Learn English Vocabulary - via Word of the Day

Malapropism [ MAL-uh’-prop-iz-uh’ m ]
[ noun ]
MEANING :
the wrong use of one word instead of another word because they sound similar to each other, with results that are unintentionally funny
USAGE EXAMPLE 1 :
He is the very pine-apple of politeness, is an example of malapropism.

Bivouac [ biv-oo-ak, biv-wak ][ noun, intransitive verb ]MEANING :1. (n.) a temporary military encampment having practically no shelter
2. (n.) the place that is used to set up such camps
3. (intr.v.) to encamp or take shelter in a bivouac
4. (tr.v.) to provide with shelter temporarilyUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The troops decided to vacate the bivouacs after facing heavy enemy fire.

Modicum [ MOD-i-kuh’ m ][ adjective ]MEANING :a moderate or small amountUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :Only a modicum of skill is necessary to put the kit together.

Animadversion [ an-uh'-mad-VUR-zhuh' n, -shuh' n ][ noun ]MEANING :1. negative criticism
2. a censorious or critical comment or remarkUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :Mr. Darcy often made animadversions on the conduct of Elizabeth's family.

Prolific [ pruh'-LIF-ik ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. producing abundantly or very fruitful
2. highly productiveUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :He was a prolific author of murder mysteries and many of his books were on the best-seller list.

Minatory [ MIN-uh’-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee ][ adjective ]MEANING :threatening, alarming or ominousUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The minatory way in which the young men approached the elderly man signalled their intentions.

Reprobation [ rep-ruh'-BEY-shuh'n ][ noun ]MEANING :1. condemnation
2. damnation or rejection by the almightyUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :He said that the reprobation of sinners was wrong as nobody was perfect.

Apoplexy [ AP-uh'-plek-see ][ noun ]MEANING :1. a stroke or cerebral accident
2. haemorrhage or sudden effusion of blood into a tissue or organ
3. an impairment or loss of bodily esp. neurological function caused by the breakage or rupture of a blood vesselUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :Losing his temper caused him to suffer an apoplexy.

Narcissist [ nahr-suh's-ist ][ noun ]MEANING :1. one who is inordinately fascinated with oneself
2. one who has excessive love or admiration for oneselfUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :His friends called him a narcissist because he had the habit of admiring himself in the mirror.

Doddering [ dod-er-ing ][ adjective ]MEANING :mentally or physically infirm with age; totteringUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The doddering, old fool was thought to be a madman.

Concord [ KON-kawrd, KONG- ][ noun ]MEANING :1. peace, harmony or mutual agreement
2. a covenant or treaty
3. (grammar.) agreementUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The serenity of the village evolved from the concord between the elements and the land.

Limpid [ LIM-pid ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. transparent, crystal clear
2. lucid and simple
3. calm, serene or free of stressUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The limpid pool offered a clear view of the moss-covered bed.

Epicure [ EP-i-kyoo' r ][ noun ]MEANING :1. a connoisseur of food and wine
2. one who enjoys sensual pleasure and livingUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :London is an epicure's delight with restaurants serving varied cuisine from all over the world.

Junta [ HOO’ N-tuh’, JUHN , HUHN  ][ noun ]MEANING :1. a council, committee or assembly for governmental purposes
2. a group of military officers that rule a country after seizing control and power
3. a juntoUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :Henchmen of the junta were sent to eliminate members of the opposition.

Bowdlerize [ BOHD-luh'-rahyz ][ transitive verb ]MEANING :1. to expurgate by removing passages or parts of passages considered objectionable
2. derived from Thomas Bowdler English editor of an expurgated version of Shakespeare's works; British spelling: bowdleriseUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The editor of the magazine had the article bowdlerised because of the lurid descriptions that it contained.

abstruse [ ab-STROOS ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. recondite, ambiguous, esoteric or very difficult to understand or comprehendUSAGE EXAMPLE:His abstruse speech confused everyone.

Filial [ FIL-ee-uh' l ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. of, relating to, or befitting a son or daughter
2. having or assuming the relation of a child or offspringUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The new village has a filial relationship with the original settlement.

Redact [ri-dakt] 

Meaning: 
1. to put into suitable literary form; revise; edit.
2. to draw up or frame (a statement, proclamation, etc.).
3. to hide or remove (confidential parts of a text) before publication or distribution, or to examine (a text) for this purpose

Usage Example: The account number has been redacted from the top of the statement.

Proselytize [ PROS-uh'-li-tahyz ][ intransitive verb, transitive verb ]MEANING :1. (tr. v.) To force a person to change his religion or belief
2. (intr. v.) to induce a person to convert to one's own religion
3. (intr. v.) to induce a person to convert to one's own political partyUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :Investigators were sent to find out if the villagers who became converts were proselytized.

Illimitable [ ih-LIM-i-tuh'-buh'l ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. limitless or having no limit
2. boundless
3. infinite not able to be contained within a limitUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :He was disqualified as his illimitable stamina came from the performance enhancement drugs!

Equivocate [ i-KWIV-uh’-keyt  ][ transitive verb ]MEANING :1. to deceive or mislead by using equivocal or obscure terms or language
2. to deliberately be non-committal or avoid stating explicitlyUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The applicant seemed to be equivocating when we asked him about his last job.

Grandiloquent [ gran-DIL-uh'-kwuh'nt  ][ adjective ]MEANING :pompous, histrionic or extravagantly colourfulUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :the predictably wearisome grandiloquence of the speeches at a political convention

Histrionic [ his-tree-ON-ik ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. of or related to actors or acting
2. deliberately affected; overtly dramatic or emotionalUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :We never tired of his histrionic reenactment of how he found money under the floorboards of a house he was renovating.

Parsimony [ PAHR-suh'-moh-nee][ noun ]MEANING :1. stinginess or excessive frugality
2. thrift or extreme economy
3. accepting the simplest assumption in the formulation of a theory especially according to the rule of Ockham's razor (entities must not be multiplied beyond necessity as the simplest solution is usually the correct one)USAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The charity was surprised by the parsimony of some larger corporations.

Perspicacity [ pur-spi-KAS-i-tee  ][ noun ]MEANING :1. keenness of observation and understandingUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :His perspicacity made him a good detective.

Sybarite [ SIB-uh'-rahyt ][ noun ]MEANING :a person who is fond of luxury and pleasureUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :One can hardly hope to be a sybarite in today's recessionary times.

Orotund [ AWR-uh’-tuhnd, OHR- ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. bombastic, grandiloquent, pompous or flamboyant
2. sonorous, resonant or (of sound) clear, full and deepUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :His orotund behaviour caused a lot of gossip.

Facsimile [ fak-SIM-uh'-lee ][ noun ]MEANING :1. an exact copy
2. a system or device for transmitting and reproducing exact replicas of documents, photographs, etc. by means of radio signals or through telephone lines
3. (adj.) duplicate or reproduced exactly like the originalUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :Facsimile copies of Vincent Van Gogh's painting, “The Sunflowers” are so popular that they can be found adorning the walls of offices and living rooms all over the world.