[ home ] [ index ]
Herein is a complete list of "wwftd"s dating from ca. 1987 to
present. This started as a "word for the day up on the blackboard"
sort of thing and has degenerated into its current form; irregular
distribution to a mail list via e-mail... and now this.
Copyright © 1995-2020 -- Michael A. Fischer
wwftd email
A B
C D E
F G H
I J K
L M N
O P Q
R S T
U V
W X
Y Z
-
dacrygelosis
-
1) a mental state characterized by extreme mood swings
-
2) a condition of alternating laughing and crying
-
dactylonomy
-
counting using one's fingers
-
daedal
-
ingenious; intricate; varied
-
daedalian
-
[fr. Daedalus, mythical Greek craftsman and inventor noted especially
for the construction of a labyrinth to contain the Minotaur and for the invention
of wings with which he and his son Icarus escaped imprisonment]
-
usu. capitalized ingeniously formed: intricate; skillful, ingenious
-
daltonism
-
[after John Dalton, who first described it]
-
eponym (esp. red-green) colorblindness (also fig.)
-
dap(1)
-
to skip or bounce, as a stone off the surface of a lake; hence
dapping, the act of skimming stones
-
dap(2)
- [of imitative origin] urban slang a knuckle-to-knuckle fist bump, as a greeting or form of respect
-
dapatical
-
[L. dapaticus, magnificent (of a feast) < dapis, feast]
obs. sumptuous in cheer {Bailey}
-
dapocaginous
-
low-spirited; having feelings of little self-worth
-
darg
-
Scot. a day's work, the task of a day (from daywark (daywork)
through the series of forms dawark, da'ark, dark, darg)
-
dartle
-
[dim. of dart] /DART ul/ (cf. sparkle)
-
archaic, rare to dart or shoot forth repeatedly
-
dastard
-
coward; esp one who sneakily commits malicious acts
-
dasypygal
-
having hairy buttocks
-
davit
-
a crane that projects over the side of a ship hatchway for moving cargo
-
daw
-
a sluggard
-
deasil
-
clockwise (compare widdershins)
-
debarrass
-
[F.] to disembarrass; to disencumber from anything that embarrasses
-
debellation
-
obs. the action of vanquishing or reducing by force of
arms; conquest, subjugation
-
deblaterate
-
[fr. L. deblaterare, to prate of, blab out]
-
rare to babble, prate
-
deblateration
-
the act of prating or babbling (usu. in the phrase quisquiliary
deblaterations)
-
decamp
-
to break up a camp; to depart suddenly: abscond
-
deckled
-
[G. deckel] having a rough edge; used of handmade paper or paper
resembling handmade (so that's what that's called)
-
declination
-
the angular distance north or south from the celestial equator measured along
a great circle passing through the celestial poles
-
decoct
-
to boil down; hence, to figure out by deduction what the true meaning is
of a statement, a symbol, or an oblique communication
-
decollate
-
to behead
-
deconstruction
-
1) to extract the flavor of by boiling
2) boil down, concentrate by or as if by boiling
-
3) transf., interpreting literature so as to show the impossibility
of a definite interpretation
-
decorticate
- [fr. L. decorticare, to remove the bark from]
- 1) to remove the bark or outer layer; peel
- 2) to remove the outer layer or covering (of an organ or structure)
-
decretive
-
[fr. L. decernere, to decree + -ive] /dih KREE tiv/
-
having the force of a decree: decretory decretive will
-
decubitus
-
one's posture or position in bed
-
decussate
-
[fr. L. decussis, the number ten (X), intersection of two lines]
-
to intersect; hence, decussation: an intersection esp. in the form
of an X
-
dedolent
-
[L., giving over grieving] (also dedolant)
-
rare that feels sorrow no more; feeling no compunction;
insensible, callous; apathetic
-
A tanker sinks into a dedolant sea. - W.H. Auden
-
deedbote
-
obs. penance, repentance (also dedbote)
-
defalcate
-
deduct; curtail; to engage in embezzlement, e.g. as a trustee (see
also peculate)
-
defatigable
-
[a lost form then back-formed fr. indefatigable] capable of being wearied
or tired out: fatigable
-
defeasible
-
[OF de(s)faisible, cf. feasible] /di FEE zuh bul/
-
1) Law capable of being annulled or voided: subject to defeasance
(a rendering null and void) a defeasible claim
-
2) Logic capable of defeat by contrary evidence
-
defenestrate
-
[back-formation from next] to throw something out of a window (see
also adfenestrate)
-
defenestration
-
throwing a person or thing out the window
-
defi
-
[F.] /DAY fee/ challenge, defiance
-
deflexed
-
turned abruptly downward
-
defoedation
-
(var. of defedation) pollution, defiling
-
defossion
-
[fr. L. defodere, to bury (in the earth)] /dee FOSH un/
burying (alive)
-
degringolade
-
[F.] a rapid decline or deterioration; downfall
-
de gustibus non est disputandum
-
[L.] there is no disputing (with) taste
-
dehort
- [fr. L. dehortari, to dissuade] now rare to (attempt to) dissuade
-
dehortation
-
advice against something: dissuasion [marked rare in 1913]
-
dehortatory
-
dissuading
-
deictic
-
[fr. Gk deiktos, able to show] /DIK tik/
-
showing or pointing out directly the words this, that, and those
have a deictic function
-
deinotherian
-
[fr. L. Deinotherium, a genus of prehistoric mammals related to but
often larger than the elephants]
-
fig. uncommonly large: elephantine
-
deipnetic
-
[fr. Gk deipnon, the principal meal + -etic]
-
obs. rare pertaining to dinner; fond of eating
-
deipnosophist
-
a person skilled in dinner conversation
-
deipnosophobia
-
a fear of dinner conversation
-
dejecta
-
excrements
-
delapsation
-
[?] a spurious word in Webster, copied in subsequent Dicts.
-
De`lap*sa"tion (?), n. See Delapsion (a falling down). Ray. {Webster's
Revised Unabridged, 1913}
-
< DELAPSATION, n. A falling down. {Webster's 1828 Dictionary}
(see also delassation) [the Ray citation actually has
delassation.]
-
delapse
-
[fr. L. delabi, to slip or fall down] archaic to
slip down: descend, sink
-
delapsion
-
[fr. L. delabi] obs. a falling down
-
delassation
-
[fr. L. delassare, to weary or tire out] obs. rare
fatigue, weariness
-
delation
-
[fr. L. delatio, an accusation, denunciation] accusation,
denouncement
-
delator
- [L. informer, accuser] an informer, a secret or professional accuser
-
delectation
-
delight, enjoyment
-
delible
-
capable of being deleted
-
deliquesce
-
to melt away; to dissolve gradually and become liquid by attracting and absorbing
moisture
-
deliquescent
-
[fr. L. deliquescere, to melt away, dissolve, disappear] /de
li KWE sunt/
-
1) tending to melt away or dissolve
-
2) having repeated division into branches [also transf. and
fig.]
-
delirament
-
[fr. L. deliramentum, < delirare, to be crazy]
-
archaic an insane fancy: craze, delusion
-
delitescent
-
[fr. L. delitescere, to hide] /del eh TES sent/
-
lying hidden: obfuscated, latent; thus, delitescence: latent state,
concealment, seclusion
-
Delphic
-
/DEL fik/ 1) of or relating to the oracle of Apollo at Delphi 2) obscurely
prophetic; oracular
-
delphically
-
[fr. Delphic pronouncements; i.e., obscurely prophetic] ambiguously,
obscurely
-
delphinity
-
[fr. L. Delphinidae, after humanity] humorous nonce-word
dolphin-kind, the nature of dolphins
-
deltiologist
-
one who collects postcards
-
deltiology
-
the collecting of postcards
-
delusive
-
[fr. delusion + -ive] 1) deceptive, beguiling 2) delusional
-
démarche
- [F. literally, gait]
- a) a course of action: maneuver b) a diplomatic or political initiative or maneuver
-
demegoric
-
[fr. Gk demegoros, popular orator] /dee muh GAW rik/ of
or pertaining to public speaking
-
dementate
- [fr. L. dementare < demens, mad] archaic to deprive of reason
-
demephitize
-
[fr. de- + mephit-ic + -ize] rare 'To purify from foul unwholesome
air'
{Webster
1828}
-
hence, demephitization
-
demigorgon
- [fr. LL. Demogorgon]
- a terrifying ancient deity or demon of the underworld (Melville's mistaken(?) usage for Demogorgon, evidently conflating it with demiurge)
-
demimonde
-
1) a class of women on the fringes of respectable society supported by wealthy
lovers
-
2) a group having little reputation
-
demisemiquaver
-
a 1/32 note in music [see also semiquaver]
-
demiurge
-
something that is an autonomous creative force or decisive power
-
demonomania
-
[demon + -mania] a delusion of being possessed by evil spirits
-
demonym
-
[fr. Gk demos, people + onuma, name]
-
a name for a resident of a particular locality, derived from the name of
that locality
-
demotic
-
relating to the common people: popular demotic idiom
-
dendrochronology
-
the study of growth rings on trees
-
denegate
-
[fr. L. denegare] obs. to deny
-
denouement
-
[F.] the final outcome
-
dentiloquy
-
speaking through clenched teeth; thus, dentiloquist
-
deontic(s)
-
[from Gk deon, that which is obligatory]
-
1) [adj] of or relating to moral obligation: deontological
-
2) [n] pl. the science of duty: deontology
-
deontology
-
the theory or study of moral obligation
-
depalmate
-
obs. to give one a box on the ear {Cockerham}
-
deparadisation
-
[de- + paradise + -ation] nonce-word expulsion from the
Garden
-
depauperate
- [fr. L. pauper poor, impoverished] obs. to render poor, impoverish
-
depeditation
-
[coined by Johnson(?), after decapitation] amputation of a foot
-
depertible
-
[fr. L. dispertire to distribute, divide (as if fr.
depertire]
-
obs. capable of being divided into parts; divisible
-
dephlogisticate
-
[cf.. phlogiston] to remove or deprive of phlogiston; to take away
the ability to burn (now understood to be chemically impossible)
-
deponent
-
one who gives evidence
-
deponticate
-
[fr. L. de, down from + pons, bridge + -ate]
-
nonce-word to hurl from a bridge; hence
-
We will defenestrate and deponticate.
-
depontication
-
[ad L. pons/pontis, bridge; after defenestration] the act of
hurling from a bridg
-
deprehend
-
[fr. L. deprehendere to seize, catch, detect, etc.]
