Word of the Day Archive/October 2000
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castigate:
to punish or criticize severely.
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aver:
to assert as true.
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lucre:
money; profit.
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epigone:
an inferior imitator.
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imbue:
to dye; to instill profoundly.
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rictus:
a gaping grin or grimace.
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nostrum:
a medicine whose effectiveness is unproved; a questionable remedy.
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scintilla:
a tiny amount; a spark.
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ergo:
therefore; consequently.
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animus:
a feeling of ill will; also, animating spirit; disposition.
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ignoramus:
an ignorant person; a dunce.
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interregnum:
the interval between two reigns; also, any breach of continuity in an
order.
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lexicography:
the writing or compiling of dictionaries.
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circumambient:
surrounding; encompassing.
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purdah:
a state of seclusion.
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proscribe:
to forbid; to prohibit.
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cadre:
a core or nucleus of trained or otherwise qualified personnel around which
an organization is formed.
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titivate:
to smarten up; to spruce.
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bromide:
a commonplace or conventional saying.
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orotund:
full in sound; also, pompous.
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pertinacious:
obstinate; also, stubbornly persistent.
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Promethean:
of or pertaining to Prometheus; also, boldly original.
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extraneous:
coming from the outside; also, not essential; also,
irrelevant.
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amity:
friendship.
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pettifogger:
a petty, unscrupulous lawyer; also, one who quibbles over trivia.
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mountebank:
a quack; also, a charlatan.
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apparition:
a ghost; also, an unexpected appearance.