word of the day

yahoo (adj.)

a boorish, crass, or stupid person

unintelligible (adj.)

unable to be understood or comprehend

guile (n.)

deceitful cunning

devise (v.)

to plan to obtain or bring about

incipient (adj.)

beginning to come into being

effluvia (n.)

an invisible offensive exhalation or smell

pecuniary (adj.)

consisting of or measured in money

usurp (v.)

to seize and hold in possession by force or without the right

qualm (n.)

a feeling of uneasiness about a point especially of conscience

ingratiating (adj.)

intended or adopted in order to gain favor; capable of winning favor

tremulous (adj.)

characterized by or affected with trembling or tremors; affected with timidity; characterized by or affected with trembling or tremors

vitriol (n.)

bitterly harsh or caustic language or criticism

gingerly (adv.)

with extreme care concerning the result of a movement or action : very cautiously and carefully

undermine (v.)

to subvert or weaken insidiously or secretly; to weaken or ruin by degrees

cursory (adj.)

rapidly and often superficially performed or produced

ameliorate (v.)

to make better or more tolerable

perpetuity (n.)

eternity; the quality or state of being perpetual

accede (v.)

to express or give consent: to agree to a request or demand- usually + to

hedonist (n.)

a person who is devoted to the pursuit of pleasure: someone who practices hedonism

ignoble (adj.)

characterized by baseness, lowness, or meanness

fawn (n.)

to court favor by a cringing or flattering manner

tactile (adj.)

perceptible by touch: tangible; of, relating to, or being the sense of touch

nadir (n.)

the lowest point

gallivant (v.)

to travel, roam, or move about for pleasureu

unequivocal (adj.)

leaving no doubt: clear, unambiguous

infantilize (v.)

to make or keep infantile; to treat as if infantile

shenanigans (n.)

tricky or questionable practices or conduct —usually used in plural; high-spirited or mischievous activity —usually used in plural

disparate (adj.)

markedly distinct in quality or character

cavalcade (n.)

a procession of vehicles or ships; a dramatic sequence or procession

zany (n.)

very eccentric or absurd; often in an amusing way

carouse (v.)

to take part in a carouse: engage in dissolute behavior

wistful (adj.)

full of yearning or desire tinged with melancholy 

*also* : inspiring such yearning; musingly sad : pensive

beguile (v.)

hoodwink; to lead by deception

dolorous (adj.)

causing, marked by, or expressing misery or grief

hackles (n.)

erectile hairs along the neck and back especially of a dog; temper, dander

contraption (n.)

device, gadget

lackadaisical (adj.)

lacking life, spirit, or zest

MacGyver (v.)

to make, form, or repair (something) with what is conveniently on hand

vicinity (n.)

a surrounding area or district; neighborhood

unctuous (adj.)

having, revealing, or marked by a smug, ingratiating, and false earnestness or spirituality

plausible (adj.)

superficially fair, reasonable, or valuable but often deceptively so; superficially pleasing or persuasive; appearing worthy of belief

sinecure (n.)

an office or position that requires little or no work and that usually provides an income

expedite (v.)

to accelerate the process or progress of: speed up

arboreal (adj.)

of, relating to, or resembling a tree

vicissitudes (n.)

a favorable or unfavorable event or situation that occurs by chance: a fluctuation of state or condition; a difficulty or hardship attendant on a way of life, a career, or a course of action and usually beyond one's control; alternating change: succession

prudence (n.)

the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason; sagacity or shrewdness in the management of affairs; skill and good judgment in the use of resources; caution or circumspection as to danger or risk

shrewd (adj.)

marked by clever discerning awareness and hardheaded acumen; given to wily and artful ways or dealing

posterity (n.)

all future generations

plummet (v.)

to fall perpendicularly; to drop sharply and abruptly

defunct (adj.)

no longer living, existing, or functioning