Learn English Vocabulary - via Word of the Day

Bruit [ broot ][ noun, transitive verb ]
MEANING :1. (n.) (medicine) any general abnormal sound heard on auscultation (the act of listening, either directly or through a stethoscope or other instrument, to sounds within the body as a method of diagnosis).
2. (n.) (archaic) rumour; report
3. (n.) (archaic) noise; din; clamour
4. (tr. v.) to spread rumour; repeatUSAGE EXAMPLE:The bruit detected by the doctor using a stethoscope indicated that the patient needed medical attention.

Echelon [ ESH-uh'-lon ][ noun, verb ]MEANING :1. (n.) a formation of troops or military aircraft, or individuals wherein each unit is positioned somewhat to the right or left of the unit in front such that the entire formation appears like a series of stairs
2. (n.) one of several units of such an arrangement
3. (n.) any group or unit that acts in an organised or disciplined way
4. (n.) a grade or level of authority
5. (n.) (spectroscopy) a diffraction grating that consists of a series of plates arranged one after another in a stepwise manner
6. (v.) to be a part of an echelonUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The top echelon of the company took the decision to expand the company's operations overseas.

Decadence [ DEK-uh-duh ns, di-KEYD-ns ][ noun ]MEANING :1. the act or process of falling into decline, deterioration
2. moral or cultural degeneration
3. excessively self-indulgentUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :Some historians are of the view that the Moghul empire collapsed due to internal decadence.

Decapitate [ di-KAP-i-teyt ][ transitive verb ]MEANING :to behead; to cut off the head ofUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :With one swift movement, he decapitated the king and announced himself as the new ruler.

Guffaw [ guh'-FAW, guh'- ][ noun, verb ]MEANING :(n.) a loud and boisterous burst of laughter
(v.) to laugh loudly and boisterouslyUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :Bleak as the film is, there is occasional respite in the script, drawing wry smiles rather than hearty guffaws.

Beleaguer [ bi-LEE-ger ][ verb ]MEANING :1. to annoy frequently; to harass
2. to besiege; surround by troopsUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :His abrasive remarks began to beleaguer his friends.

Apiary [ EY-pee-er-ee ][ noun ]MEANING :a place in which bees or bee hives are kept and raised for honeyUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :When he was inspector of apiaries, he made the regulation that apiaries should be kept at least 200 metres from the nearest resident and 100 metres from the nearest roadway.

Implode [ im-PLOHD ][ intransitive verb, transitive verb ]MEANING :1. (intr. v.) to collapse inward
2. (tr. v.) to cause to collapse inward
3. (tr. v.) to demolish by causing to collapse inwardUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :Kevin made a mad dash for the passageway as the room imploded.

Bate [ beyt ][ intransitive verb, transitive verb ]MEANING :1. (tr. v.) to moderate or to lessen the intensity of
2. (tr. v.) to make less or take away some
3. (intr. v.) (of a hawk or falcon) to flap its wings frantically in an attempt to escapeUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The fever bated with the medication.

Prepossessing [ pree-puh'-ZES-ing ][ adjective, transitive verb ]MEANING :1. (adj.) serving to impress favourably
2. (adj.) pleasing or attractive
3. (tr. v.) to preoccupy the mind blocking out other thoughts or feelingsUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :While not physically prepossessing and perhaps less obviously glamorous than her contemporaries, she has an enigma that is hard to ignore.

Ruddy [ RUHD-ee ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. a fresh and healthy red colour
2. rosyUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :At night they returned ruddy faced and tired, but elated by vigorous exercise in such inspiring surroundings.

Ostracize [ OS-truh'-sahyz ][ transitive verb ]MEANING :1. (tr. v.) to exclude from
2. (tr. v.) to banish
3. (tr. v.) to shun or avoidUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :Radical thinkers have known to be ostracized by the society owing to their unfathomable ideas.

Colossus [ kuh'-LOS-uh's ][ noun ]MEANING :1. (n.) anything gigantic or very powerful
2. (n.) a statue of gigantic size
3. (n.) the legendary bronze statue of Helios which is at RhodesUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :She has been described as the creative colossus of the literary world.

Infinitesimal [ in-fin-i-TES-uh'-muh'l ][ noun, adjective ]MEANING :1. (adj.) minute or negligible in quantity
2. (adj.) pertaining to or involving extremely small quantities
2. (n.) a negligible quantityUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :It was a pause so infinitesimal that I almost didn't catch it, but I knew what I glimpsed.

Demeanour [ di-MEE-ner ][ noun ]MEANING :1. (n.) conduct or behaviour of a person
2. (n.) manner or style
3. (n.) facial expression or appearance
4. (n.) attitudeUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :Both men are renowned for their friendly demeanour and reassuring manner.

