Category Archives: family matters

Word of the Day January 19, 2019

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intransigent

also intransigeant  (ĭn-trăn′sə-jənt, -zə-)

adj.

Refusing to moderate a position, especially an extreme position; uncompromising.
[French intransigeant, from Spanish intransigente : in-, not (from Latin; see in-1) + transigente, present participle of transigir, to compromise (from Latin trānsigere, to come to an agreement : trāns-, trans- + agere, to drive; see ag- in Indo-European roots).]
in·tran′si·gence, in·tran′si·gen·cy n.
in·tran′si·gent n.
in·tran′si·gent·ly adv.

Word of the Day, December 29, 2018

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whimsical

(wĭm′zĭ-kəl, hwĭm′-)

adj.

1. Characterized by, arising from, or subject to whimsy: a whimsical decision.
2. Playful or fanciful, especially in a humorous way: “The episodic book is memorable for its … whimsical animal dialogue” (Peter D. Sieruta).
[From whimsy.]
whim′si·cal·ly adv.

Word of the Day December 8, 2018

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turgid

(tûr′jĭd)

adj.

1. Excessively ornate or complex in style or language; grandiloquent: turgid prose.
2. Swollen or distended, as from a fluid; bloated: a turgid bladder; turgid veins.
[Latin turgidus, from turgēre, to be swollen.]
tur·gid′i·ty, tur′gid·ness n.
tur′gid·ly adv.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Cite: http://www.freedictionary.com

Word of the Day- December 1, 2018

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elucidate

 (ĭ-lo͞o′sĭ-dāt′)

v. e·lu·ci·dat·ed, e·lu·ci·dat·ing, e·lu·ci·dates
v.tr.

To make clear or plain, especially by explanation; clarify. See Synonyms at explain.
v.intr.

To explain or clarify something: She gave a one-word answer and refused to elucidate any further.
[Late Latin ēlūcidāre, ēlūcidāt- : Latin ē-, ex-, intensive pref.; see ex- + Latin lūcidus, bright (from lūcēre, to shine; see leuk- in Indo-European roots).]
e·lu′ci·da′tion n.
e·lu′ci·da′tive adj.
e·lu′ci·da′tor n.

Word of the Day, November 24, 2018

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sumptuous

adj.

Of a size or splendor suggesting great expense; lavish: “He likes big meals, so I cook sumptuous ones” (Anaïs Nin).
[Middle English, from Old French sumptueux, from Latin sūmptuōsus, from sūmptus, expense; see sumptuary.]
sump′tu·ous·lyadv.
sump′tu·ous·ness n.
CITE: http://www.freedictionary.com

Word of the Day November 17, 2018

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propitiation

noun

pro·​pi·​ti·​a·​tion | \prō-ˌpi-shē-ˈā-shən \

Definition of propitiation 

1 : the act of propitiating

2 : something that propitiates specifically : an atoning sacrifice

Examples of propitiation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The scapegoat, as defined in the Book of Leviticus, is a propitiation. — Sarah Jones, New Republic, “The Mental Health Scapegoat,” 16 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word ‘propitiation.’ Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors.

Word of the Day October 27, 2018

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fiduciary

adj.

1.

a. Of or relating to a duty of acting in good faith with regard to the interests of another: a company’s fiduciary responsibility to investors.
b. Of or being a trustee or trusteeship.
c. Held in trust.
2. Of or consisting of fiat money.
3. Of, relating to, or being a system of marking in the field of view of an optical instrument that is used as a reference point or measuring scale.

Word of the Day October 20, 2018

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throng

NOUN
  1. a large, densely packed crowd of people or animals.
    “he pushed his way through the throng” ·

    [more]
    synonyms:
    crowd · mass · multitude · horde · host · mob · assemblage · gathering ·

    [more]
VERB
  1. (of a crowd) fill or be present in (a place or area).
    “a crowd thronged the station” ·

    [more]
    synonyms:
    pack (into) · cram (into) · jam · fill · press into · squeeze into · mob ·

    [more]