-
obs. 1) to seize, capture 2) to take by surprise 3)
to perceive or detect
-
deprehendible
-
obs. capable of being detected
-
deprehensible
-
obs. see previous
-
deracinate
-
[fr. L. dis- + racine, root] to uproot
-
deracination
-
eradication, extirpation
-
derecho
-
[Sp., straight ahead] /day-RAY-cho/
-
a widespread and usually fast-moving windstorm, which may produce damaging
straight-line winds
-
derf
-
Scot. bold, daring
-
dermatoglyphics
-
skin patterns on the hands and feet (palms and heels)
-
dern
-
[fr. Fris. dern hidden, secret, obscure] now chiefly
dialect
-
1) hidden, secret; crafty, underhanded 2) drear, dark, somber, dire
3) UK earnest, determined
-
derogate
-
[adj] diminished in value; dishonored; degraded
-
deruncinate
-
inkhorn term to weed
-
desideratum (pl. desiderata)
-
[L.] something desired as essential
-
the concept that peace of mind is the great desideratum - Warren Weaver
-
desidious
- [fr. L. desidere to sit long, sit idle] obs. idle, indolent, slothful
-
desipience
-
1) foolishness, silliness
-
2) relaxed dallying in enjoyment of foolish trifles
-
desipient
-
foolish
-
desition
-
an ending, or conclusion
-
desitive
-
final, serving to complete, conclusive
-
desperadoism
-
[fr. desperado + -ism] /des peh RAHD o izem/ a wave or period
of unusual activity by desperadoes
-
despiteous
- /dis PIT ee us/ also, dispiteous
- archaic despiteful; malicious; cruel
-
desudation
-
[fr. L. desudare, to sweat greatly] /de sjui DAY shun/
-
Med. a profuse and inordinate sweating
-
desuetude
-
discontinuance from use or exercise; disuse
-
desuperpollicate
-
to give a 'thumbs down'
-
"Mr. Warford peers over at this wife, who for the second time tonight
desuperpollicates..." - Thomas Pynchon
-
detenebrate
-
obs. rare to free from darkness or obscurity (from L.
de + tenebrare, to darken)
-
detritivore
-
[ad. Gk Detritivore > L. detritus, rubbing away + -vore]
/deh TRID uh vore/
-
Zool. an organism that feeds on detritus; also,
detritivorous : feeding on detritus
-
detur
-
[L., let it be given] a prize of books given annually to meritorious
undergraduate students at Harvard Univ., U.S.
-
deuteragonist
-
1) the actor taking the part of second importance in a classical Greek drama
-
2) a person who serves as a foil to another (second banana?)
-
deuterogamist
-
someone who remarries after a spouse's death; also called a digamist
-
devenustate
-
[fr. L. de- + venustare, to beautify] obs.
to deprive of beauty or comeliness; to disfigure, deform
-
devenustation
-
obs. rare the condition or process of being reduced from Venus
status: de-aestheticization
-
devorative
-
[fr. L. devorare, to devour] /de VOR uh tiv/
-
Med., obs. capable of being swallowed whole
-
diablerie
-
1) black magic: sorcery
-
2) demon lore
-
3) mischievous conduct or manner
-
diapason
-
/dye uh PAY zun/
-
1 a) a burst of harmonious sound b) the principal foundation stop of
an organ c) (i) the entire compass of musical tones (ii) range, scope
-
2 a) tuning fork b) a standard of pitch
-
diaphone
-
a foghorn with a two-toned, penetrating sound
-
diaphor
-
a metaphor that implies the possibility of something (compare diaphor)
-
diaphoretic
-
having the power to increase perspiration
-
diastema
-
[Gk diastema, interval] /die uh STEE muh/ a gap or space
between two teeth
-
diasyrm
-
/DAI a sirm/ a figure of speech expressing disparagement or ridicule;
also, damning with faint praise
-
dicacity
-
[fr. L. dicacitas] archaic raillery: biting wit
-
dictionatical
-
[dictionary + -ical, relating to] authorized or approved by the dictionary
-
didactic
-
designed or intended to teach; intended to convey instruction and information
-
diddicoi
-
[fr. Romani didikai] also diddicoy
-
Eng. dialect a gypsy or other nomadic person
-
diddly-squat
-
[prob. euphemistic, cf. doodly-squat]
-
U.S. slang the least amount: nothing (in negative constructions,
anything)
-
if everyone ignores it, it won't be worth diddly-squat -- Andrew
Tobias
-
diddums
-
UK, interj. an exclamation indicating that the speaker thinks
that the person addressed is being childish and petulant (in speech to children:
did 'ems did they?)
-
didymous
-
[fr. Gk didumos, twin] /DID uh mus/ arranged or growing
in pairs; twin
-
diegesis
-
a recitation; a narration
-
diegogarcity
-
[fr. Diego Garcia, Indian Ocean atoll; after serendipity]
-
"a term used [at Wordorigins.org] to denote the appearance of another term
in multiple sources shortly after you have looked it up in the dictionary"
(or first noticed it)
-
dietrologia
-
[It.] the science of what's behind it all
-
the art of finding dark, ulterior motives behind the most obvious
decisions - Alessandra Stanley
-
diffidation
-
[fr. L. diffidare, to renounce one's vassalage, renounce friendship]
/dif uh DAY shun/
-
archaic, historical a renunciation of faith or allegiance; formal
severing of peaceful relations
-
diffidelity
-
[dis- + fidelity, after infidelity] obs. rare disbelief,
unbelief
-
diffident
-
hesitant in acting or speaking; reserved, unassertive
-
digamist
-
one who marries a second time (legally); cf. deuterogamist
-
digerati
-
people who are knowledgeable about digital technologies such as computer
programming and design [digital + literati]
-
digladiation
-
(dai-gla-di-a'-tion) [from L. dis + gladius, a sword]
-
1) fighting or fencing with swords 2) fig. strife or bickering
of words; wrangling, contention, disputation
-
dilogy
-
[rhet.] 1) the use of an ambiguous or equivocal expression; the word or
expression so used
-
2) repetition of a word or phrase, in the same context
-
dimbox
-
someone who settles a controversy or dispute
-
diminute
-
[fr. L. diminuere] obs. diminished, diminutive
-
dimmening
- [fr. dimmen, to grow dim (rare)] rare growing dim
-
dingbat
-
[origin unknown]
-
a typographical ornament or symbol used typically to call attention to an
opening sentence or to make a break between two paragraphs; also, any of
the pi fonts
-
(not to be confused with Archie Bunker's dingbat spouse)
-
dinsome
-
Scot. loud; noisy
-
dioristic
-
serving to distinguish
-
dipsetic
-
[(n), adj] (something) causing thirst
-
dirdum
-
[origin unknown] Scot. [n] 1) uproar, tumultuous noise
or din 2) outcry; loud reprehension, obloquy, blame
-
direption
-
[fr. L. diripere : to tear asunder, lay waste, snatch away]
-
obs. 1) the sacking or pillaging of a town 2) an act of
plundering
-
direptitious
-
[after surreptitious, fr. L. direption, the sacking or pillaging of
a town < diripere, to tear asunder)
-
obs. rare characterized by plundering or pillaging; hence
direptitiously
-
disambiguation
-
the establishment of a single semantic or grammatical interpretation
-
discalceation
-
[fr. L. discalceare, to pull off the shoes] obs. to
put off the shoes {Johnson, 1828}
-
the act of taking off the shoes, esp. in token of reverence
-
discalced
-
unshod; barefoot discalced friars
-
discinct
-
rare loosely dressed; also: loose, negligent
-
discobolus
-
a discus thrower
-
discordianism
-
the veneration of Eris (a.k.a. Discordia) -- the goddess of chaos, discord
and confusion
-
disembogue
-
to discharge or pour forth from the mouth (as from a river)
-
disfluency (dysfluency)
-
[dis-, apart or away + fluency] /dis FLOO un see/
-
1) Pathol. impairment of the ability to produce smooth, fluent
speech
-
2) an interruption in the smooth flow of speech, as by a pause or the repetition
of a word or syllable; lack of skillfulness in speaking
-
disincommodate
-
[erroneous (or jocular) mixture of discommodate and incommodate (themselves
rather archaic forms for discommode and incommode)] to cause inconvenience
to: trouble
-
disintermediate
-
[originally a banking term, now more broadly used]
-
Econ. to withdraw one's money from intermediate institutions
for direct investment; to eliminate the middleman
-
dislimn
-
to dim
-
disponible
-
[ad. L. disponere, to set in different places, place here and there,
arrange, dispose; cf. F. disponible]
-
capable of being assigned or disposed of as one wishes: available
-
disposophobia
-
[dispose + -phobia] the fear of throwing anything away
-
disquiparant
-
[fr. med. L. disquiparantia] Logic obs. pertaining
to the relation of two correlates which are heteronymous, i.e. denoted by
different names, as father and son, or husband and wife
-
disquixote
-
[dis- + quixote, to act like Don Quixote] to disillusion
-
dissemble
-
to hide under a false appearance; disguise
-
dissentient
- [fr. L. dissentire, to dissent] disagreeing, esp. with a majority
-
dissmell
-
the reflex to avoid a bad smell (contrast with disgust)
-
disworth
-
[fr. the archaic verb worth, to happen, to become; the stem is prob.
the same as that of L. vertere, to turn]
-
obs. rare to deprive of worth; to render worthless or unworthy
-
dithyrambic
-
wildly enthusiastic in statement or writing
-
diurnal
- [fr. L. diurnalis]
- 1) recurring every day; having a daily cycle 2) occurring in the daytime
-
diurnality
- [see previous] behavior characterized by activity during the day
-
divagate
-
[fr. L. dis- + vagari, to wander] /DI vuh gate/
-
to wander or stray from a course or subject: diverge, digress
-
divagation
-
/di vuh GAY shun/ a divergence or digression from a course or subject
-
divaricate
-
to diverge
-
diversiloquent
-
[fr. L. diversus, diverse + loquentem, speaking] /dy
ver SIL o kwent/?
-
rare speaking diversely
-
diversivolent
-
[fr. L. diversus, diverse + volentum, wishing] /dy ver
SIV o lent/?
-
desiring strife or differences: contentious
-
divertissement
-
a diversion or entertainment
-
divinate
-
[fr. L. divinare, to divine (back-formation from
divination?)]
-
to foretell future events, soothsay, augur, prophesy
-
divulgate
-
[fr. L. divulgare, to divulge] /duh VUL gate/
-
1) obs. divulge 2) archaic disclose, reveal;
publish
-
divulsion
-
[fr. L. divello, to rend asunder] (now used chiefly in
surgery)
-
the act of pulling away; a tearing asunder; a violent separation
-
dizen
- [fr. earlier disen to dress a distaff with flax]
- archaic to attire or array with finery, to deck out, adorn: bedizen; also fig.
