARCHIVES
1. Usually, archives. documents or records relating to the activities,
business dealings, etc., of a person, family, corporation, association,
community, or nation.
2. archives, a place where public records or other historical documents
are kept.
3. any extensive record or collection of data: The encyclopedia is an
archive of world history. The experience was sealed in the archive of
her memory.
Origin:
1595–1605; orig., as plural < French archives < Latin archī ( v ) a < Greek
archeîa, orig. plural of archeîon public office, equivalent to arch ( ḗ )
magistracy, office + -eion suffix of place
Example Sentences
When a museum can't afford many blockbuster exhibits, the archives come
into the spotlight.
The collapse of communism and the opening up of archives on both sides of the
iron curtain have helped.
Señora Kauper's Spanish classes
CLICHÉ
noun
1. a trite, stereotyped expression; a sentence or phrase, usually
expressing a popular or common thought or idea, that has lost
originality, ingenuity, and impact by long overuse, as sadder but
wiser, or strong as an ox.
2. (in art, literature, drama, etc.) a trite or hackneyed plot,
character development, use of color, musical expression, etc.
3. anything that has become trite or commonplace through
overuse.
Origin:
1825–35; < French: stereotype plate, stencil, cliché, noun use of past participle
of clicher to make such a plate, said to be imitative of the sound of the metal
pressed against the matrix
Cultural Dictionary
cliché definition
A much used expression that has lost its freshness and descriptive power.
Some clichés are “I thank you from
the bottom
of my heart” and “It's only a
Señora Kauper's
Spanish classes
drop in the bucket.”
INGRATE
noun
1. an ungrateful person.
Origin of INGRATE
Latin ingratus ungrateful, from in- + gratus grateful — more at grace
Example Sentences
Only an ingrate would question his casting decisions.
Undoubtedly he is painted as a clever young man, but he is latterly a reckless
flirt and an obnoxious ingrate.
But heaven forbid some young ingrate exercises their right to protest against
their government's actions.
Señora Kauper's Spanish classes
PROTÉGÉ
Noun
And you were
a person under the patronage, protection,
or care
complaining
aboutof
someone interested in his or her career
or welfare.
Spanish
and its
accents, LOOK, Double
accents [French]
Origin:
1780–90; < French, noun use of past participle of protéger to protect < Latin
prōtegere. See protect
Examples of PROTÉGÉ
He was a protégé of the great composer.
Señora Kauper's Spanish classes
reprehensible
— adj
open to criticism or rebuke; blameworthy
Examples of REPREHENSIBLE
<a reprehensible tyrant, who oppressed his country for decades, has
finally been brought to justice>
<your behavior towards the other team was truly reprehensible, so
you're being suspended from the next three games>
Synonyms
culpable.
Antonyms
praiseworthy.
[C14: from Late Latin reprehensibilis , from Latin reprehendere to hold
back, reprove; see reprehend ]
TANGENT
—n
1. a geometric line, curve, plane, or curved surface that touches
another curve or surface at one point but does not intersect it
2. tan (of an angle) a trigonometric function that in a right-angled
triangle is the ratio of the length of the opposite side to that of
the adjacent side; the ratio of sine to cosine
3. the straight part on a survey line between curves
4. music a part of the action of a clavichord consisting of a small
piece of metal that strikes the string to produce a note
5. on a tangent , at a tangent on a completely different or
divergent course, esp of thought: to go off at a tangent
— adj
6. a. of or involving a tangent b. touching at a single point
7. touching
8. almost irrelevant [
C16: from Latin phrase līnea tangēns the touching line, from
tangere to touch]
NUANCE
noun,
plural -anc·es
1. a subtle difference or distinction in expression,
meaning, response, etc.
2. a very slight difference or variation in color or tone
Origin:
1775–85; < French: shade, hue, equivalent to nu ( er ) to shade
(literally, to cloud < Vulgar Latin *nūbāre, derivative of *nūba, for
Latin nūbēs cloud) + -ance -ance
KINDLE
verb (used with object) 1. to start (a fire); cause (a flame,
blaze, etc.) to begin burning.
2. to set fire to or ignite (fuel or any combustible matter).
3. to excite; stir up or set going; animate; rouse; inflame: He
kindled their hopes of victory.
4. to light up, illuminate, or make bright: Happiness kindled
her eyes.
verb (used without object) 5. to begin to burn, as
combustible matter, a light, fire, or flame.
