Learn English Vocabulary - via Word of the Day

Onomatopoeia [ on-uh’-mat-uh’-PEE-uh’, mah-tuh’  ][ noun ]MEANING :the formation or use of words that imitate natural sounds like buzz, crack, splash, etc.USAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The word hiss can be said to be an onomatopoeia.

nefarious [ ni-FAIR-ee-uh’ s ][ adjective ]MEANING :blatantly wickedUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The clandestine sale of nuclear technology to a country by another country and other such nefarious activities is a matter of great concern for the international community

Asunder [ uh'-suh'n-DER ][ adjective, adverb ]MEANING :1. (adj.) into separate parts or into pieces
2. (adj.) apart in position or directionUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The hillock was rendered asunder by explosive charges and levelled by bulldozers.

Doggerel [ DAW-ger-uh’ l, DOG-er- ][ noun, adjective ]MEANING :1. (adj.) irregularly styled or fashioned to bring about a comic effect
2. (n.) an awkward or irregularly styled verseUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :His doggerel verses were termed unsuitable for young children.

Bibulous [ BIB-yuh'-luh' s ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. fond of or addicted to alcoholic beverages
2. highly absorbent, as paper or soilUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :Aside from his bibulous peculiarities, he is generous, brave, courteous and a keen lover of fun.

Ersatz [ ER-zahts, -sahts, er-ZAHTS, -SAHTS ][ adjective ]MEANING :an artificial and usually inferior substitute or imitationUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :At the seminar they served us ersatz coffee made of chicory.

Consternation [ kon-ster-NEY-shuh’ n ][ noun ]MEANING :bewilderment, dismay or amazementUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :She won the award much to their consternation.

Cerebration [ SER-uh-brey-shuh'n ][ noun, intransitive verb ]MEANING :1. (intr.v.) to use the power of reason, think or think about
2. (n.) the process of using your mind to consider something carefullyUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :He often cerebrated but like any one else he was also at the mercy of his own fanciful whims.

skulduggery(skullduggery) [ skuh'l-DUHG-uh'-ree ][ noun ]MEANING :1. dishonest or dishonourable proceedings
2. a deceitful act
3. underhand workUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :He is notorious for resorting to skulduggery to get ahead in business.

agape [ uh'-GEYP, uh'-GAP ][ noun, adjective, adverb ]MEANING :1. (n.) love or love feast
2. (adj.) wide open
3. (adv.) in a surprised or open mouthed manner
4.(adj.) open mouthed, surprisedUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :His assumptions left her agape with wrath.
USAGE EXAMPLE 2 :Every child born is of God and worthy of dignity, respect and agape.

Neologism [ nee-OL-uh’-jiz-uh’ m ][ noun ]MEANING :1. a new word or expression
2. creating or using new words
3. creating a new meaning for an established wordUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :He spoke several words I had never heard of and I assumed them to be neologisms.

Supercilious [ soo-per-SIL-ee-uh's ][ adjective ]MEANING :haughty, arrogant or disdainfully contemptuousUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :He lost many friends owing to his supercilious attitude.

Vituperate [ vahy-TOO-puh'-reyt ][ intransitive verb, transitive verb ]MEANING :1. (tr.v.) to revile, berate, rebuke or scold
2. (intr.v.) to scold harshly using abusive languageUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :He was publicly vituperated by his boss for his misconduct.

Scad [ skad ][ noun ]MEANING :1. any fish of the family Carangidae, which inhabit tropical and subtropical shore waters and belonging to the genus Decapterus
2. in great quantity or numberUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The bank robbers scattered scads of money behind them as they escaped in their getaway car.

Libretto [ li-BRET-oh ][ noun ]MEANING :1. the words of an opera or similar extended musical work
2. a book or booklet containing the text of an opera or musical composition
3. the text of an opera or a dramatic musical compositionUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The ballet was enjoyable, but the recital of its libretto was indistinct and barely discernable.

Sordid [ SAWR-did ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. vile, ignoble or morally degraded
2. selfish, mercenary or grasping
3. unclean, filthy or dirty
4. squalid, sleazy, wretched or seedyUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :It was a sordid story which appalled everyone who heard it.

