Learn English Vocabulary - via Word of the Day

Feud [ fyood  ][ noun, intransitive verb ]MEANING :1. (n.) a blood feud or bitter, mutual enmity over generations between two clans or families
2. (intr.v.) to engage in or perpetuate a feudUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The bloody feud had been ongoing for a century.

Guile [ gahyl  ][ noun ]MEANING :craftiness, stratagem, duplicity or deviousnessUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The conman was finally apprehended despite his guile and boldness.

Unwitting [ uhn-WIT-ing ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. unintentional
2. unawareUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The thief managed to escape with a little unwitting help from the guard.

Unconscionable [ uhn-KON-shuh’-nuh’-buh’l ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. not bound by conscience; unscrupulous
2. beyond reason; excessiveUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :He lost his job as public relations officer because of his unconscionable conduct.

Juvenile [ JOO-vuh’-nl, -nahyl ][ noun, adjective ]MEANING :1. (adj.) immature, childish or young
2.(adj.) under-developed
3. (adj.) pertaining to or of children
4. (n.) a child or youth
5. (n.) a book meant for childrenUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :At the initiation program the Dean informed the students that juvenile behaviour would not be tolerated in the college.

Garble [ GAHR-buh'l  ][ noun, transitive verb ]MEANING :1. (tr.v.) to jumble, scramble or mix up ignorantly
2. (tr.v.) to distort so as to misrepresent
3. (n.) an instance or act of garblingUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The competitor's data had been garbled by the spy planted in his organization.

Fidelity [ fi-DEL-i-tee, fahy-  ][ noun ]MEANING :1. faithfulness or devotion to one's duty
2. exactness or accuracy
3. loyalty
4. accuracy with which an input signal is reproduced by an electronic systemUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :His fidelity to his wife was questioned during the started divorce proceedings.

Deferential [ dif-uh’-REN-shuh’ l  ][ adjective ]MEANING :respectful, courteous, obedient or reverentialUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The teacher praised the deferential student and asked the other students to follow his example.

Figurehead [ FIG-yer-hed  ][ noun ]MEANING :1. one who is only a nominal or titular head
2. a figure that has been carved on the bow of a ship that is sailingUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :He was elected to power but only as a figurehead.

Gaucherie [ goh-shuh'-REE; Fr. gohsh-uh-*REE  ][ noun ]MEANING :1. tactlessness or awkwardness
2. a blooper, faux pas or blunderUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The gaucherie of the captain was likened to that of a village idiot.

Ensign [ EN-sahyn; Mil. EN-suh’ n  ][ noun ]MEANING :1. a flag flown by a ship to indicate nationality
2. sign or emblem
3. an officer in the us navy who has the lowest rankUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :They would raise the ensign at dawn and lower it before dusk.

Umbrageous [ uhm-BREY-juh’s  ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. creating or affording shade
2. likely to take offence, irritableUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The weary traveller rested under an umbrageous tree which provided him with shelter from the blazing sun.

Forestall [ fohr-STAWL, fawr-  ][ transitive verb ]MEANING :1. to prevent, hinder, obstruct, thwart or delay
2. to anticipate or deal with beforehand
3. to buy goods in advance so as to increase the price when resellingUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The building secretary could not forestall the renovation by making trivial complaints to the municipal corporation.

Forge [ fawrj, fohrj  ][ noun, intransitive verb, transitive verb ]MEANING :1. (n.) furnace, hearth or smithy to wrought metal
2. (tr.v.) to give a shape by heating and then hammering
3. (tr.v.) to fashion or counterfeit
4. (intr.v.) to commit forgery
5. (intr.v.) to work at a forgeUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The blacksmith lit the forge and prepared his instruments to begin work for the day.

Karaoke [ kar-ee-OH-kee ][ noun, adjective ]MEANING :an act where a person sings along a music video with the lyrics of the song being displayed on a screenUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :She took up karaoke to overcome her stage fright.

Baneful [ BEYN-fuh'l ][ adjective ]MEANING :deadly, harmful or balefulUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The villagers claimed that the accidents were caused by the baneful witch’s evil eye.

Coagulation [ koh-AG-yuh’-ley-shuh’n ][ noun ]MEANING :1. congealing, clotting or the process of transformation from a liquid into a solid or gel by a succession of chemical reactionsUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The autopsy revealed that the coagulation of blood in the arteries was caused by poison which was administered to the victim intravenously.

Jabber [ JAB-er ][ noun, transitive verb ]MEANING :1. (tr.v.) to utter or chatter rapidly and indistinctly
2. (n.) gibberish or non-sensical chatterUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The children jabbered away when the teacher stepped out of the classroom.

Cloture [ KLOH-cher ][ noun, transitive verb ]MEANING :1. (n.) a procedure of the parliament in which the debate over an ongoing matter is closed and the matter is subjected to an immediate vote
2. (tr.v.) to apply cloture toUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :Since consensus was unlikely despite an extended debate, a motion for cloture was adopted after a majority vote was obtained.

Katabatic [ kat-uh’-BAT-ik ][ adjective ]MEANING :pertaining to wind currents blowing down a slopeUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The village located in the valley bore the brunt of the icy katabatic winds.

Jamboree [ jam-buh’-REE ][ noun ]MEANING :1. a noisy merry-making or celebration
2. an assembly esp. one of boy or girl scoutsUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :A jamboree was held for the students after the final examinations were over.

Jocular [ JOK-yuh’-ler ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. habitually jocund, humorous or playful
2. given to or characterised by jokingUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The master of ceremonies opened the party with a jocular statement that set the trend for the evening.

Unmitigated [ uh’n-MIT-i-gey-tid ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. not diminished or lessened
2. unqualified or absoluteUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The accounts executive realised the unmitigated folly of trusting people only after many clients defaulted.

Bedizen [ bi-DAHY-zuh’ n, -DIZ-uh’ n ][ transitive verb ]MEANING :to adorn, ornament or dress in a gaudy or showy mannerUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :She bedizened herself in the hope that she would be mistaken for a princess.

Juridical [  joo’-RID-i-kuh’ l ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. legal
2. pertaining or related to law and its administrationUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The juridical council has the final say on all matters of controversy.