-
dizzard
-
archaic a foolish fellow, idiot, blockhead
-
docent
-
1) a college or university teacher orlecturer
-
2) a person who leads guided tours esp. through a museum or art gallery
-
doch-an-dorris
-
Irish, a drink at the door /dakh un DOORus (kh as in
Bach)/
-
a parting drink
-
docity
-
[perhaps alter. of docility] dial. teachableness; quickness
of comprehension
-
doddle
-
[origin unknown] Brit. colloq. a very easy task; a 'walk-over'
-
dogdayed
-
[fr. dog-days, the hottest, sultriest days of summer] poetic
nonce-word of or relating to the dog-days
-
doggery
-
a cheap saloon, dive
-
doggo
-
in hiding
-
dogsbody
-
one whose work is routine and boring: drudge
-
doit
-
a trifle
-
dol
-
[fr. L. dolor, pain] a unit of intensity of pain
-
dolent
-
obs. attended with or causing sorrow or grief; grievous, distressing
-
dolorifuge
-
[fr. L. dolere, to feel pain, grieve + fuga, flight] /dah
LOR ah fyuj/
-
archaic something that banishes or mitigates grief
-
dolorimeter
-
a psychological torture instrument which measures pain in units called dols
-
domnoddy
-
[origin uncertain] /DOM noddy/
-
fool, ninny, nincompoop, simpleton (also, noddypoll, noddy)
-
donnicker
-
a toilet: bathroom, lavatory
-
donsie
-
1) Brit. unlucky
-
2) Scot. restive; saucy
-
3) slightly ill
-
doofusistic
-
[fr. doofus, a stupid, incompetent person] done by a doofus, or with
a doofus, or to a doofus, or in the name of a doofus, or in lieu of a doofus,
or just with a doofus-like flair
-
doolally
-
[spoken form of Deolali, India; from 'doolally tap'] characterized
by an unbalanced state of mind
-
doppelganger
-
[G.] a ghostly counterpart of a living person
-
dord
-
non-word defined in WNI2 as "density"; began life as an error
made when transcribing a card that read "D or d" (meaning a capital D or
small d) as an abbreviation for "density" -- subsequently cited in WNI3
definition of the term ghost word
-
dorts
-
Scot. a mood of bad temper: sulks
-
doryphore
-
[F. doryphore, Colorado beetle (a pest)] /dor i fo(r)/
(coined by Sir Harold Nicholson) also doriphore
-
one who gains inordinate pleasure from detecting minor errors; a pedantic
nitpicker
-
dosh
-
Brit. slang money
-
dotterel
-
[fr. ME; related to dote, dotard] /DAH teh rel/ or /DAH trel/ also
dottrel
-
1) a species of plover (said to be very easily caught)
-
2) Brit. a silly, foolish person, esp. one who is easily duped
-
dottle
-
unburnt and partially burnt tobacco caked in the bowl of a pipe
-
double entente
-
There is no use pointing out that double entendre does not exist in French
and that the proper [French] phrase for a double meaning, one
of them usually indelicate, is double entente. - B. & C. Evans, A
Dictionary of Contemporary American Usage
-
doula
-
[modern Gk, female helper < Gk doule, female slave] /DU luh/
-
a woman experienced in childbirth who provides advice, information, emotional
support, and physical comfort to a mother before, during, and just after
childbirth
-
dowless
-
Scot. /DOW lis/ without strength or energy; feeble; infirm
-
dowsabel
-
[fr. the female name Dulcibella]
-
obs. sweetheart (perhaps first used in some pastoral song, whence
applied generically to a sweetheart)
-
doxology
-
an expression of praise to God
-
doxy
-
a woman of loose morals: prostitute; mistress
-
doyen
- [F., doyenne is the feminine form]
- 1) the eldest or senior member of a group
- 2) a person uniquely skilled by long experience in some field of endeavor
- 3) something which is the best of its kind
-
drachenfutter
-
[G.] a peace offering to a wife from a guilty husband (literally: dragon
fodder)
-
draff
-
refuse; dregs; hogwash
-
draffsack
-
(also draftsack) Brit. dialect
-
a sack of draff or refuse; also fig. a big paunch; a lazy glutton
-
draffy
-
worthless [also draffish]
-
drammock
-
Scot. raw oatmeal mixed with cold water
-
drasy
-
[fr. drast, obs. : dregs, lees]
-
obs. dreggy; fig. vile, worthless, rubbishy
-
drawcansir
-
a blustering, bullying fellow; a pot-valiant braggart; a bully
-
dree
-
Scot. to suffer; endure
-
dreich
-
Scot. /dreek or dree/ dreary (also dree or
dreigh)
-
drogulus
-
an entity whose presence is unverifiable because it has no physical effects
-
drongo
-
Austral. slang a simpleton; a stupid, worthless person
-
dropsonde
-
a cylindrical cannister that acts like a miniature weather station when dropped
into the eye of a hurricane, transmitting back to the aircraft a vertical
atmospheric profile of temperature, humidity, barometric pressure and wind
data every half second
-
droumy
-
[origin uncertain, but see Sc. drumlie] obs. rare
troubled; muddy: turbid to fish in droumy waters -
Bacon
-
dryasdust
-
[coined by Sir Walter Scott] boring; pedantic
-
dubiety
-
doubtfulness; uncertainty; doubt
-
dudgeon
-
a fit or state of angry indignation usually provoked by opposition; ill humor,
resentment
-
duende
-
[Sp.] /dw'ende/ a) a ghost, an evil spirit b) (transf.)
inspiration, magic, fire
-
duff
-
[origin uncertain]
-
Scot. and U.S. decaying leaves and branches covering a forest
floor; in extended use for a lake bottom
-
dumbledore
-
1) Brit. the bumblebee; "the most good-natured of God's Insects"
-Southey
-
2) Brit dial. the dung-beetle
-
dummerer
- [< dumb] slang, archaic the cant name for a beggar who
pretended to lack the faculty of speech
-
duncical
-
rare of or pertaining to a dunce; dull-witted, stupid, blockheaded
-
dunkle
-
Scot. [v] to make a dint or pit in; to dint [n] the cavity produced
by a blow, or in consequence of a fall
-
durance
-
imprisonment
-
durbar
-
[fr. Pers. and Urdu darbar, court] East Indian /DUR
bar/
-
1) the court of an Indian prince; an audience held by a prince
-
2) a hall or place of audience
-
duumvirate
-
government or control by two people
-
duvet
-
a comforter
-
dybbuk
-
[fr. Yiddish dibek] the wandering soul of a dead person believed
in Jewish folklore to enter and control a living body
-
dyslogy
-
[dys- + stem of eulogy] dispraise, censure (as opposed to eulogy)
-
dysnomy
-
[fr. Gk dys, bad + nomos, law] /DIS noh mee/
-
rare bad legislation; the enactment of bad laws {Cockeram}
-
dysphemism
-
the substitution of a disagreeable or offensive expression for an agreeable
or inoffensive one
-
dysphoria
-
a state of feeling unwell or unhappy
-
dysteleology
-
the doctrine of purposelessness in nature (compare
teleology)
-
dysthymia
-
[fr. Gk dysthymos, despondent] a depression
-
dysthymic
-
[see previous] /dis THY mik/ affected with despondency or depression
of spirits
-
dystmesis
-
[fr. Gk. tmesis, act of cutting + dys-, bad]
-
defined variously as: a synonym for tmesis; tmesis at syllable boundaries,
as opposed to between parts of a compound; separation at an inappropriate
or unlikely position [considering the lexemes, it seems as if the actual
meaning should be closer to the last of these; e.g., unbefreakinglievable
(as opposed to the tmesis of unfreakingbelievable)]
-
dystopia
-
an imaginary society in which social or technological trends have culminated
in a greatly diminished quality of life or degradation of values
-
dystychiphobia
-
the fear of accidents
-
dyvoury
-
[fr. Sc. dyvour, beggar (perh. related to diver -- drowned in debt?)]
-
Scot. obs. bankruptcy; beggary
-
dziggetai
-
[fr. Mongolian tchikhitei] /DZIG uh tai/ the wild ass
of Mongolia
-
eagre
-
[origin unknown] /E-gur/ or /A-gur/
-
chiefly Brit. a tidal bore or flood tide (up an estuary)
-
earworm
-
[G. ohrwurm] a song or tune that repeats over and over inside
a person's head
-
ebriection
-
mental breakdown from too much boozing
-
ebullition
-
the act, process or state of boiling or bubbling up; a sudden violent outburst
or display
-
eccedentesiast
-
a person who fakes a smile, such as on television
-
[coined by Florence King, of whom George Will wrote, "If Mencken were alive,
he would be her."]
-
eccentricate
-
obs. to go out of one's proper sphere
-
ecdemomania
-
[fr. Gk ekdmeos, being away from home + -mania]
-
rare! a compulsive wandering
-
ecdysiast
-
one who performs a striptease (coined by H. L. Mencken in 1940, see
following)
-
ecdysis
-
[fr. Gk ekdusis, a stripping off] /EK di sis/
-
the shedding of an outer layer of skin, as by insects, crustaceans, or snakes;
molting
-
echolalia
-
the often pathological repetition of what is said by other people as if echoing
them
-
echt
-
[G.] /ekt/ genuine, authentic, typical as performances
these are echt masterpieces
-
eclaircise
-
[back-formation fr. F. éclaircissement, clearing up]
rare to clear up
-
eclipsis
-
[ad. Gk ekleipsis, omission]
-
Ling./Rhet. an omission or suppression of words or sounds
(sometimes erroneously given as a synonym of ellipsis)
-
eclogue
-
a poem in which shepherds are introduced conversing
-
ecphonesis
-
[Gk ekphonesis < ekphonein, to cry out] /ek feh NEE sis/
-
Rhet. an emotional exclamation; e.g., O tempora! O mores!
- Cicero
-
ecphorize (also ecphore)
-
[fr. Gk ekphoros, (to be) made known] /EK fur ize/
-
Psychol. to evoke or revive an engram (an emotion, a memory,
or the like) by means of a stimulus
-
ecphory (or ecphoria)
-
the evocation of an engram from a latent to a manifest state
-
ecumenicity
- [L. oecumenicus, of the whole Christian world] also oecumenicity
- universality, catholicity; ecumenical character
-
edacious
-
[fr. L. edax < edere, to eat] /i DAY shus/
-
voracious; devouring, often said of time
-
Tempus edax rerum. (Time devours everything.) - Ovid,
Metamorphoses
-
edacity
-
1) ravenousness 2) voraciousness 3) esurience 4) greediness
-
edentulous
-
[fr. L. edentulus] /ee DEN chu lus/ toothless, edentate,
agomphious
-
edulcorate
-
to make pleasant, sweeten
-
eellogofusciouhipoppokunurious
-
dubious good, perhaps very good
-
eesome
-
attractive or gratifying to the eye
-
effable
-
utterable; that that can be uttered or spoken
-
effigiate
-
/ef FIG i ate/ rare to form as an effigy; hence, to fashion;
to adapt
-
effluxion
-
[fr. L. effluere, to flow]
-
1) the process of flowing out 2) effluence; emanation
-
effrenate
-
[fr. L. effrenare, unbridled] obs. of passions:
unbridled, ungovernable
-
effrenation
-
unruliness
-
effulgence
-
radiant splendor: brilliance
-
effutiation
-
[fr. L. effutire, to prate] nonce-word twaddle,
balderdash
-
eggcorn
- [sounds like acorn] a word which is changed into another which is
either said the same or is closely similar and which seems to make at least as much sense in
context as the original (see also mondegreen)
-
eglomerate
-
[faux L. from e- + glomerare, to wind or gather into a ball]
-
obs. to unwind, as thread from a ball
-
egoism
-
[fr. ego + -ism] the ethical doctrine that morality has its foundations
in self-interest; hence egoist
-
eidetic
-
marked by or involving extraordinarily accurate and vivid recall
-
eidolon
-
an unsubstantial image: phantom; ideal
-
eidos
- [Gk, literally, shape, form]
- 1) something that is seen or intuited a) idea (Plato) b) form, essence (Aristotle)
- 2) the cognitive part of cultural structure
-
einfuhlung
-
[G.] understanding so intimate that the feelings, thoughts, and motives of
one person are readily comprehended by another
-
eisegesis
-
the interpretation of a text (as of the bible) by reading into it one's own
ideas
-
eisteddfod
-
/eis TEDD vod/ an annual Welsh competitive arts festival [early Aug.]
-
eiswein
-
a sweet German wine made from grapes that have frozen on the vine
-
ejulation
-
[L. ejulatio, fr. ejulare to wail, lament] /EJ u Lay
shun/?