6. to become aroused or animated.
7. to become lighted up, bright, or glowing, as the sky at
dawn or the eyes with ardor.
Origin:
1150–1200; Middle English kindlen < Old Norse
kynda; compare Old Norse kindill torch, candle
BIGOT
noun
a person who is utterly intolerant of any
differing creed, belief, or opinion
Origin:
1590–1600; < Middle French ( Old French:
derogatory name applied by the French to the
Normans), perhaps < Old English bī God by God
PLACID
adjective
pleasantly calm or peaceful; unruffled; tranquil;
serenely quiet or undisturbed: placid waters.
Origin:
1620–30; < Latin placidus calm, quiet, akin to
placēre to please (orig., to calm); see -id4
Example Sentences
Even placid Oman is being dragged into the row.
The colonial society seems placid, prospering at a
Neolithic level, with the world populated by small
farming villages.
His demeanor was as placid as that of a midnight
watchman finishing his shift.
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ABHOR
verb (used with object), -horred, -hor·ring.
to regard with extreme repugnance or aversion; detest
utterly; loathe; abominate.
Origin:
1400–50; late Middle English < Latin abhorrēre to shrink
back from, shudder at, equivalent to ab- ab- + horrēre to
bristle, tremble
Example Sentences
While I absolutely abhor his views, he has a right to
them.
Nature may abhor a vacuum, but human beings
abhor disorder.
Uncertainty — which investors abhor — is in greater
abundance.
Señora Kauper's Spanish class
ENFRANCHISE
verb (used with object), -chised, -chis·ing.
1. to grant a franchise to; admit to citizenship, especially to the right of
voting.
2. to endow (a city, constituency, etc.) with municipal or parliamentary
rights.
3. to set free; liberate, as from slavery.
Origin:
1505–15; < Middle French, Old French enfranchiss- (long stem of
enfranchir to free), equivalent to en- en-1 + franch- free ( see frank1 ) + iss- ish
Example Sentences
The effort could enfranchise millions of people who have lived in this
country for years without seeking citizenship.
His strategy was to create public jobs for the unemployed, enfranchise labor
and expand the minimum wage.
In a direct presidential election, any state that chose to enfranchise its
women would have automatically doubled its clout.
Señora Kauper's Spanish class
HAMPER
verb (used with object)
1. to hold back; hinder; impede: A steady rain hampered the progress of the
work.
2. to interfere with; curtail: The dancers' movements were hampered by
their elaborate costumes.
Noun
1. a large basket or wickerwork receptacle, usually with a cover: picnic
hamper; clothes hamper.
Origin:
1300–50; Middle English hampren; akin to Old English hamm enclosure,
hemm hem1
Example Sentences
Attacks by pirates are common and hamper the delivery of food aid.
High winds, powerful waves and difficult currents hamper operations.
His only outlets are running around his neighborhood or burrowing into the
depths of the clothes hamper.
Señora Kauper's Spanish class
NOXIOUS
adjective
1. harmful or injurious to health or physical well-being: noxious fumes.
2. morally harmful; corrupting; pernicious: a noxious plan to spread
dissension
Origin:
1605–15; < Latin noxius harmful, hurtful, injurious, equivalent to nox ( a )
harm, hurt, injury (akin to nocēre to do harm, inflict injury; see innocent) + ius -ious
Example Sentences
These chemicals can make plants smell good or, alternately, noxious.
She got him to eat his peas, whenever the noxious legume appeared on his
plate, by paying him $5.
The noxious gas was the result of the impact
Señora Kauper's Spanish class
BILK
verb (used with object)
1. to defraud; cheat: He bilked the government of almost
a million dollars.
2. to evade payment of (a debt).
3. to frustrate: a career bilked by poor health.
4. to escape from; elude: to bilk one's pursuers.
noun
5. a cheat; swindler.
6. a trick; fraud; deceit.
Word Origin & History
bilk
1650s, from the noun (1630s), first used as a cribbage term. Origin
obscure, it was believed in 17c. to be "a word signifying nothing,"
perhaps of Arabic origin; but it is rather perhaps a thinned form of balk.
Meaning "to defraud" is first recorded 1670s.
Señora Kauper's Spanish class
ABRASIVE
noun
1. any material or substance used for grinding,
polishing, etc., as emery, pumice, or sandpaper.
adjective
2. tending to abrade; causing abrasion; abrading.
