Learn English Vocabulary - via Word of the Day

Epigram [ EP-i-gram ][ noun ]MEANING :1. a paradoxical or satirical poem or sayingUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :Oscar Wilde's epigrams are timeless in their ingenuity and wit.

Fugitive [ FYOO-ji-tiv ][ noun, adjective ]MEANING :1. (n.) a runaway or a someone who is fleeing from prosecution
2. (n.) a refugee
3.(n.) something fleeting or lasting for a short while only
4. (adj.) fleeing
3. (adj.) lasting a short whileUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The fugitive was apprehended when he tried to cross the border.

Contraband [ KON-truh'-band ][ noun, adjective ]MEANING :1. (n.) smuggled merchandise or anything which is prohibited by law from being imported or exported
2. (n.) prohibited or illegal trade
3. (adj.) banned from export or import.USAGE EXAMPLE 1 :A tourist was detained by the customs officer because of the contraband items in his suitcase.

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.

Beset [ bi-SET ][ transitive verb ]MEANING :1. to stud
2. to assail, surround, hem in or attack
3. to harass or troubleUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :As the news of their engagement spread, they were beset with well-wishers.

Obstinate [ OB-stuh’-nit ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. stubborn, unyielding or mulish
2. difficult to treat or alleviate
3. persistent or refractoryUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :Being an obstinate and headstrong young man, he frequently clashed with his bosses.

Confound [ kon-FOUN-did ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. confused or bewildered
2. damned (euphemistic usage)
3. to cause to become confused or bewildered
4. to mix up
5. to make a bad thing worseUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :He was confounded by the mannerisms of the tribesmen.

Disenfranchise [ dis-en-FRAN-chahyz ][ verb ]MEANING :1. to deprive of a privilege or a right
2. disfranchiseUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The lawyer argued that they could not be disenfranchised merely because they were illegal immigrants.

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.

Apocalyptic [ uh'-pok-uh'-LIP-tik ][ noun, adjective ]MEANING :1. (adj.) pertaining to or of an apocalypse
2. (adj.) prophetic, revelatory or ominous or suggestive of a disastrous outcome
3. (adj.) pertaining to or suggestive of a final doom or turbulent end of the world
4. (n.) a system where it is believed that the world will end or be doomed in a violent or disastrous wayUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The apocalyptic vision of Nostradamus has managed to scare people for centuries.

Missive [ MIS-iv ][ noun ]MEANING :written correspondence or letterUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The missive received by the Indian cricket team was from the Prime Minister congratulating them for winning the inaugural T20 World cup.

Arid [ AR-id ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. dry, parched or being without moisture
2. unproductive or barren due to a lack of water
3. uninspired, dreary, lacking interest or without imaginativenessUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :Scientists in India have conducted various studies and experiments and hope to discover a way to increase the agricultural productivity of arid lands.

Defoliate [ v. dee-FOH-lee-eyt; adj. dee-FOH-lee-it, -eyt ][ adjective, intransitive verb, transitive verb ]MEANING :1. (tr. v.) to strip or remove the leaves from
2. (tr. v.) to cause the leaves to fall off
3. (intr. v.) to lose leaves
4. (adj.) having naturally lost its leavesUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :He said the plants in his garden were defoliated because of caterpillars.

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.

Brackish [ BRAK-ish ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. salty, saline or briny
2. nauseating, repulsive or distastefulUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The brackish nature of the water made it impossible to drink.

Impregnable [ im-PREG-nuh’-buh’ l ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. unassailable, invincible or unconquerable
2. capable of being impregnatedUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The impregnable Daulatabad fort has only been captured by treachery.

Dais [ dey-is ][ noun ]MEANING :1. a raised platform
2. a podium or pulpitUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The winner of the competition was called up to the dais where the chief guest handed him a medal.

Impending [ im-pen-ding ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. something bad is about to take placeUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :His prophecy of impending doom was a hoax.

Fluke [ flook  ][ noun ]MEANING :1. a stroke of good fortune
2. a triangular blade that is at the end of an anchor's arm and is designed to catch in the ground
3. a flatfishUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :She had not studied and therefore everyone believed she passed only by fluke.

Escapade [ ES-kuh'-peyd, es-kuh'-PEYD ][ noun ]MEANING :1. a wild prank or rash adventure
2. an escape from captivity, confinement, control or restraintUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :His escapades were well known across the length and breadth of the country.

Precept [ PREE-sept ][ noun ]MEANING :1. a commandment or order issued with the intention of prescribing conduct
2. a warrant or directiveUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The precept was to be obeyed at all costs.

Tentative [ TEN-tuh'-tiv ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. experimental, provisional or implemented as a trial
2. hesitant, unsure or uncertainUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The doctor performed a tentative check-up to check the man's fitness.

Sultry [ SUHL-tree ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. sweltering, hot and emitting heat
2. arousing or exciting desire or passionUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The sultry summer months soon lost their appeal.

Refraction [ ri-FRAK-shuh’ n ][ noun ]MEANING :a bending or change in the path of a light wave when it traverses obliquely from one optical medium to another having a different densityUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :Formation of a rainbow is an effect of the phenomenon of refraction.

Reconnaissance [ ri-KON-uh’-suh’ ns, -zuh’ ns ][ noun ]MEANING :an exploration, survey, inspection or examination that is conducted in order to garner information esp. military information about enemy territoryUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :Reconnaissance conducted by the troops suggested that the enemy was about to surrender.

Quizzical [ KWIZ-i-kuh’ l ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. odd, queer, eccentric or comical
2. puzzled, perplexed or confused
3. teasing, questioning or mockingUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The quizzical expression on his face was one in a million.

Diffuse [ v. dih-FYOOZ; adj. dih-FYOOS ][ adjective, intransitive verb, transitive verb ]MEANING :1. (tr. v.) to spread by pouring out
2. (tr. v.) to disseminate or scatter widely
3. (intr. v.) to spread
4. (adj.) being very wordy or characterized by discursiveness in speech or writing
5.(adj.) widely spread or scatteredUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The farmer diffused the seeds over the field.

Suffocate [ SUHF-uh'-keyt ][ intransitive verb, transitive verb ]MEANING :1. (tr. v.) to kill by stopping the breath or the intake of air
2. (tr. v.) to strangle or to impede the respiration of
3. (tr. v.) to suffer from a lack of fresh air
4. (intr. v.) to smother or stifle
5.(intr. v.) to be uncomfortable because of a lack of fresh airUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The murderer admitted that he had suffocated his victim.

Dishabille [ dis-uh-BEEL, -BEE ][ noun ]MEANING :1. the state of being dressed partially or in a careless, disorderly manner
2. a deliberately careless mannerUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :A lot of people were in a state of dishabille as they ran out of the burning building.

Disavowal [ dis-uh-VOU-uh' l ][ noun ]MEANING :to deny knowledge of, association with, or responsibility forUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :His claims of disavowal regarding the money laundering were not believed by the court.