-
obs. a wailing, lamentation
-
ekistic
-
relating to ekistics
-
ekistician
-
one who studies or is versed in ekistics
-
ekistics
-
[fr. Gk oikistikos, relating to settlement] /i KIS tiks/
-
a name given by C. A. Doxiadis to the study of human settlements and the
way they develop and adapt themselves to changing circumstances (first used
in his lectures of 1942 at the Athens Technical University)
-
ekpyrotic
-
[fr. Gk ekpurosis, conflagration] referring to the destruction
and recreation of the world in fire: ekpyrotic universe
-
elbedritsch
- [Penn. G.] /EL buh drich/ (cf. snipe hunt)
- an imaginary creature which, as a practical joke, a greenhorn is sent to hunt or capture
- {DARE - Dictionary of American Regional English}
-
eldritch
-
weird, eerie
-
eleemosynary
-
of, relating to, or supported by charity
-
elenchus
-
refutation; esp. one in syllogistic form
-
elenctic
-
[Gk elenktikos, < elenktos] /ee LENC tic/
variants: elenchtic, elenctical, elenchtical
-
serving to refute; refutative (used of indirect modes of proof) opposed
to deictic
-
Eleusinian
-
of or relating to ancient Eleusis or to the religious mysteries celebrated
there in worship of Demeter and Persephone: Eleusinian mysteries
-
elide
-
to suppress or alter by elision; to strike out (a word or passage)
-
elogium
-
eulogy
-
eloign
-
to move to a distant/unknown place
-
elozable
-
[fr. OF esloser, to praise] /el LO za bul(?)/ obs.
rare amenable to flattery
-
a very insecure and elozable widow - D. Grambs
-
elsewhen
-
[else + when] obs. at another time, at other times
-
but used by R. A. Heinlein in 1941 as a novella title; so now (in time-travel
situations) at another point in time
-
elucubrate
-
[fr. L. elucubrare, to compose by lamplight] to work out or
express by studious effort; to burn the midnight oil
-
elysian
-
1) pertaining to Elysium 2) blissful, delightful
-
emacity
-
[fr. L. emacitas, a desire to buy] /ee MAS i tee/ rare
a fondness for buying things
-
emberlucock
-
[fr. F. emburelucocquer, a nonce-word of Rabelais] to bewilder,
confuse
-
embolalia
-
the use of... um... virtually meaningless filler words, phrases, or... er...
stammerings (or so-called hesitation-forms) in speech, whether as... uh...
unconscious utterings while arranging one's thoughts or as... like... a vacuous,
inexpressive... you know... mannerism
-
embonpoint
-
plumpness of person; stout
-
embracery
-
an attempt to corruptly influence a jury
-
embrangle
-
[en- + brangle (obs.)] embroil, confuse, entangle
-
embuggerance
-
Brit. military slang a natural or artificial hazard that complicates
any proposed course of action
-
eminentissimo
-
[It. (used as a title for cardinals) fr. eminente] /em eh nen
TIS eh mo/ a person of superlative eminence
-
eminento
-
[mod. of It. eminente] an eminent person (but often used as
a disparaging epithet)
-
emmet
-
[fr. emmet, a synonym of ant] in Cornwall, mildly disparaging
-
a holiday-maker or tourist; a summer visitor (cf.
grockle)
-
empennage
-
the tail assembly of an airplane
-
empleomania
-
a mania for holding public office
-
emption
-
the act of buying: purchase
-
empyreal
-
1) celestial
-
2) sublime
-
empyrean
-
1a) the highest heaven or heavenly sphere in ancient and medieval cosmology
usually consisting of fire or light
-
b) the true and ultimate heavenly paradise
-
2) firmament, heavens 3) an ideal place or state
-
emunctory
-
1) [adj] of or pertaining to the blowing of the nose; that has the function
of conveying waste matters from the body
-
2) [n] a cleansing organ or canal; a term applied to the excretory ducts
and organs of the body
-
enallage
-
[L.] 1) Gram. the substitution of one grammatical form for another;
e.g., the editorial we for I
-
2) obs. a Rhet. figure whereby we change or invert the order
of terms in a discourse
-
enantiodrome
-
a word which has two (nearly) opposite meanings: a Janus word, contranym;
e.g. sanction, cleave
-
enantiodromia
-
the changing of something into its opposite
-
enantiodromic
-
characteristic of something which has become its opposite
-
enantiomorph
-
[fr. Gk enantios, opposite + -morph, form] /eh NAN tee uh morf/
-
a form which is related to another as an object is related to its image in
a mirror; a mirror image
-
enantiomorphic (or enantiomorphous)
-
of or relating to, or exhibiting properties of an enantiomorph
-
enantiomorphism (or enantiomorphy)
-
the condition or property of being enantiomorphous (esp. in
Crystallography)
-
enantiosis
-
the rhetorical device of stating the opposite of what is meant, usually
ironically; affirmation by contraries
-
enatic (also enate)
-
[L. enatus] related on the mother's side enatic
clans (compare agnatic)
-
encephalophone
-
an apparatus that emits a continuous hum whose pitch is changed by interference
of brain waves transmitted through oscillators from electrodes attached to
the scalp and that is used to diagnose abnormal brain functioning
-
enchiridion
-
a manual or handbook
-
encomiastic
-
[fr. Gk enkomiazein, to praise] /en CO mi AS tic/
-
praising; eulogistic; laudatory
-
encomium
-
[L. fr. Gk enkomion, praise for a victor] glowing and warmly
enthusiastic praise; an expression of said praise
-
encumbrous
-
obs. cumbersome, distressing, troublesome
-
endochronic
-
relating to transformed or modified internal time
-
endomusia
-
silent recall of a melody; endomusia often appears as a type of obsessive
thought {Psychiatric Dictionary, 4th ed., Hinsie and Campbell}
-
energumen
-
[see next] a person supposedly possessed by an evil spirit
-
energumenist
-
[fr. Gk energoumenos, possessed by an evil spirit]
-
obs. rare one possessed by demons
-
enervate
-
to weaken; to debilitate
-
engastration
-
the action of stuffing one fowl inside another
-
engastrimyth
-
a ventriloquist (the Greek equivalent of the Latin-based ventriloquist)
-
enigmatologist
-
[see next] one who studies enigmas
-
enigmatology
-
[enigmato- + -logy; fr. L. (Gk) ænigma]
-
the investigation or analysis of enigmas
-
also, the art and science of puzzle construction
-
ennead
-
a group of nine
-
enology
-
the science dealing with wine and wine-making
-
enormity
-
[fr. L. enormitas]
-
1) great wickedness 2) an improper, vicious or immoral act 3)
usage problem: great size, immensity
-
enracinate
-
[en- + L. racine, root] to put forth roots (compare
deracinate)
-
enracination
-
the act or process of taking root
-
ensorcel
-
to bewitch
-
entasis
-
[fr. Gk word for tension] /EN tuh sis/
-
archaic a slight convexity or swelling, as in the shaft
of a column, intended to compensate for the illusion of concavity resulting
from straight sides
-
entelechy
-
[fr. Gk entelekheia] /en TEL eh key/
-
Philos. 1) [Aristotle] the condition of a thing whose essence is fully
realized; actuality
-
2) a vital force that directs an organism toward self-fulfillment
-
entheastic
-
[fr. Gk entheastikos, inspired] /en thee AS tic/
-
obs. agitated by divine energy; inspired
-
entheate
-
[fr. L, entheos, divinely inspired] obs. possessed
or inspired by a god
-
entheomania
-
[fr. L, entheos + -mania]
-
a passion for divine inspiration; religious mania (cf. demonomania)
-
enthymeme
-
[fr. Gk enthyméma, thought, argument] /EN thuh meem/
-
Logic a syllogism or other argument in which a premise or the
conclusion is suppressed
-
entrechat
-
[F.] /A(n) tre shaw/ a ballet leap in which the dancer repeatedly crosses
the legs; used figuratively, as in his verbal entrechats
-
entrepôt
-
[F.] /A(n) tre po/ an intermediary center of trade and transshipment
-
enturbulate
-
[coined by L. Ron Hubbard, prob. fr. turbulent/disturbed]
-
used as a shibboleth by Scientologists to disturb; to harass
-
entwicklungsroman
-
[G.] a novel dealing with the protagonist's character development from
childhood to maturity [compare
bildungsroman]
-
eolithic
-
of or relating to the early period of the Stone Age marked by the use of
crudely chipped flint
-
eonism
-
[eponym, fr. the Chevalier Charles d'Éon (1728-1810), a French adventurer
who wore women's clothes + -ism] transvestism, esp. by a man
-
epact
-
a period added to harmonize the lunar with the solar calendar
-
epanorthosis
-
the correcting of a statement as one is making it
-
epassyterotically
-
[fr. Gk epassuteros] nonce-word one after another
-
epenthesis
-
[fr. Gk epentithenai, to insert a letter] /e PEN(t) thuh sis/
-
the insertion (or development) of a sound or letter within a word; hence
epenthesize, to so insert
-
epeolatry
-
/epe OL atry/ the worship of words; hence, epeolatrist
-
epexegesis
-
additional explanation
-
ephebophile
-
[fr.Gk phepius, youth] /ef FEE bo file/
-
an adult who is attracted to youths who are postpubescent; hence,
ephebophilia
-
ephectic
-
[fr. Gk ephektikos, to hold back] /e FEK tik/
characterized by suspense of judgement
-
ephemeral
-
beginning and ending in a day
-
ephemerist
-
[fr. Gk ephemeris, diary] /ee PHEM er ist/
-
1) obs. one who keeps an ephemeris; a journalist
-
2) obs. one who studies the daily motions and positions of the
planets
-
3) a collector of ephemera [paper items (as posters, broadsides, and
tickets) that were originally meant to be discarded after use but have since
become collectibles]
-
ephesian
-
/i FEE zhen/ a jovial companion; a thief; a roysterer
-
ephialtes
-
[fr. Gk ephialtes, an incubus; fr.