3. tending to annoy or cause ill will; overly aggressive: an
abrasive personality
Origin:
1870–75; < Latin abrās ( us ) ( see abrasion) + -ive
Señora Kauper's Spanish class
NUANCE
noun,
plural -anc·es
1. a subtle difference or distinction in expression,
meaning, response, etc.
2. a very slight difference or variation in color or
tone
Origin:
1775–85; < French: shade, hue, equivalent to nu ( er ) to shade
(literally, to cloud < Vulgar Latin *nūbāre, derivative of
*nūba, for Latin nūbēs cloud) + -ance -ance
KINDLE
verb (used with object)
1. to start (a fire); cause (a flame, blaze, etc.) to begin burning.
2. to set fire to or ignite (fuel or any combustible matter).
3. to excite; stir up or set going; animate; rouse; inflame: He
kindled their hopes of victory.
4. to light up, illuminate, or make bright: Happiness kindled her
eyes.
verb (used without object)
5. to begin to burn, as combustible matter, a light, fire, or flame.
6. to become aroused or animated.
7. to become lighted up, bright, or glowing, as the sky at dawn or
the eyes with ardor.
Origin:
1150–1200; Middle English kindlen < Old Norse kynda; compare
Old Norse kindill torch, candle
BIGOT
noun
a person who is utterly intolerant of any
differing creed, belief, or opinion
Origin:
1590–1600; < Middle French ( Old French:
derogatory name applied by the French to the
Normans), perhaps < Old English bī God by God
TANGENT
—n
1. a geometric line, curve, plane, or curved surface that touches
another curve or surface at one point but does not intersect it
2. tan (of an angle) a trigonometric function that in a right-angled
triangle is the ratio of the length of the opposite side to that of
the adjacent side; the ratio of sine to cosine
3. the straight part on a survey line between curves
4. music a part of the action of a clavichord consisting of a small
piece of metal that strikes the string to produce a note
5. on a tangent , at a tangent on a completely different or
divergent course, esp of thought: to go off at a tangent
— adj
6. a. of or involving a tangent b. touching at a single point
7. touching
8. almost irrelevant [
C16: from Latin phrase līnea tangēns the touching line, from
tangere to touch]
ABASEMENT
abase
— vb
1. to humble or belittle (oneself, etc)
2. 2. to lower or reduce, as in rank or estimation [
a'basement — n
Noun
1. abasement - a low or downcast state; "each confession
brought her into an attitude of abasement“
2. abasement - depriving one of selfesteem
humiliation
degradation, debasement - changing to a lower state (a less
respected state)
comedown - decline to a lower status or level
[Middle English abassen, from Old French abaissier : Latin
ad-, ad- + Vulgar Latin *bassire (from Medieval Latin bassus,
low).]
BILLOWING
n.
1. A large wave or swell of water.
2. A great swell, surge, or undulating mass, as of smoke or
sound.
v. bil·lowed, bil·low·ing, bil·lows
v.intr.
1. To surge or roll in billows.
2. To swell out or bulge: sheets billowing in the breeze.
v.tr. To cause to billow: wind that billowed the sails.
Word Origin & History
billow
1550s, perhaps older in dialectal use, from O.N. bylgja "a
wave," from P.Gmc. *bulgjan (cf. M.H.G. bulge "billow,
bag"), from PIE *bhelgh- "to swell" (see belly). Related:
Billowing; billowy.
NULLIFY
verb (used with object), -fied, -fy·ing.
1. to render or declare legally void or
inoperative: to nullify a contract.
2. to deprive (something) of value or
effectiveness; make futile or of no
consequence.
Origin:
1585–95; < Late Latin nūllificāre to despise.
See nulli-, -fy
ENIGMA
noun, plural -mas, -ma·ta
1. a puzzling or inexplicable occurrence or
situation: His disappearance is an enigma that has
given rise to much speculation.
2. a person of puzzling or contradictory character:
To me he has always been an enigma, one minute
completely insensitive, the next moved to tears.
3. a saying, question, picture, etc., containing a
hidden meaning; riddle.
