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inveigle March 17, 2015 verb \in-VAY-gul\ Definition 1 : to win over by wiles : entice 2 : to acquire by ingenuity or flattery : wangle (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Examples I was relieved when I finally managed to inveigle her assistant into fitting me into her schedule. "… but now the industry is headed down a path where more loathsome strategies are being put in place to inveigle consumers...

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(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); gibe March 14, 2015 verb \JYBE\ Definition 1 : to utter taunting words 2 : to deride or tease with taunting words Examples "I had read every piece he had written in the last five years. I playfullygibed him about obscure predictions he had made years ago in other articles, and was prepared to thoughtfully discuss his most recent column." — Keith Ferrazzi, Never Eat Alone, 2005"The Gridiron Show...

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nonage March 13, 2015 noun \NAH-nij\ Definition 1 : minority 2 a : a period of youthb : lack of maturity Examples "Enlightenment is man's emergence from his self-imposed nonage. … This nonage is self-imposed if its cause lies not in lack of understanding but in indecision and lack of courage to use one's own mind without another's guidance." — Immanuel Kant, "What is Enlightenment?" (1784), translated by Mary C. Smith "[Adolf]...

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mythomania March 12, 2015 noun \mith-uh-MAY-nee-uh\ Definition : an excessive or abnormal propensity for lying and exaggerating Examples The idea of trust is an important theme in the book; the reader is never sure of the extent of the protagonist's mythomania."The pathological liar … cannot help lying, even when the lie causes harm. It is this aspect of mythomania that distinguishes it as an illness rather than a habit." — Gloria Wall, Journal Review (Crawfordsville,...

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lucrative March 12, 2015 adjective \LOO-kruh-tiv\ (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Definition : producing wealth : profitable Examples The company announced plans to expand its manufacturing operations soon after it won a lucrative contract with the government."Many mistakenly believe they need to spend years in school … before they can start earning a decent salary; this is simply a misconception. In fact, there are a number...

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panjandrum March 10, 2015 noun \pan-JAN-drum\ Definition : a powerful personage or pretentious official (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Examples Little gets done in this town without the approval of the local panjandrumson the board of selectmen."Unexpectedly, this private sector panjandrum launched into a paean of praise for the public service ethos." — David Walker, The Guardian, January 30, 2015 Did You Know? Panjandrum looks...

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apple-polish March 10, 2015 verb \AP-ul-pah-lish\ Definition 1 : to attempt to ingratiate oneself : toady 2 : to curry favor with (as by flattery) Examples "There still might be time to apple-polish the boss." — Garry Smits, Florida Times-Union, October 30, 2008"One of the reasons unions (and step increases) exist is to eliminate cronyism or favoritism. No teacher has to apple-polish the principal to get a raise." — John Jones, Columbus...

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ilk March 06, 2015 noun \ILK\ Definition sort, kind Examples The hole beneath the stairs of the cabin's porch allows in squirrels, woodchucks, and other creatures of that ilk. "In many parts of the world, anyone who will ever buy a smartphone probably has done so, and now we're on to the steady business of buying a new one only when we break, lose, or need to replace our old phones. When analysts discuss growth predictions for cell phones and their ilk, they signal...

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sprightly March 05, 2015 adjective \SPRYTE-lee\      Definition 1 : marked by a cheerful lightness and vivacity (as of movement or manner) : spirited 2 : having a distinctively piquant taste Examples Uncle Jack, a sprightly man nearing 90, was an avid storyteller, and we all listened with rapt attention as he regaled us...

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thanatology March 04, 2015 noun \than-uh-TAH-luh-jee\ Definition:  the description or study of the phenomena of death and of psychological mechanisms for coping with them Examples One of the seminal texts on thanatology is Elisabeth Kübler-Ross's On Death and Dying, which outlines the five stages of grief. "In her eight-week yoga for grief course, Stang...

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(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); chatoyant March 03, 2015 adjective \shuh-TOY-unt\ Definition  having a changeable luster or color with an undulating narrow band of white light Examples "Suddenly he felt himself again in Carthage. There was a river there, too: not a little bolt of chatoyant silk like the Avon, which they would have called a 'crick' back there." — Rupert Hughes, "Momma" And Other Unimportant People, 1920"They had...

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macaroni March 02, 2015 noun \mak-uh-ROH-nee\ Definition 1 : pasta made from semolina and shaped in the form of slender tubes 2 : an affected young man : fop Examples One of Tracy's favorite comfort foods is homemade macaroni and cheese."He had been a macaroni of the eighteenth century, and the friend, in his youth, of Lord Ferrars."...

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pontificate March 01, 2015 verb \pahn-TIF-uh-kayt\ Definition 1 a : to officiate as a pontiffb : to celebrate pontifical mass 2 : to speak or express opinions in a pompous or dogmatic way Examples Stan loves to hear himself talk and will often pontificate on even the most trivial issues."Though the game was another dud—a Patriots' blowout of the hapless Colts—sports columnists worldwide were given a unique chance topontificate on,...

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rationale (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); February 28, 2015 noun \rash-uh-NAL\ Definition 1 : an explanation of controlling principles of opinion, belief, practice, or phenomena 2 : an underlying reason : basis Examples  The newspaper's editorial reflected the concerns of many who questioned the rationale behind the...

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Word of the Day captious February 27, 2015 adjective \KAP-shuss\ Definition 1 : marked by an often ill-natured inclination to stress faults and raise objections 2 : calculated to confuse, entrap, or entangle in argument Examples Befuddled by the captious question, the suspect broke down and confessed to the crime. "During the past 15 years Mr. Maxwell has established himself as one of the few sui generis voices in experimental theater, and like all...

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Word of the Day gourmand Pronunciation \GOOR-mahnd\ Definition  noun 1 : one who is excessively fond of eating and drinking 2 : one who is heartily interested in good food and drink Examples Uncle Gerald was a bit of a gourmand; he traveled far and wide to the finest restaurants and always remembered to bring his appetite."The dish that caused the grizzled...

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Masterwork   Pronunciation : mas.ter.work Full Definition : noun                               a great work of art. Examples:     His most famous novel is regarded  as a masterwork of Western literature Firsr use: 1617 Synonyms : chef d'oeuvre, masterpiece, magnumop...

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