epihallomai, to leap upon)
-
a demon supposed to cause nightmares; the nightmare itself
-
ephorize
-
[fr. Gk ephoros, uplifted] obs. to exercise a
controlling influence over
-
epicaricacy
-
/EP i kar IK i see/? taking pleasure in another's misfortune:
schadenfreude
-
epicritic
-
[fr. Gk epikrinein, to decide] /ep i KRIT ik/
-
of or relating to sensory nerve fibers that enable the perception of slight
differences in the intensity of stimuli, esp. touch or temperature
(compare protopathic)
-
epideictic
-
rhetorically demonstrative (showing off)
-
epigone
-
an inferior imitator of a creative thinker or artist; hence, epigonic
-
epimyth
-
the moral of the story
-
epinician
-
[fr. Gk epinicion, song of victory] /ep eh NI si un/ in
celebration of victory
-
epiphenomenon
-
/EP uh fi NOM uh non/
-
1) a secondary phenomenon that results from and accompanies another
-
2) Pathol. an additional condition or symptom in the course
of a disease, not necessarily connected with the disease
-
epiphor
-
[Gk. epiphora, a bringing to or upon]
-
a metaphor that expresses the existence of something
-
(opposed to diaphor, a metaphor that expresses the possibility of
something)
-
epiphyte
-
[fr. Gk epi, upon + phyton, plant) /EP uh fite/
-
a plant which grows on another plant; usually restricted to those which derive
only support (and not nutrition) from the plants on which they grow: air
plant
-
episematic
-
[fr. Gk epi- + sematic, of mimetic colors]
-
Biol. (esp. of coloration) serving to assist members
of the same species in recognizing each other
-
epistemic
-
[fr. Gk epistem(é), knowledge] /ep uh STEE mik/
-
of or pertaining to knowledge or the conditions for acquiring it
-
epistemology
-
the study of the nature and grounds of knowledge, esp. its limits
-
epistrophe
-
repetition of a word or expression at the end of successive phrases, clauses,
sentences or verses especially for rhetorical or poetic effect
-
e.g., government of the people, by the people, for the people
-
epitasis
-
the part of the play developing the main action and leading to the catastrophe
-
epizootic
-
/ep i zo OT ik/ [n] an outbreak of disease affecting many animals of
one kind at the same time; also: the disease itself
-
eponymous
-
of, relating to, or being the person for whom something is believed to be
named
-
epopt
-
one instructed in a secret system
-
ept
- [back-formation fr. inept < L. ineptus < L. in- + aptus]
(so the positive of inept is actually apt)
- used as a deliberate antonym of inept: adroit, appropriate,
effective
-
eptitude
- the quality of being ept
-
epulose
-
[fr. L. epulum, a feast] /EP u lose/
-
obs. rare feasting to excess; hence epulosity, a feasting
to excess
-
equanimity
-
evenness of mind esp. under stress; right disposition, balance
-
equanimous
-
[fr. L. æquanimis, having an even mind] /EE kwa nuh mus/
-
possessing or displaying equanimity: even-tempered
-
equifinality
-
the property of allowing or having the same effect or result from different
events
-
equinoctial
-
relating to the equinox
-
equipoise
-
[fr. equal poise] 1) a state of equilibrium 2) a counterbalance
-
equitation
-
the act or art of riding on horseback
-
equivoque
-
an equivocal word, specif: pun, wordplay
-
erastophilia
-
the obsession to meddle in and gossip about the sexual lives of others
-
eremite
-
a hermit, esp: a religious recluse
-
eremophobia
-
the fear of being left alone
-
ereptation
-
[fr. L. ereptare, to creep forth]
-
obs. 'A creeping forth' {Bailey, 1736}
-
ereption
-
[fr. L. ereptio < eripere, to snatch away] /e REP tion/
-
obs. 'A taking away.' {Cockeram, 1623}
-
erethism
-
[fr. Gk erethizein, to irritate]
-
abnormal irritability or sensitivity to stimulation (of an organ or body
part)
-
ergodic
-
[erg + Gk hodos, way + -ic]
-
1) of or relating to a process in which every sequence or sizable sample
is the same statistically and therefore equally representative of the whole
-
2) involving or relating to the probability that any state will recur; hence
ergodicity
-
ergophobia
-
the fear of work
-
ergotism
-
[fr. L. ergo > ergot, to argue, wrangle]
-
a) arguing, quibbling, wrangling b) logical conclusion
-
ergotize
-
to quibble, wrangle
-
eric
-
[Irish Gaelic eiric] /ER ik/
-
a payment imposed for homicide in medieval Irish law upon the slayer and
his kin consisting of a fixed price for the life of the slain and the honor
price of the slayer: blood fine (cf.
wergild)
-
eristic
-
pertaining to dispute, argument or controversy; argumentative, controversial
-
erlking
-
a spirit that does mischief or evil, esp. to children
-
erme
-
obs. to grieve; to feel sad
-
eroteme
-
/ER uh teem/ rare a question mark
-
erotomane
-
[back-formation from NL erotomania] someone having excessive
sexual desire
-
erotomania
-
an unusually strong sexual desire
-
errant
-
1) traveling
-
2) straying outside the proper path; moving about aimlessly; deviating from
a standard; fallible
-
erstwhile
-
former, previous; formerly, in the past
-
eructation
-
an act or instance of belching
-
erumpent
-
bursting forth
-
escamotage
-
[fr. F. escamoter to juggle, conjure, make vanish]
-
/es kah mo tazh/ juggling, sleight of hand, trickery
-
eschatology
-
a branch of theology concerned with the end of the world
-
eschaton
-
the last thing (the end of the world)
-
immanentizing the eschaton - R.A. Wilson
-
esclandre
-
[F.] /esk la(n)dr(eh)/
-
an incident that arouses unpleasant talk or gives rise to scandal: scene
-
esculent
-
[adj] edible, or [n] something which is edible
-
esemplastic
-
having the power to shape disparate things into a unified whole
-
esne
-
obs. except Hist. OE designation of a class of domestic slaves:
serf
-
esperable
-
[Sp.] nonce-word in C. S. Pierce? expected, hoped for
-
esperance
-
[fr. L. sperare, to hope] obs. hope, expectation
-
espièglerie
- [F. fr. espiègle] /es pyeg luh REE/ the quality or state of being roguish or frolicsome
-
espiocrat
-
[fr. espionage aristocrats, a John Le Carré coinage]
-
the governors of the intelligence service (MI6); transf.
-
esprit de l'escalier
-
also, esprit d'escalier [F, lit. spirit of the
staircase]
-
a retort or remark that occurs to a person after the opportunity to make
it has passed cf. treppenwitz
-
esquivalience
-
[perhaps from F. esquiver, dodge, slink away]
-
"the willful avoidance of one's official responsibilities" {this
is a factitious entry in the New Oxford American Dict., inserted for the
purpose of foiling copyright violations}
-
estaminet
-
a small cafe; bistro
-
estoppel
-
a bar to alleging or denying a fact because of one's own previous contrary
actions or words
-
esurient
-
hungry, greedy
-
etaerio
-
Bot. an aggregate cluster of fruit derived from a single flower;
e.g., raspberry, blackberry
-
ethos
-
the distinguishing character, sentiment, moral nature or guiding beliefs
of a people or group
-
etiolate
-
to bleach and alter the natural development of by excluding sunlight; to
make pale and sickly
-
etrennes
-
[F.] New Year's gifts
-
ettle
-
[fr. ON ætla, to think, purpose] /ET'l/
-
Scot. 1) aim, intent, purpose 2) chance, opportunity
-
eudaemonia
-
[fr. Gk eu-, good + daimon, spirit] (also eudemonia)
a contented state of being happy and healthy and prosperous; a feeling of
well-being and happiness
-
eudaemonism
-
the theory that the highest ethical goal is happiness and personal well-being
-
eudemonic(s)
-
also eudaemonic(s); see eudaemonism
-
1) [adj] conducive to or producing happiness and well-being
-
2) [n] pl. the art of applying life to the maximization of well-being
-
euhemerism
-
interpretation of myths as traditional accounts of historical persons and
events
-
eumoirous
-
[fr. Gk eumoiros, well-endowed by fortune] /yoo MOI rus/?
-
rare happy or lucky as the result of being good
-
euneirophrenia
-
[fr. Gk oneiros, dream + eu-, good + -phrenia] /eu NI
ro FRE ni uh/
-
rare peace of mind after a pleasant dream
-
euonym
-
[from Gk eu, good + onym, name] a name well-suited to
the person, place or thing named
-
eupathy
-
[Gk eupatheia, comfort; innocent emotions] /EU pa thy/
-
Stoic Philos. good affections; right feeling
-
eupeptic
-
1) cheerful, optimistic
-
2) of, relating to or having good digestion
-
euphrasia
-
[L.] /you FRAY zjee uh/ 1) an eyebright 2) in
etymological sense: cheerfulness
-
euphuism
-
artificial elegance of language
-
euphuistic
-
[after Euphues, in Euphues, the Anatomy of Wit, by John Lyly; from Gk
euphues, shapely] /YU fyu IS tic/
-
of the nature of or characterized by euphuism (high-flown diction); hence,
euphuistically
-
eutrapelia
-
/yoo trap el EE ah/ Aristotle's word for pleasantness in conversation:
wit, repartee; liveliness; urbanity
-
eutrapely
-
[fr. Gk eutrapelia] see previous
-
evaginate
-
to turn inside out
-
evancalous
-
pleasant to embrace
-
eventerate
-
[fr. L. e-, out + venter, belly; cf. F. eventrer]
-
obs. rare to open the bowels of; to disembowel
-
evirate
- [fr. L. evirare, to deprive of virility] to emasculate; to render unmanly
-
exanimation
-
lifelessness
-
excantation
-
obs. disenchantment by a countercharm; an act of freeing by
enchantment (as opposed to incantation)
-
excarnate
-
obs. to deprive or strip of flesh
-
ex cathedra
-
[L., from the chair (esp. the seat of a bishop)]
-
by virtue of, or in the exercise of one's office; with authority
-
an ex cathedra pronouncement
-
excerebrose
-
brainless
-
exclaustration
-
a release from religious vows to return to the secular world
-
excoriate
-
abrade; to heap abuse
-
excruciate
-
1) to inflict intense pain on: torture
-
2) to subject to intense mental distress
-
excubant
-
[fr. L. excubare, to lie on guard)] /EX cu bant/
-
rare (pedantic) keeping watch
-
exeat (also exeant)
-
[L., let him go out]
-
Brit. a permit for temporary absence (as from a college or
monastery)
-
exegesis
-
exposition, esp .an explanation or critical interpretation of a text
-
exeleutherostomize
-
[fr. Gk ex-, out + eleutherostom-os, free-spoken] (also
exeleutherostomise)
-
nonce-word to speak out freely
-
exemplum
-
[L., model, example] /eg ZEM plum/
-
1) example, model an exemplum of heroism
-
2) a story illustrating a moral point or sustaining an argument
-
exenterate
-
[fr. L. exenterare] obs. in literal sense
-
to take out the entrails of; to eviscerate, disembowel
-
exergue
-
a space on a coin, token or medal usually on the reverse below the date
-
exflunct
-
[back-formation from exfluncticate]
-
to demolish, to overcome or beat thoroughly; to exhaust, completely use up
-
exfluncticate
-
[mock Latinism from U.S. pioneer days]
-
(now used historically) also, exflunctify
-
to overcome or beat thoroughly; to completely use up
-
exigible
-
[F.] that may be exacted, non-optional; repairable [rare]
-
exiguous
-
scanty in amount: meager
-
eximious
-
inkhorn term choice, excellent
-
exinanition
-
/eg zina NISH en/ 1) archaic an emptying or enfeebling:
exhaustion
-
2) humiliation, abasement
-
exnihilation
-
[f. L .ex nihilo, out of nothing] something created out of nothing
-
exobiology
-
[fr. Gk exo, outside + biology]]
-
the branch of biology that deals with the search for extraterrestrial life
and the effects of extraterrestrial surroundings on living organisms; hence
exobiologist
-
exodist
-
[fr. exodus + -ist] /EK suh dust/
-
rare one who departs from one place to settle in another; an
emigrant
-
exogamous
-
relating to or characterized by marriage outside a specific group, especially
as required by custom or law
-
exonumia
-
[NL] /EK-su-nOO-me-uh/ objects that resemble money but are not
designed to circulate as money; e.g., medals, tokens, badges, scrip, etc.