Origin:
1530–40; < Latin aenigma < Greek
aínigma, equivalent to ainik- (stem of
ainíssesthai to speak in riddles, derivative of
aînos fable) + -ma noun suffix of result
reprehensible
— adj
open to criticism or rebuke; blameworthy
Examples of REPREHENSIBLE
<a reprehensible tyrant, who oppressed his country for decades, has
finally been brought to justice>
<your behavior towards the other team was truly reprehensible, so
you're being suspended from the next three games>
Synonyms
culpable.
Antonyms
praiseworthy.
[C14: from Late Latin reprehensibilis , from Latin reprehendere to
hold back, reprove; see reprehend ]
BLATANT
adjective
1. brazenly obvious; flagrant: a blatant error in simple
addition; a blatant lie.
2. offensively noisy or loud; clamorous: blatant radios.
3. tastelessly conspicuous: the blatant colors of the
dress.
Origin:
coined by Spenser in 1596; compare Latin blatīre to
babble, prate, blaterāre to talk foolishly, babble
OBDURATE
adjective
1. unmoved by persuasion, pity, or tender feelings;
stubborn; unyielding.
2. stubbornly resistant to moral influence;
persistently impenitent: an obdurate sinner.
Origin:
1400–50; late Middle English obdurat < Latin
obdūrātus (past participle of obdūrāre to harden),
equivalent to ob- ob- + dūr ( us ) hard + -ātus -ate1
RESCIND
verb (used with object)
1. to abrogate; annul; revoke; repeal.
2. to invalidate (an act, measure, etc.) by a later
action or a higher authority
Origin:
1630–40; < Latin rescindere to tear off again, cut
away, equivalent to re- re- + scindere to tear, divide,
destroy
ENSCONCE
verb (used with object),
1. to settle securely or snugly: I found her in the
library, ensconced in an armchair.
2. to cover or shelter; hide securely: He ensconced
himself in the closet in order to eavesdrop.
HASTEN
verb
1. [no object, with infinitive] be quick to do
something: he hastened to refute the
assertion
2. [with adverbial of direction] move or travel
hurriedly: we hastened back to Paris
3. [with object] cause (something, especially
something undesirable) to happen sooner than
it otherwise would: this tragedy probably
hastened his own death from heart disease
Origin:
mid 16th century: extended form of haste, on
the pattern of verbs in -en1
Laceration
noun
a deep cut or tear, especially in skin; a gash: he
suffered lacerations to his head and face
[mass noun] the action of lacerating something,
especially skin.
Origin:
1590–1600; < Latin lacerātiōn- (stem of
lacerātiō ). See lacerate, -ion
Plausible
Adjective
1. having an appearance of truth or reason;
seemingly worthy of approval or acceptance;
credible; believable: a plausible excuse; a
plausible plot.
2. well-spoken and apparently, but often
deceptively, worthy of confidence or trust: a
plausible commentator.
Origin:
1535–45; < Latin plausibilis deserving applause,
equivalent to plaus
BOORISH
GROSERO
Adjective
of or like a boor; unmannered; crude;
insensitive.
Synonyms
coarse, uncouth, loutish, churlish.
Boorish, oafish, rude, uncouth all
describe persons, acts, manners, or
mannerisms that violate in some way
the generally accepted canons of polite,
considerate behavior.
TERSE
TERSE
Adjective
terse
1.: smoothly elegant : polished
adjective
2 : using few words : devoid of superfluity <a terse summary>;
tersest
alsoterser,
: short, brusque
<dismissed me with a terse “no”>
Examples
of TERSE of TERSE
Translation
She gave me a few terse instructions and promptly left the
: lacónico, conciso, seco
room.
<could tell from his terse replies to my questions that he was
in no mood to talk>
Everything about him is tidy, from his terse wit to the flecks
of gray hair that fall in precise iterations around the edges of
his scalp
Origin:
Latin tersus clean, neat, from past participle of tergēre to
wipe off
OBSCURE
Adjective
a : dark, dim
b : shrouded in or hidden by darkness
c : not clearly seen or easily distinguished : faint <obscure
markings>
d: not readily understood or clearly expressed;
transitive verb
1 : to make dark, dim, or indistinct
2 : to conceal or hide by or as if by covering
Examples of OBSCURE
The movie is full of obscure references that only pop
culture enthusiasts will understand.
The origins of the language are obscure.