Esoteric [ es-uh'-TER-ik ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. understood by or designed for only a select few
2. requiring or showcasing special knowledge that is revealed only to a small group
3. private; confidential
4. of a rare, special, or unusual interestUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The four day psyche-fest was a bonanza of seminars, from the doctrinaire to the esoteric, the practical to the political.

rectitude [ REK-ti-tood, -tyood ][ noun ]MEANING :1. righteousness, moral virtue or rightness of conduct or values
2. correctness in procedure or judgement
3. straightnessUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The rectitude displayed by him was admired by his followers.
USAGE EXAMPLE 2 :Those who knew Ronald Reagan in his youth and those who knew him a lifetime later all remember his largeness of spirit, his gentle instincts and a quiet rectitude that drew others to him.

Vintner [ VINT-ner ][ noun ]MEANING :1. a winemaker or person who makes wine
2. a wine merchant or a person who sells wineUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :He started off by selling home made wine now he is a vintner with a huge vineyard and a factory.

Amalgamate [ uh'-MAL-guh'-meyt ][ intransitive verb, transitive verb ]MEANING :1. (tr.v.) to mix, combine or blend together
2. (tr.v.) to mix with mercury
3. (intr.v.) to coalesce, merge or uniteUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :All data has to be amalgamated, then studied, to reach a valid conclusion.

Prophylactic [ proh-fuh’-LAK-tik, prof-uh’- ][ noun, adjective ]MEANING :1. (adj.) protective or preventive esp. against a disease
2. (n.) a vaccine, drug or preventive treatment
3. (n.) a contraceptive mechanism or deviceUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The prophylactic medication was ineffective as the virus spread to epidemic proportions.

Picaresque [ pik-uh’-RESK ][ noun ]MEANING :1. characteristic of a form of prose related to the adventures of a fictional, rogue-like hero in spain
2. rascally, devilish or pertaining to roguesUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :A picaresque is an intricate part of the plot of any romance novel.

Paroxysm [ PAR-uh’ k-siz-uh ’m ][ noun ]MEANING :1. a sudden fit, outburst or spasm of action or emotion
2. an attack, intensification or recurrence of a certain diseaseUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :People thought him to be weird because of his fits of paroxysms.

Poseur [ poh-ZUR ][ noun ]MEANING :1. a person who tries to impress others by putting on a false showy manner or elegance
2. one who attempts to influence others with an affected pose or stance that is not one's normal behaviourUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The security was shocked that a poseur was able to sneak into the VIP room and party with the band.

Hoary [ HAWR-ee, HOHR-ee ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. extremely old, and often impressive and admired
2. greyish white or white due to age
3. white or whitish in colourUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :He bowed his hoary head.

Chattel [ CHAT-l ][ noun ]MEANING :1. a slave or bondman
2. an object or article among one's movable personal propertyUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :At one time, the children of black slaves were also considered chattel.

Ambrosial [ am-BROH-zhuh' l ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. divine or fit for worthy of the Gods
2. extremely pleasant, delicious or fragrantUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The ambrosial food at the restaurant has won many a hearts.

Blight [ blahyt ][ noun, intransitive verb, transitive verb ]MEANING :1. (tr. v.) to have an injurious effect or to ruin
2. (intr. v.) to suffer from a withering disease
3. (n.) a plant disease that results in wilting and dying of the affected parts of the plantUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The expanding urban sprawl is a blight on the countryside.

Cavil [ KAV-uh'l ][ noun, intransitive verb, transitive verb ]MEANING :1. (tr. v.) to quibble about or raise inconsequential or frivolous doubts or objections
2. (tr. v.) to make petty objections or point out sham or minor discrepancies
3. (intr. v.) to raise trivial objections or unnecessarily find fault with
4. (n.) a frivolous and irritating objection
3. (n.) the act of making a frivolous objectionUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The little boy grumbled that he could never please his parents as they cavilled about everything he did.

Emollient [ i-MOL-yuh' nt ][ noun, adjective ]MEANING :1. (adj.) having a softening, soothing or relaxing effect esp. on one's skin
2. (adj.) mollifying or reducing another's harshness
3. (n.) a lotion, or other agent that makes skin smooth
4. (n.) an agent that helps by mollifying or assuagingUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :Aloe vera has an emollient effect and provides immediate relief from sunburn.