-
exoptable
-
[fr. L. exoptare to wish earnestly, desire greatly]
obs. highly desirable
-
exordium
-
[L.] /eg ZOR dee um/ a beginning or introduction especially to
a discourse or composition
-
exornation
- [fr. L. exornare < ornare, to adorn] obs., chiefly Rhet. an adornment; decoration,
embellishment
-
exosculate
-
[fr, L. exosculari] obs. to kiss heartily
-
exoteric
-
[fr. Gk exoterikos, external] compare esoteric
-
1a) suitable to be imparted to the public b) belonging to the outer
circle
-
2) relating to the outside: external
-
expede
-
inkhorn term to expedite, to hasten
-
expediate
-
[fr. L. expedire, to make ready, prepare]
-
[adj] obs. expeditious
-
[v] error for expedite (in Cockeram)
-
expergefaction
-
[fr. L. expergefacere < expergere, to awake] /ek SPURJ uh
FAK shun/
-
archaic the act of rousing; the condition of being aroused
-
expergefactor
-
someone or something that awakens: an awakener; e.g., an alarm clock
-
expiscate
-
[fr. L. expiscari, to fish out]
-
chiefly Scot. to learn through laborious investigation; to search
out; literally, to fish out
-
expiscation
-
[see previous] a fishing out; an investigation of or into
-
expiscatory
-
chiefly Scot. tending to expiscate or fish out: searching
-
explaterate
-
to talk continuously without stop; to run off at the mouth
-
exponible
-
capable of being explained
-
exprobration
-
1a) obs. an act of reproach b) Rhet. the
reproaching of a person with ingratitude, and unmindfulness of some benefit
conferred upon him
-
2) a reproachful or upbraiding utterance; reproachful language
-
exsanguination
-
the process of draining or losing blood
-
exsiccosis
-
[fr. Latin exsiccare] /ek suh KO sus/
-
insufficient intake of fluids or the state of bodily dehydration produced
thereby
-
exsufflate
-
[L. exsufflare, to blow at or upon] /ex SUF flate/
-
obs. exc. Historical to blow away; to exorcise or renounce by
blowing (compare insufflate)
-
also, rare exsufflicate, puffed up(?)
-
exsufflation
-
blowing out; forced breathing
-
extirp
-
[fr. F. extirper, ad. L. ex(s)tirpare]
-
obs. or arch. extirpate (to root out, exterminate)
-
extirpate
-
[fr. L. exstirpo, to uproot] /EK stur pate/
-
1a) to destroy completely: wipe out b) to root out
-
2) to cut out by surgery
-
extirpation
-
the act of extirpating
-
extispicy
-
/ek STIS picy/
-
Roman Antiq. inspection of the entrails of sacrificial victims
for the purpose of divination; haruspicy
-
extraforaneous
-
outdoors
-
extramundane
-
[fr. late L. extramundan-us]
-
situated in or relating to a region beyond the material world; fig.
out of this world
-
extravagate
-
[fr. Med. L. extravagari, to wander]
-
archaic 1) to wander widely 2) to exceed proper limits
-
extravasation
-
[fr. extra, outside + vas, vessel + -ation] /ex TRAV uh SAY shun/
-
1) Pathology forcing of the flow (of blood or lymph) from a
vessel out into surrounding tissue
-
2) Geology effusion of molten rock from a subterranean reservoir
-
extremophile
-
an organism that lives under extreme environmental conditions (as in a hot
spring)
-
extroitive
-
[fr. L. extro, outward + ire, to go + -ive] rare
directed to external objects
-
extropian
-
an advocate or adherent of the theory of extropy; a person who believes that
cultural and technological development tends to oppose, and will overcome,
entropy
-
extropy
-
the extent of a systems intelligence, information, order, vitality,
and capacity for improvement
-
extund
-
[fr. L. extundere, to beat out] obs. to beat or
force out {Bailey, 1727}
-
exuviate
-
[fr. L. exuere, to take off] to shed (a skin or similar outer
covering): molt; also fig
-
eye-service
-
archaic work done only when an employer is watching
-
fabulist
-
[F. fabuliste, fr. L. fabula, fable] /FAB yuh list/
-
1) a creator or writer of fables 2) a teller of tales; a liar
-
facinorous
-
wicked
-
facticity
-
[fr. F. facticité, fr.G. faktizität, fr.
faktum fact (fr. Latin factum) + -izität (fr. Latin
-icitat-, -icitas -icity)]
-
the quality or state of being a fact: factuality historical
facticity
-
factious
-
inclined to form factions: seditious
-
factitious
-
contrived; artificial
-
factotum
-
a general servant
-
faculent
-
[fr. L. fax, torch]
-
obs. rare giving forth light like a torch; bright, clear (compare
luculent)
-
(not to be confused with feculent!)
-
facund
-
eloquent
-
facundity
-
[fr. L. facundus] eloquence; effective communication in speech
-
fadiddy
-
nonce-word, used euphemistically
-
...the air was as cold as a witch's fadiddy. - Janet Evanovich
-
faff
-
Brit. to spend your time doing a lot of unimportant things instead
of the thing you should be doing
-
I wish you'd stop faffing about and do something useful! {Cambridge
International Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs}
-
fainaigue
- [origin uncertain] /fuh NEYG/
- 1) Brit. dialect to shirk; evade work or responsibility
- 2) to renege at cards; cheat or resort to devious means (cf. finagle)
-
fainéant
-
given to do nothing, idle, lazy
-
faineantise
-
[F.] do-nothing-ness; indisposition to do anything; indifference, inactivity
-
fakeloo
- [arbitrary formation?] dated U.S. slang (but now used by gamers)
a made-up story; a con
-
fakement
-
[from fake + -ment, but origin unknown]
-
slang something faked : a contrivance or device used to deceive
-
falciform
-
[f. L. falc-em sickle + -(i)form] curved, hooked, shaped like a sickle
(falcate)
-
faleste
-
[F., thrown into the sea] cf. infalistatus
-
obs. a form of capital punishment inflicted upon a malefactor
by laying him bound upon the beach sands until high tide carries him away
-
"Iinfalistatus. L. Lat. In old English Law. Exposed upon the sands,
or sea shore. A species of punishment mentioned in Hengham... See Faleste."
- A. M. Burrill, A Law Dictionary and Glossary
-
famigerate
-
[fr. L. fama, fame + gerere, to carry]
-
obs. to divulge or disseminate; found now only in olde dictionaries
{Cockeram, Bailey}
-
hence: famigeration, famigerous
-
fanfaronade
-
empty boasting, bluster
-
fantod
-
1) a state of irritability and tension
-
2) an emotional outburst: fit
-
fap
-
intoxicated, fuddled
-
farb
-
jargon a reenactor of (esp. U.S. Civil War) battles who is not
authentic
-
farblondjet
-
(Yiddish) /far BLAWN jit/ (also farblondzhet) lost (but really);
mixed up
-
farcinate
-
to cram, fill, stuff: a) (a place) with something b) (the stomach) with food
-
farctate
-
Botany stuffed, full or crammed
-
fard
-
to paint (esp the face) with cosmetics; gloss over
-
fardel
-
(also fardle) bundle; burden
-
farfetch
-
[back-formation from far-fetched]
-
[vt] to derive (a word) in a farfetched manner
-
[vi] to make farfetched derivations
-
hence, farfetchedness: the state or fact of being farfetched
-
far-fetched
-
1) brought from a remote time or place
-
2) not easily or naturally deduced or introduced: improbable
-
farinaceous
-
[fr. L. farinaceus < farina]
-
1) having a mealy or powdery texture
-
2) containing or rich in starch
-
farolitos
-
[Sp., little lanterns] candles set in brown paper bags filled with
sand
-
farouche
-
marked by shyness or a lack of polish; wild
-
farraginous
-
comprising a hodgepodge (of materials)
-
farrago
-
a confused collection, mixture: hodgepodge
-
fartlek
-
a training technique, used esp. among runners, consisting of bursts of intense
effort alternating with less strenuous activity
-
fascicle
-
/FA si kul/ 1) a small or slender bundle (as of pine needles or nerve fibers)
-
2) one of the divisions of a book published in parts
-
fascine
-
Mil. a long cylindrical faggot of brush or other small wood,
firmly bound together at short intervals, used in filling up ditches, the
construction of batteries, etc. usually pl.
-
fash
-
Scot. to vex, to annoy, to trouble
-
fashimite
-
someone who is a slave to fashion
-
fastuous
-
haughty, arrogant; ostentatious, showy
-
fatidic
- [fr. L. fatidicus < fatum, fate + dicere, to say] of or relating to prophecy
-
fatiferous
-
[fr. L. fatum, fate + -fer, producing] /fa TIF er ous/
-
obs. rare fate-bringing; deadly, destructive {found in Blount
and in Johnson; whence in modern dictionaries}
-
fatigable
-
[fr. L. fatigare, to fatigue] /FAT uh guh bul/ subject to fatigue;
easily tired: defatigable
-
(where defatigable was truly lost, and then back-formed from indefatigable;
whence de- is used to intensify and in- to negate)
-
fatwa
-
an Islamic religious decree issued by the ulama
-
faugh
-
used to express contempt, disgust or abhorrence
-
faunch
-
to display angry excitement: rant and rave
-
faust
-
[fr. L. faustus] rare happy, lucky
-
fauxonry
- [fr. OF faussoner, to deceive] obs. fraud, in the legal sense; falsification
of deeds or measures, coining false money, etc.
-
favela
-
[Brazilian Pg. favela, perh. fr. Favela, hill outside Rio de
Janeiro]
-
a settlement of jerry-built shacks lying on the outskirts of a Brazilian
city
-
favonian
-
[fr. L. favonius, west wind] of or belonging to the west wind (or
zephyr): mild, bland
-
feazings
-
a ragged or ravelled rope end
-
febrile
-
feverish
-
februate
-
obs. to purify
-
februation
-
[fr. L. februare, to purify (also L. Februarius, the Roman
festival of purification, held on the 15th of this month)]
-
now rare a ceremonial purification or cleansing; a sacrifice
-
feck
-
/fek/ feck has several vernacular meanings and variations..
-
[n] Scots 1) efficacy; force; value (whence, feckless)
-
2) (large) amount/quantity 3) greater or larger part (used with definite
article)
-
[v] Irish Eng. 1) to steal 2) to throw 3) to leave
hastily
-
[intj] chiefly Irish an expletive, without sexual connotation;
as in: damn, blast
-
feckful
-
Scot. 1) efficient, effective 2) vigorous; powerful
-
feckless
-
[fr. Sc. feck, effect + -less]
-
1) weak, ineffective 2) worthless, irresponsible
-
fecklessness
-
worthlessness due to being weak and ineffectual
-
feckly
-
[feck + -ly] /fek ly/ chiefly Scot.
-
1) for the most part 2) almost, nearly
-
feculent
-
1) filthy, scummy, muddy or foul
-
2) of the nature of containing waste matter
-
fedifraction
-
[fr. L. foedus, compact + fraction-em, a breaking] /feh
di FRAK shun/? (see also fedifragous)
-
obs. rare a breach of faith or covenant
-
fedifragous
-
[fr. L. foedus + frangere, to break] /feh di FRAG ous/?