Origin of OBSCURE
Middle English, from Anglo-French oscur, obscur,
from Latin obscurus
AMBIVALENCE
NOUN
1 : simultaneous and contradictory attitudes or feelings (as
attraction and repulsion) toward an object, person, or action
2 a : continual fluctuation (as between one thing and its
opposite) b : uncertainty as to which approach to follow
— am·biv·a·lent \-lənt\ adjective
— am·biv·a·lent·ly adverb
ambivalencia feminine
•The reaction of the american public to the invasion of
iraq reveals a startling ambivalence to war in
contemporary times.
•Clearly, the historical turn of events from non-violence
to nuclear armament, suggest a deep ambivalence about
mahatma gandhi's legacy.
Ejemplificar, ilustrar,demostrar
EXEMPLIFY
verb (used with object),
1. to show or illustrate by example .
2. to furnish or serve as an example of: The plays of Wilde
exemplify the comedy of manners.
3. Law . to transcribe or copy; make an attested copy of (a
document) under seal.
Origin:
1375–1425; late Middle English exemplifien < Middle French
exemplifier < Medieval Latin exemplificāre to copy.
Examples of EXEMPLIFY
His works exemplify the taste of the period.
The city's economic growth is exemplified by the many
new buildings that are currently under construction.
Lúcido, claro
LUCID
ADJECTIVE
1 a : suffused with light : luminous b : translucent <snorkeling
in the lucid sea>
2 : having full use of one's faculties : sane
3 : clear to the understanding : intelligible
Origin of LUCID
Latin lucidus, from lucēre (see lucent) First Known Use: 1591
•He is able to recognize his wife in his lucid moments.
.
•<those
lucid bands that spread across the arctic sky
and are known as the northern lights>
ORNATE
ELABORADO,
RECARGADO
ADJECTIVE / NOUN
Definition of ORNATE
1 : marked by elaborate rhetoric or florid style
2 : elaborately or excessively decorated
Origin of ORNATE
Middle English ornat, from Latin ornatus, past participle of
ornare to furnish, embellish; akin to Latin ordo order
Examples of ORNATE
.
•She
doesn't like ornate jewelry.
•<an ornate gambling casino that is designed to look like
an Italian palace>
AMBULATORY
Adjective
1. of, pertaining to, or capable of walking: an ambulatory exploration of the
countryside.
2. adapted for walking, as the limbs of many animals.
3. moving about or from place to place; not stationary: an ambulatory tribe.
Noun
6. Also called deambulatory. Architecture . a. an aisle surrounding the end of
the choir or chancel of a church.
b. the covered walk of a cloister.
Origin:
1615–25; < Latin ambulātōrius, equivalent to ambulā-, stem of ambulāre 1
Example Sentences
He was delirious for days, trying to get up when he was not ambulatory or even able to support
himself sitting up.
Intensive breeding for rapid growth is responsible for their ambulatory problems
.
CAPACIOUS
Adjective
: amplio, espacioso, de gran
capacidad
: containing or capable of containing a great
deal
— ca·pa·cious·ly adverb
— ca·pa·cious·ness noun
Origin of CAPACIOUS
Latin capac-, capax capacious, capable, from Latin capere
Example Sentences
That car has a capacious trunk that makes it a good choice for families.
.
DESECRATE
verb (used with object), -crat·ed, -crat·ing.
1. to divest of sacred or hallowed character or office.
2. to divert from a sacred to a profane use or purpose.
3. to treat with sacrilege; profane
Example Sentences
•He wonders whether the people will honor or desecrate his corpse after he dies.
•Area tribes have said the project would desecrate submerged ancestral burial sites.
.
PRECIPITOUS
Adjective
1 : very steep
▪ a precipitous slope
2 : happening in a very quick and sudden way
▪ There has been a precipitous decline/drop in home
sales recently. ▪ People were shocked by his precipitous
fall from political power.
3 : done too quickly and without enough thought or
planning
▪ a precipitous [=precipitate] action
Origin of PRECIPITOUS
French précipiteux, from Middle French, from Latin
precipitium precipice First Known Use: 1646
Apathetic
adjective
1. having or showing little or no emotion: apathetic behavior.
2. not interested or concerned; indifferent or unresponsive: an
apathetic audience.
Example Sentences
Early in their routine at center court, the crowd seemed to be
unimpressed, almost apathetic.
At least they're engaged and not apathetic.
The reaction among voters has been apathetic or downright
hostile.
Señora Kauper's Spanish class