Learn English Vocabulary - via Word of the Day

Fastidious [ fa-STID-ee-uh' s, fuh'- ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. difficult to please; excessively critical; having high and often whimsical standards
2. requiring or displaying excessive care and delicacyUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The central characters of the show are fastidious, scrupulous and articulate.

Abstemious [ ab-STEE-mee-uh's  ][ noun ]MEANING :1. Moderate or sparing esp. in eating and drinking
2. Characterized by abstinenceUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The secret to a long life may very well lie in being abstemious.

Nonentity [ non-EN-ti-tee ][ noun ]MEANING :1. a person who does not have any importance
2. something that does not existUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :Since he was a nonentity, the press did not deem it necessary to solicit his views on the matter.

Pithy [ PITH-ee ][ adjective ]MEANING :terse; concise, forceful and full of meaningUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The editorial made a pithy observation about the lifestyles of the politicians and the causes they espouse.

Harbinger [ HAHR-bin-jer ][ noun, transitive verb ]MEANING :(n.) someone or something that indicates or announces what is to come
(tr. v.) to indicate the approach ofUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :Witch hazels are the harbingers of spring.

Bedlam [ BED-luh' m ][ noun ]MEANING :a state, place or scene of utter confusion and uproarUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :Back stage was bedlam with singers tuning their voices, make-up artists plying their trade and a lady ironing all the costumes.

Ignoramus [ ig-nuh'-REY-muh' s, -RAM-uh' s ][ noun ]MEANING :an absolutely ignorant personUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :
He advised the student to assume the examiner to be an ignoramus and explain everything.

Ineffable [ in-EF-uh’-buh’ l ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. unable to describe in words; indescribable
2. not to be spoken of or uttered; tabooUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 

Her ineffable joy at her book being published was captured well in the pictures.

Hedonism [ HEED-n-iz-uh' m ][ noun ]MEANING :1. the doctrine that pleasure or happiness is the sole good in lifeUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :Kings and emperors in ancient times were well known for their hedonism.

Crescendo [ kri-SHEN-doh, -SEN-doh; It. kre-SHEN-daw ][ noun ]MEANING :1. gradual increase in force or loudness of a musical passage; a steady, gradual increase in force or severity
2. the final point or peak of such an increaseUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The crescendo was so sudden and loud that it sent shockwaves through the auditorium.

Grouse [ grous ][ noun, transitive verb ]MEANING :1. (n.) complaint
2. (n.) popular game bird having a plump body and feathered legs and feet
3. (tr. v.) to complain and grumbleUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :People who grumble and grouse all the time are disliked by all.

Jugular [ JUHG-yuh’-ler, JOO-gyuh- ][ noun, adjective ]MEANING :1. (n.) large veins in the neck that bring blood back from the brain
2. (n.) a vital part, vulnerable to attack
3. (adj.) of or having to do with the throat or neck
4. (adj.) of or having to do with the jugular veinUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The prosecuting lawyer went for the jugular by questioning the credibility of the witness.

Fallible [ FAL-uh-buh' l ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. (of persons) very likely to make a mistake or be misled
2. likely to be erroneous, faulty or falseUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :Since we humans are fallible, we have not yet succeeded in building a perfect world.

Maladroit [ mal-uh’-DROIT ][ adjective ]MEANING :inept; bungling; lacking adroitness; clumsyUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :Both parties are unhappy about the maladroit way the matter has been handled.

Nefarious [ ni-FAIR-ee-uh’ s ][ adjective ]MEANING :blatantly wickedUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :She was also known for her escapades as a spy and for her various other nefarious activities.

Exogenous [ ek-SOJ-uh'-nuh' s ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. derived or developed externally
2. (Botany) marked by adding woody tissue layers to the stem externally beneath the bark
3. (Pathology) caused by external pathogens or conditionsUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :He said that while there are a few indigenous reasons like genes, heredity etc for obesity, there are more exogenous reasons for the problem.

Clamour [ KLAM-er ][ noun, transitive verb ]MEANING :1. (n.) loud uproar or protest from a crowd
2. (v.) to protest or demand loudlyUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :There was a huge clamour from the crowd as the popular actress stepped out from the studio.

hedonism [ HEED-n-iz-uh' m ][ noun ]MEANING :1. the doctrine that pleasure or happiness is the sole good in lifeUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :Kings and emperors in ancient times were well known for their hedonism.

Commodious [ kuh'-MOH-dee-uh' s ][ adjective ]MEANING :spacious and roomyUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :It is virtually impossible for a middle class person to find commodious accommodation in Mumbai.
USAGE EXAMPLE 2 :The new car has a more commodious cabin than the old model, particularly in the rear.

Usurp [ yoo-SURP, -ZURP ][ verb ]MEANING :1. to take or seize (position, office) by force or without right
2. replaceUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :She believed that the elderly lady, who seemed to govern decisions about her grandchildren's forthcoming marriages, was usurping her position in the family.

Bellicose [ BEL-i-kohs ][ adjective ]MEANING :inclined or favoured to fighting; aggressively hostileUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The leader suggested that other less bellicose, parallel approaches should be considered to resolve the dispute.

Anchorite [ ang-kuh'-rahyt ][ noun ]MEANING :a person who has retired to a secluded place for religious reasonsUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :As an anchorite, she had chosen a life of silence and yet she teaches her daughters to speak out with honesty and courage.

Churlish [ CHUR-lish ][ adjective ]MEANING :mean and impoliteUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :As soon as we are persuaded that we are lucky to be alive, the thought of complaining about quality of life becomes churlish, ungrateful.

Gumption [ GUHMP-shuh' n ][ noun ]MEANING :1. common sense; shrewdness
2. initiative or aggressivenessUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :With his gumption, he is sure to rise to the top echelons of his company.

Lachrymose [ LAK-ruh’-mohs ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. crying or inclined to cry
2. causing or tending to cause tearsUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :He is better known for his lachrymose ballads than hard rock numbers.

Euphonious [ yoo-FOH-nee-uh' s ][ adjective ]MEANING :having a pleasing sound; pleasant to the earUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :An euphonious voice can be a great asset when working in a call centre or in telephonic sales.

Gastronome [ GAS-truh'-nohm ][ noun ]MEANING :a connoisseur of fine food and drinkUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :
France has always been a gastronomer's delight.

Egregious [ i-GREE-juh' s, -jee-uh' s ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. flagrant; glaringly bad or offensive
2. (archaic) eminent; distinguishedUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The critic's insulting and egregious remarks left the actor with no option but to file a suit for defamation.

Delirium [ di-LEER-ee-uh' m ][ noun ]MEANING :1. a brief, temporary state of mental confusion characterised by hallucination, delusions, incoherent speech, caused by high fever, shock, intoxication or other causes
2. a state of uncontrolled and frenzied emotionUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The news of her son's death left her in a state of delirium.

Ambidextrous [ am-bi-DEK-struh' s ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. able to skilfully use both hands
2. unusually skilful; versatile; adroit
3. double-dealing; hypocritical or deceitfulUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :I'm trying to become ambidextrous, but it isn't really working.

Immure [ i-MYOO’ R  ][ transitive verb ]MEANING :1. to surround or enclose within walls; imprison
2. to build into or entomb in wallUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The dreaded terrorist was immured in a high security prison.