-
obs. faithless, perfidious
-
feeze
-
a state of alarm or excitement; rush
-
fefnicute
-
[origin unknown] Lancashire dialect a hypocrite; a parasite,
a hanger-on; a sneak
-
felicific calculus
-
a method of determining rightness of an action by balancing probable pleasures
and pains that it would produce
-
felo-de-se
-
one who deliberately kills himself; an act of deliberate self-destruction,
suicide
-
femtosecond
-
one quadrillionth part of a second
-
feracious
-
producing abundantly: prolific, fruitful
-
feria
-
a weekday of the church calendar on which no feast is celebrated
-
ferial
-
[L. feria, ordinary day] /FE ri al/
-
of or relating to a weekday on which no feast is observed
-
feriation
-
[fr. L. feriari < feria, holiday] obs.
holiday keeping; cessation of work
-
a welcome midwinter feriation - D. Grambs
-
ferroequinologist
-
[ferroequino- "iron horse" + -logy + -ist] /FEH rO eek weh NAHL eh
jest/
-
one whose hobby is railroads or model railroads: a railroad enthusiast, railfan
-
ferruginous
-
[fr. L. ferrugo, iron rust] /feh-RU-ji-nous/
-
1) originally, of the nature of iron rust; now commonly, of the nature of
iron
-
2) rust-colored; reddish-brown
-
ferrule
-
a band placed around the end of a stick (as a pool cue) for reinforcement
-
ferule
-
an instrument used to punish children; specif: a flat piece of wood (as a
ruler) also ferula
-
fescennine
-
[n] a style of poetry using coarse language
-
[adj] vulgar; obscene
-
fescue
-
a small pointer
-
festinate
-
[adj] hasty [v] to hasten
-
Festschrift
-
a volume of writings by different authors presented as a tribute or memorial
esp. to a scholar
-
feu de joie
-
[F., fire of joy] the firing of guns as a symbol of joy; also
transf. and fig.; obs. a bonfire
-
feuilleton
-
[fr. F. feuillet, sheet of paper < foille, leaf] /fuh
yuh TO(n)/
-
1) the entertainment section of a European newspaper
-
2) something printed in a feuilleton
-
3) a novel printed in installments; a work of fiction catering to popular
taste
-
4) a short literary composition
-
feuilletonist
-
[F. feuilletoniste] /fuh yuh TO nust/
-
a writer of regularly appearing critical or familiar essays or of a column
-
fewmets (or fumets)
-
deer droppings
-
fewterer
-
[fr. F. veltre, greyhound] obs. a keeper of dogs, esp. greyhounds
-
ficelle
-
[F., string, twine] a trick, artifice, (stage) device
-
fico
-
[It., obscene gesture] a contemptibly worthless trifle, fig
-
fidging
-
[fr. Sc. fidge, to move about restlessly]
-
Scot. restless, fidgety; in phr. fidgin' fain,
eager and twitching with excitement
-
fidimplicitary
-
[f. Eccl. L. fid-es implicita, implicit faith + -ary] /fi dim
PLI si ter ee/
-
nonce-word that puts implicit faith in another's views
-
fido
-
[from freaks + irregulars + defects + oddities]
/FI do/ a coin having a minting error
-
figgum
-
obs. a juggler's trick(s); conjuring; the fire-spitting trick
of a carnival performer
-
filemot
-
[corruption of F. feuillemorte] /FIL eh mot/ (also philamot
and feuillemort) of the color of a dead or faded leaf
-
filipendulous
-
[fr. NL] hanging or having the appearance of hanging by a thread
{in Webster's 1864 Dict.}
-
fillip
-
1a) a blow or gesture made by the sudden forcible straightening of a finger
curled up against the thumb (cf. fyerk)
-
b) a short sharp blow: buffet
-
2) something tending to arouse or excite as a) a stimulus b) a trivial addition:
embellishment c) a significant and often unexpected development: wrinkle
-
filty
-
Brit. Mining dial. a Somersetshire term for combustible gases;
also called fire-damp
-
fimblefamble
-
[perhaps from reduplication of fimble hemp] an excuse, particularly
a phoney one; a lying answer
-
fin de siecle
-
[F. end of century, (19th)] relating esp. to its climate of sophistication,
world-weariness and fashionable despair
-
finific
-
rare a limiting element or quality
-
finiteless
-
/FI nite less/ Infinite. [Obs.] --Sir T. Browne. {Webster's 1913}
spurious? without bounds, unlimited
-
finity
- [finite + –y, after infinity] the state of being finite: finitude
-
finjan
-
the handleless coffee cup which fits within a
zarf
-
finnimbrun
-
[of arbitrary formation] obs. rare a trifle, a gimcrack
-
firkin
-
a small cask measuring 9 gallons (1/4 barrel)
-
firkytoodle
-
archaic to pet, caress; cf.
canoodle {from the Dictionary of Slang
and Unconventional English, by Eric Partridge}
-
firnification
-
[fr. G. firn + -i + -fication ] /FIR nu fi KAY shun/ the
process whereby snow is changed to
firn,
or névé
-
firstfoot
-
Brit. 1) the first person entering a house on New Year's day, such
a person being popularly believed to bring good luck to the household if
brunet and bad luck if blond
-
2) the first person met on the way to a special event (as a christening or
wedding)
-
fissilingual
-
having a forked or cleft tongue
-
fissiparous
-
[fissi- (being split) + L. parere, to bring forth] divisive;
factious
-
fizgig
-
a flighty, frivolous female
-
flabbergastation
-
[fr. flabbergast, to confound] the state of being flabbergasted
-
flabellation
-
[fr. L. flabellum, a fan] Med. the act of fanning
or cooling something, as of a fractured limb
-
flagitious
-
villainous
-
flamfew
-
[corruption of F. fanfelue(?)] also flamefew, Sc. flamfoo
-
obs. rare 1) a gewgaw, trifle, trinket
-
2) Naut. moonlight reflected on water (cf. moonglade)
-
flane
-
to saunter, to laze
-
flaneur
-
[F. flâneur, idler] an idle man-about-town; a lounger, gossiper
-
flaneuring
-
/FLAH nuhr ing/ idling; sauntering; wandering aimlessly
-
flapadosha
-
[origin unknown] an eccentric, showy, superficial person
-
flappable
-
[back-formation from unflappable (1968)]
-
lacking self-assurance and self-control: easily upset (a lost positive
of the jocular kind)
-
flaskisable
-
obs. pliable, inconstant, changeable
-
flatulopetic
-
[fr. L. flatus, blowing + Gk. -poietic, creation] /flach
uh lo PET ik/
-
rare 1) (Med.) pertaining to gas production in the bowels 2)
pretentious, pompous, inflated
-
fleer
-
to laugh in a derisive manner: sneer
-
flexanimous
-
mentally flexible
-
flibbertigibbet
-
a silly, flighty person; hence, flibbertigibbety
-
flinders
-
bits; fragments; splinters
-
flirt-gill
-
a woman of light or loose behavior; cf.
skainsmate
-
flivver
-
a small, cheap, usually old automobile
-
floccify
-
obs. to set nought by {Cockerham}; to consider worthless
-
floccillation
-
a delirious picking at bedclothes
-
floccinaucinihilipilification
-
the categorizing of something as worthless
-
flocculent
-
[fr. L. flocculus + Eng. -ent] /FLOCK yu lunt/
-
1) of the character of wool: woolly, flocky flocculent cloud
masses
-
2) made up of loosely aggregated particles or soft flakes a flocculent
white precipitate
-
floricide
-
[fr. L. flor(i), flower + -cide, killer]
-
nonce-word one who destroys flowers
-
florilegium
-
a collection of writings
-
fluffer
-
slang an off-stage person who keeps male porn stars "presentable"
-
flug
-
U.S dial dust or lint that collects in pockets, under beds,
and in similar places; also fig. (also sp. phlug)
-
flummadiddle
-
[perhaps alteration of flummery] also flumadiddle, flumdiddle
-
U.S. slang 1) something foolish or worthless : nonsense, trash
2) bauble, frill
-
flummer
-
[back-formation from flummery]
-
archaic to get around (a person) especially by coaxing or flattery:
beguile, humbug
-
flummery
-
[fr. Welsh llymru] something poor, trashy, or not worth having;
empty compliment or foolish deceptive language
-
flustrate
-
variant fluster
-
flyting
-
a dispute or exchange of personal abuse in verse form
-
fly-tipping
-
[fly + tipping] UK the illegal dumping of garbage in an
unauthorized place
-
fnarr
- [imitative of stifled laughter]
- intj. representing lecherous or half-suppressed
laughter; freq. used to indicate sexual innuendo
cf. nudge, nudge.. wink, wink
-
fnese
-
obs. to breathe heavily; to snort; to sneeze
-
(sneeze is apparently an alteration of fnese due to misreading or misprinting
it with the old-style after the initial combination fn- had
become unfamiliar)
-
fnord
- [neologism from the Principia Discordia
popularized in the Illuminatus! trilogy]
- 1) a word held to be invisible to the conscious mind, but
subliminally causing a sense of angst when encountered
- 2) a word defined as having no definition (but see fnard, as from P. K. Dick)
- 3) anything jarringly out of context (intentional or not)
-
fodgel
-
Scot. plump and solidly built; buxom
-
fodient
-
[fr. L. fodere, to dig] [n] a burrowing animal [adj]
pertaining to digging
-
foetor
-
/FEE tor/ an offensive odor: stench (also fetor)
-
fogram
-
[origin unknown] also fogrum /FOE gruhm/
-
[n] an antiquated or old-fashioned person: fogy [adj] obs.
antiquated, old-fashioned
-
foison
-
Scot. physical energy or strength
-
foma
-
harmless untruths; useful and harmless b.s. -- coined by Kurt Vonnegut
-
foofaraw
-
[origin uncertain; possibly fr. Sp. fanfarron, boaster] /FOO
fuh raw/
-
1) a great fuss over a trifling matter
-
2) an excessive amount of decoration or ornamentation
-
foo fighter
-
[fr. foo, nonsense word + fighter]
-
orig. U.S. Mil. used in WWII to describe various mysterious
aerial phenomena seen in the skies over Europe and the Pacific theatre
-
foolscap
-
[fr. a former watermark representing a fool's cap]
-
1) chiefly Brit. a sheet of writing or printing paper measuring
approximately 13 by 16 inches 2) a fool's cap
-
footle
-
to speak or act foolishly
-
footling
-
1) lacking judgment or ability, inept
-
2) lacking use or value, trivial
-
footpad
-
[fr. foot + obs. pad, highwayman] historical a
highwayman who robs on foot
-
footy
-
insignificant; shabby
-
foozle
-
to manage or play awkwardly: bungle
-
forensic
-
[fr. L. forensis] /feh REN sik/
-
A) pertaining to, connected with, or used in courts of law
-
B) ellipt. use, colloq. a forensic science department or laboratory
-
forfex
-
[L.] a pair of scissors
-
forficate
-
[fr. L. forfex] /FOR fi kit/ shaped like scissors; deeply
forked
-
forficulate
-
nonce-word to have a creeping sensation, as if a forficula {earwig}
was crawling over one's skin
-
forfoughten
-
[fr. archaic form of fought] /for FAUT un/ (also
forfoughen)
-
Scot. worn out (from fighting); exhausted
-
forjeskit
-
/for JES kit/ Scot. jaded; worn out
-
formicate
-
[fr. L. formicare < formica, an ant] to crawl like
ants; transf. to swarm with moving beings
-
formication
-
[see previous] an abnormal feeling like the sensation of ants crawling
on the skin
-
formicide
-
[fr. L. formica, ant + Eng. -cide] /FOR muh side/ a substance
used for killing ants
-
fornication
-
[fr. L fornix, an arch or vault] a vaulting or arching: vaulted
construction (as of a cloister)
-
fossarian
-
[fr. L. fossa, a ditch, trench] one of the clergy of the 4th
century who dug graves
-
(or, as Mrs. Byrne has it, a clergyman moonlighting as a gravedigger)
-
fosse
-
[fr. L. fossa] (also foss) ditch; moat
-
fossick
-
Austral. to rummage, to ferret out
-
fou
-
Scot. drunk
-
foudroyant
-
sudden and overwhelming in effect; dazzling
-
fourberie
-
[F. < fourbe, a cheat, imposter] /FUR buh ree/
-
obs. trickery, deception
-
fraud: artifice, bamboozlement, bamboozling, blackmail, cheat, chicane,
chicanery, con, craft, deceit, double-dealing, dupery, duping, duplicity,
extortion, fake, fast one, fast shuffle, flimflam, fourberie, fraudulence,
graft, guile, hanky-panky, hoax, hocus-pocus, hoodwinking, hustle, imposture,
line, misrepresentation, racket, scam, sell, shakedown, sham, sharp practice,
skunk, smoke, song, spuriousness, sting, string, swindle, swindling, treachery,
trickery, vanilla - Roget's New Millennium Thesaurus (2006)
[vanilla?]