Miscreant [ MIS-kree-uh'nt ][ noun, adjective ]MEANING :1. (n.) a villain
2. (n.) a depraved person
3. (adj.) villainous or depravedUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The police are straining every nerve to bring the miscreants to justice.

Coalesce [ koh-uh'-LES ][ intransitive verb ]MEANING :1. (intr. v.) to combine to form one unit
2. (intr. v.) to blend or unify
3. (intr. v.) to merge or amalgamateUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :After the continuous downpour, the puddles had coalesced into shallow streams.

Animosity [ an-uh'-MOS-i-tee ][ noun ]MEANING :enmity, hostility or bitter hatredUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :They still saw each other occasionally and the relationship came to an end without much anger or animosity.

stolid [ STOL-id ]
[ adjective ]
MEANING :having or revealing very little sensitivity or emotionUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :Central Europeans are widely regarded to be stolid and hard working.
USAGE EXAMPLE 2 :English is not the inherited language of most people outside the South—the Midwest was swamped by Germans and their stolid mental processes in the 19th century and the East has been continually transformed by non-English speakers.

Parable [ PAR-uh'-buh'l ][ noun ]MEANING :1. a simple story illustrating a moral or religious teaching
2. a short story designed to illustrate or teach some religious principle or moral lessonUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 : He would often tell a little parable to illustrate in simple language the thoughts that came into his head.

Today's word of the day to enhance your English vocabulary is:

Word:  Antecede
Pronunciation:  [ an-tuh'-SEED ]
Meaning:
1. (tr. v.) to precede
2. (tr. v.) to occur before in order or rank or time
Usage Example 1:   Investigative reporting long antecedes the invention of miniature cameras.


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Today's word of the day to enhance your English vocabulary is:

Word:  Purgatory 

Pronunciation: [ PUR-guh’-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee ]

Meaning:
1. (n.) (roman catholic church) a place or condition in which the people who have died in god's grace suffer and expatiate their sins
2. (n.) any state or place in which punishment, expatiation and suffering are temporary
3. (n.) limbo, hell or netherworld
4. (adj.) tending or serving to expatiate or cleanse

Usage Example 1:  

The Catholics have a selection of prayers for the souls in purgatory.

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Today's word of the day to enhance your English vocabulary is:

Word:  Vociferous  Pronunciation:   [ voh-SIF-er-uh's ]
Meaning:
1. clamorous, noisy or vehement when expressing one's feelings
2. marked or characterized by a vehement or loud outcry
3. blatant, boisterous or strident Usage Example 1:  
There are increasingly vociferous complaints from agencies that child protection is worse than ever.

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Today's word of the day to enhance your English vocabulary is:

Word:  Tryst

Pronunciation:   [ trist, trahyst ]

Meaning:

1. (n.) an appointment or meeting or a place for such a meeting
2. (tr.v.) to fix up a meeting
3. (intr.v.) to agree for an appointment or meeting

Usage Example 1:  


The garden became famous as it was their chosen place for a tryst.

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Cumbersome [ KUHM-ber-suh’ m ] [ adjective ]MEANING :1. troublesome or burdensome
2. unwieldy, awkward or clumsyUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :Concrete rings have been used in the past but can be quite cumbersome and heavy for the home garden.

Connotation [ kon-uh’-TEY-shuh’ n ][ noun ]MEANING :1. implication, intension or meaning suggested by a given word other than what it literally means
2. denotation, undertone or essenceUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :"Resolute" means stubborn, but with a more positive connotation.

Cogent [ KOH-juh’ nt ][ adjective ]MEANING :believable, valid or convincingUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :He did not have a cogent explanation about his whereabouts.

Jocund [ JOK-uh'nd ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. (adj.) cheerful or joyful
2. (adj.) lighthearted in natureUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :We had a jocund evening with everyone taking turns at narrating amusing anecdotes.

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Demagogue [ DEM-uh'-gog, -gawg ][ noun, intransitive verb, transitive verb ]MEANING :1. (n.) a person or leader who appeals to the prejudices or passions of the people to gain power
2. (n.) in ancient times, a leader who champions the cause of the masses
3. (intr. v.) to speak or behave like a demagogue
4. (tr. v.) to treat an issue like a demagogue; obscure an issue with prejudice, emotions, etc.USAGE EXAMPLE 1 :He was a gifted demagogue and succeeded in uniting the workers in order to demand for better working conditions.

Nuance [ NOO-ahns, Fr. ny-AHNZ ][ noun ]MEANING :1. a very slight or subtle difference in meaning or expression
2. a slight degree of difference or variation in tone, shade or colourUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 : He was familiar with the nuances of the local dialect.

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 :His illimitable perseverance was the key behind his success.