-
foziness
-
the quality of being fozy
-
fozy
-
[fr. Dutch voos, spongy + -y] /FO zi/ chiefly Scot.
-
1) (of a vegetable) spongy and light-textured; overripe
-
2) (of a person) a) fat and bloated: obese; b) dull-witted
and insipid: fatheaded
-
frab
- [onomatopoeic(?)] Brit. dial. to harass, worry; to scold, nag
-
frabjous
-
[coined by Lewis Carroll in Through the Looking-Glass] fabulous
and joyful, splendid, magnificent
-
fractious
-
[fraction (discord) + -ous] 1) troublesome , unruly 2) irritable;
quarrelsome
-
frampold
-
[of obscure origin] (also frampled)
-
obs. sour-tempered, cross, disagreeable, peevish [from
the hogwash files]
-
frangible
-
[fr. L. frangere, to break] breakable; easily broken
-
franion
-
[of obscure origin] obs. a gay reckless fellow, a gallant,
paramour
-
frankenword
-
[blend of Frankenstein + word] a
portmanteau word; formed by combining
two words the term used in linguistics is blend
-
frap
-
to draw tight (as with ropes or cables) frap a sail
-
frass
-
[G. Frass < fressen, to eat] debris or excrement
produced by insects
-
fratultery
-
[fr. L. frater, brother; after adultery]
-
nonce-word an affair between a man and his brother's girlfriend
or fiancé
-
fremd
-
[fr. OE fremde] /fremd/ now chiefly Scot.
-
1) foreign, unfamiliar, strange 2) not belonging to one's own family:
unrelated
-
fremescent
-
[fr. L. fremere, to roar] /fre MES ent/
-
archaic, rare murmuring, growing noisy and indignant
-
frenemy
- [blend of friend and enemy]
someone with whom one is friendly, despite a fundamental dislike or rivalry; someone who combines the characteristics of a friend and an enemy
-
fress
- [fr. Yiddish fresn (to devour), or G. fressen (to eat as an animal)] to eat a lot and often
-
freudenschade
-
[as opposed to schadenfreude]
dissatisfaction, unhappiness, or pain as the result of someone else's
good fortune
-
friable
-
easily crumbled or pulverized
-
fribble
-
trifle, dodder; to trifle or fool away
-
friggle
-
[freq. of frig] Brit. dialect to fuss over trifles: putter;
hence: friggled
-
friggling
-
[see previous] trifling about
-
frigorific
-
chilling
-
fripperous
-
gaudy; ostentatious
-
frippery
-
[F. friperie] finery, esp. something showy, tawdry or
nonessential; affected elegance: ostentation
-
frippish
-
[fr. fripp-ery + -ish < OF frepe, ferpe, feupe; rag, old garment
< ML faluppa, piece of straw]
-
obs. rare tawdry, gaudy
-
friscalating
-
[adj] (of dusklight) shimmering on the horizon at sunset (coined by
Wes Anderson)
-
frisson
-
shudder, thrill
-
fritinancy
-
[fr. L. fritinnire, to twitter] /FRIT i nan see/ (also
fritiniency)
-
obs. twittering or chirping, as of cicadas or other insects
-
frivol
-
to act frivolously, to trifle
-
frob
-
see next
-
frobnicate
-
[perhaps fr. frobnitz, a thingname] abbrev. as frob
-
slang to manipulate or adjust; to tweak the controls
-
frogmarch
-
to carry (a prisoner) face downwards; now usually, to march a person against
his will by any method after seizing him from behind
-
frondescence
-
[fr L. frondescere, to become leafy] the condition or period
of unfolding of leaves: leafing (cf. frondescent)
-
frondescent
-
[fr. L. frondere, to put forth leaves] springing into leaf;
expanding into fronds
-
frondeur
-
[F., lit. slinger, from Fronde (from the revolt in which the rebels
were compared to schoolboys using slings only when the teacher was not looking)]
/fro(n) dur/
-
1) a member of the Fronde (the name given to the party which rose
in rebellion against Mazarin and the Court during the minority of Louis XIV)
-
2) transf. a malcontent, rebel
-
frore
-
[pa. pple. of freeze] now only poet. intensely cold,
frosty; frozen
-
frostification
-
jocular the process of becoming frosty
-
frottage
-
1) the technique of taking a rubbing from an uneven surface, by rubbing graphite
over paper laid on top of the rough texture
-
2) the practice of obtaining sexual gratification by rubbing against someone,
both parties usually being clothed
-
frotteur
-
the active participant in frottage(2)
-
frou-frou
-
1) a rustling esp. of a woman's skirts
-
2) showy or frilly ornamentation
-
froward
-
1) habitually disposed to disobedience and opposition; perverse
-
2) archaic adverse
-
frowsty
-
Brit. 1) musty 2) having a slovenly or uncared-for appearance:
frowsy
-
frowy
-
(also froughy) chiefly New Eng.
-
1) esp. of wood spongy, brittle 2) stale, rancid; spoiled
-
frugivorous
-
[from L. frux, fruit + -vorous] /fru JIV o rous/
-
feeding on fruit, as birds or other animals; fruit-eating (cf.
insectivorous)
-
frummagemmed
- obs. cant choked, strangled, suffocated, or hanged
- {Grose's 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue}
-
fubbery
-
[fr. fob, to cheat + -ery] obs. rare cheating, deception
-
fubsy
-
[fr. obs. Eng. fubs, chubby person] being chubby and somewhat
squat
-
fucacious
- see fucatious
-
fucate
- [fr. L. fucare, to paint, rouge] obs. painted; hence, falsified, disguised, counterfeit
-
fucatious
- [fr. L. fucatus: painted, falsified, counterfeit]
obs. rare counterfeit; deceitful (also fucacious, fucatory)
-
fucatory
- see previous
-
fucivore
-
[see next] one who eats seaweed
-
fucivorous
-
[fr. L. fucus. rock-lichen + -vorus, devouring] /few
SIV ur us/
-
eating or subsisting on seaweed
-
fud
-
[origin uncertain] Scot. and Brit. dial.
-
1) the backside or rump 2) the tail of a hare or rabbit
-
fuddle
-
to confuse, muddle
-
fug
-
the heavy air of a closed room; a stuffy or malodorous emanation
-
fugacious
-
lasting a short time: evanescent
-
fugacity
-
[from fugacious, after such pairs as Engl. capacious : capacity]
-
lack of enduring qualities: transience
-
fugation
-
[f. L. fugare, to put to flight] obs. a chase;
a royal hunt; trans. repulsion
-
fugle
-
[back-formation from fugleman] 1) to act as a model or guide 2)
to make signals
-
fugleman
-
a leader (esp political); the lead soldier for a company
-
fulcible
-
[fr. L. fulcire, to support] obs. capable of being
propped up
-
fulciment
-
a prop; specif. a fulcrum
-
fulgent
-
dazzlingly bright: radiant
-
fulgurant
-
[fr. L. fulgur, lightning] flashing like lightning; brilliant
-
fulgurating
-
/FUHL gyuh rey ting/
-
flashing or sudden, like lightning: a fulgurating pain
-
fulham
-
a loaded dice
-
fuliginous
-
1) sooty; obscure, murky
-
2) having a dark or dusky color
-
fullage
-
refuse, street-sweepings, filth
-
fulminating
- [see next]
-
1) hurling denunciations or menaces
-
2) explosive
-
3) coming on suddenly with great severity
-
fulmination
- [fr. L. fulminare, strike with lightning]
- 1) the bursting forth of thunder and lightning
- 2) the act of fulminating or exploding
- 3) a thunderous verbal attack
-
fulminous
- [fr. L. fulmen, a thunderbolt] of or pertaining to thunder and lightning; also fig.
-
fulsome
-
[fr. full + -some] 1) copious; generous in amount
-
2) aesthetically, morally or generally offensive
-
3) exceeding the bounds of good taste: overdone
-
4) excessively complimentary or flattering: effusive
-
fumarole
-
a hole in a volcanic region from which hot gases and vapors issue
-
fumid
-
[fr. L. fumus, smoke] (rhymes with humid) smokey, vaporous
-
fumidity
-
smokiness
-
fumifugist
-
[L. fumus, smoke + fugare, to put to flight, fugere
to flee] /fu MIF u gist/?
-
'One who or that which drives away smoke or fumes.' {Webster,
1864}
-
funambulist
-
a tightrope walker; one who is (mentally) agile
-
funest
-
lamentable; doleful; dire
-
funge
- [fr. L fungus] obs.
- 1) a mushroom or fungus 2) a soft-headed person
-
fungible
-
1) being of such a nature that one part or quantity may be replaced by another
equal part or quantity in the satisfaction of an obligation oil,
wheat, and lumber are fungible commodities
-
2) interchangeable
-
funicular
-
a cable railway ascending a mountain
-
funipendulous
-
[fr. L. funis, rope + pendulus, hanging] /fyu nuh PEN
dyu lus/ hanging from a rope
-
furacious
-
given to thieving; thievish
-
furbelow
-
a ruffle on a garment; small piece of ornamentation
-
furciferous
-
[fr. L. furcifer, yoke bearer, scoundrel] /fur CIF er ous/
-
rare rascally
-
furfuration
-
a flaking off, such as dandruff
-
furibund
-
frenzied
-
furphy
-
a false report or rumor; an absurd story
-
furrahin
-
Scot. the right-hand hindmost horse that walks in the furrow
in plowing (but what about the back left-hand horse in a plow team?
cf. hand-ahin)
-
fuscous
-
of any or several colors averaging a brownish gray
-
fusee
-
[fr. French fusée: spindle, rocket, flare, fuse (lit. spindleful
of yarn), from L. fusus, spindle] /FYU zee/ (also
fuzee)
-
1) a friction match with a large head capable of burning in a wind
-
2) a colored flare used as a warning signal for trucks and railroad trains
-
3) a cone-shaped pulley with a spiral groove, used in a cord- or chain-winding
clock to maintain even travel in the timekeeping mechanism
-
4) a combustible fuse for detonating explosives
-
fustian
-
[OF fustaigne] pretentious and banal (writing or speech)
-
fustianist
- [fr. fustian]
rare a pretentious writer (nonce-word from Milton?)
-
fustigate
-
to criticize severely
-
fustilarian
-
nonce-word a low fellow; a stinkard; a scoundrel
-
Away you scullion! you rampallian! you fustilarian! -- Shakespeare
-
fustilugs
-
a ponderous clumsy person, esp. a fat and slovenly woman
-
futhark
-
the runic alphabet
-
futilitarian
-
one who believes that human striving is futile
-
futtock
-
one of the curved timbers scarfed together to form the lower part of a compound
rib of a ship
-
futz
-
[perhaps fr. Yiddish arumfartsn zikh, lit. to fart around; or maybe
just a euphemism]
-
1) with around to fool around, waste time 2) with
with to mess with; to tinker or trifle with
-
fuzzle
-
obs. to intoxicate, make drunk, confuse, muddle (a conflation
of fuzz and fuddle)
-
fyerk
-
to flick away using one's finger and thumb
-
fysigunkus
-
someone who is totally devoid of curiosity
go forth
Copyright © 1995-2020 -- Michael A. Fischer
"You try spell-checking this stuff!"
[ home ] [ index ]