at·a·vism noun \ˈ a-tə-ˌ vi-zəm\
1
a : recurrence in an organism of a trait or character typical of an ancestral form and usually due to genetic recombination
b : recurrence of or reversion to a past style, manner, outlook, approach, or activity <architectural atavism >
2
: one that manifests atavism : throwback
— at·a·vis·tic adjective
— at·a·vis·ti·cal·ly adverb
Origin of ATAVISM
French
atavisme, from Latin
atavus ancestor, from
at- (probably akin to
atta daddy) +
avus grandfather
First Known Use: 1833
Definition source: http://www.merriam-webster.com
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pug·na·cious adjective ˌ pəg-ˈ nā-shəs\: showing a readiness or desire to fight or argue
: having a quarrelsome or combative nature : truculent
— pug·na·cious·ly adverb
— pug·na·cious·ness noun
— pug·nac·i·ty noun
Origin of PUGNACIOUS
Latin
pugnac-, pugnax, from
pugnare to fight
First Known Use: 1642
Related to PUGNACIOUS
Synonyms
aggressive, agonistic, argumentative, assaultive, bellicose, brawly, chippy, combative, confrontational, contentious, discordant, disputatious, feisty, gladiatorial, militant, belligerent, quarrelsome, scrappy, truculent, warlike
Antonyms
nonaggressive, nonbelligerent, pacific, peaceable, peaceful, unbelligerent, uncombative, uncontentious
Definition source: http://www.merriam-webster.com
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bel·li·cose adjective ˈ be-li-ˌ kōs\: having or showing a tendency to argue or fight
: favoring or inclined to start quarrels or wars
— bel·li·cos·i·ty noun
Examples of BELLICOSE
<bellicose hockey players who always seem to spend more time fighting than playing>
Never in peacetime, perhaps, have the statements of our government officials been more relentlessly bellicose . Yet their actions have been comparatively cautious. —New Yorker , 24 June 1985
Origin of BELLICOSE
Middle English, from Latin
bellicosus, from
bellicus of war, from
bellum war
First Known Use: 15th century
Related to BELLICOSE
Synonyms
aggressive, agonistic, argumentative, assaultive, belligerent, brawly, chippy, combative, confrontational, contentious, discordant, disputatious, feisty, gladiatorial, militant, pugnacious, quarrelsome, scrappy, truculent, warlike
Antonyms
nonaggressive, nonbelligerent, pacific, peaceable, peaceful, unbelligerent, uncombative, uncontentious
Definition source: http://www.merriam-webster.com
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im·pet·u·ous
adjective \im-ˈ pech-wəs; –ˈ pe-chə-, -chü-əs\
: acting or done quickly and without thought : controlled by emotion rather than thought
2: marked by force and violence of movement or action <an impetuous wind>
— im·pet·u·ous·ly adverb
— im·pet·u·ous·ness noun
Definition source: http://www.merriam-webster.com
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egre·gious adjective ˈ grē-jəs\: very bad and easily noticed.
1 archaic : distinguished
2: conspicuous; especially : conspicuously bad : flagrant <egregious errors> <egregious padding of the evidence>
— egre·gious·ly adverb
— egre·gious·ness noun
Synonyms
blatant, conspicuous, flagrant, glaring, gross, obvious, patent, pronounced, rank, striking
Definition source: http://www.merriam-webster.com
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fe·lic·i·tous adjective ˈ li-sə-təs\: very well suited for some purpose or situation.
1: very well suited or expressed : apt <a felicitous remark>
2: pleasant, delightful <felicitous weather>
— fe·lic·i·tous·ly adverb
— fe·lic·i·tous·ness noun
Synonyms
agreeable, blessed (also blest), congenial, darling, delectable, delicious, delightful, delightsome, dreamy, dulcet, enjoyable, pleasant, good, grateful, gratifying, heavenly, jolly, luscious, nice, palatable, pleasing, pleasurable, pretty, satisfying, savory (also savoury), sweet, tasty, welcome
Antonyms
disagreeable, pleasureless, unpalatable, unpleasant, unwelcome
Definition source: http://www.merriam-webster.com
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It’s been a while since I’ve published the Word of the Day. It started with my daughter as explained in this post . We took a little break from the Word of the Day during the summer. I only taught her a handful of new words during that time.
When she told me she had to come up with a nickname at school using the first letter of her name and she settled on the Capricious Catfish (lol), I knew I had to resurrect the Word of the Day again. She chose the word because she likes it, not because it describes her. Seriously, she has one mood: happy.
I’ve decided to limit the post to Wednesdays. Today’s word appears in the lyrics from this past Musical Monday (OneRepublic’s Love Runs Out ) and another from several months ago (Wrapped Around Your Finger by The Police).
Meph·is·toph·e·les noun \ˌ me-fə-ˈ stä-fə-ˌ lēz\
: a chief devil in the Faust legend.
Definition source: http://www.merriam-webster.com
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es·py transitive verb \is-ˈ pī\
: to see or notice (someone or something)
es·pied es·py·ing
: to catch sight of <among the several horses … she espied the white mustang — Zane Grey>
Examples of ESPY
eye I espied the squirrel making another raid on the bird feeder>
Origin of ESPY
Middle English
espien, from Anglo-French
espier — more at spy
First Known Use: 14th century
Related to ESPY
Synonyms
behold, catch, descry, discern, distinguish, see, eye, look (at), note, notice, observe, perceive, regard, remark, sight, spot, spy, view, witness
Related Words
identify, make out, pick out, pick up; attend (to), consider, heed, mark, mind; study, watch; examine, inspect, scan, scrutinize, survey; glance (at), glimpse, peer (at)
Near Antonyms
disregard, ignore, neglect, overpass, pass over; miss, overlook
Definition source: http://www.merriam-webster.com
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luxe adjective \ˈ lu̇ ks, ˈ ləks, ˈ lüks\
: luxurious, sumptuous
— luxe noun
Examples of LUXE
<we stayed only in luxe accommodations on the trip through the Loire Valley>
Origin of LUXE
French, from Latin
luxus — more at luxury
First Known Use: 1888
Related to LUXE
Synonyms
Babylonian, deluxe, lavish, Lucullan (also Lucullian), luxurious, luxuriant, luxury, opulent, palace, palatial, plush, plushy, silken, sumptuous
Antonyms
ascetic (also ascetical), austere, humble, no-frills, spartan
Related Words
costly, dear, expensive, precious, premium, rich; extravagant, grandiose, ostentatious, pretentious, showy; august, awesome, awful, baronial, beautiful, gorgeous, grand, heroic (also heroical), imposing, impressive, kingly, magnificent, majestic, monumental, noble, proud, regal, royal, splendid, stately; comfortable, cozy, homelike, homey (also homy), snug
Near Antonyms
economical, frugal, meager (or meagre), spare, stingy, thrifty
Definition source: http://www.merriam-webster.com
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sa·ga·cious adjective \sə-ˈ gā-shəs, si-\ : having or showing an ability to understand difficult ideas and situations and to make good decisions
2a : of keen and farsighted penetration and judgment : discerning <sagacious judge of character>
b : caused by or indicating acute discernment <sagacious purchase of stock>
— sa·ga·cious·ly adverb
— sa·ga·cious·ness noun
Origin of SAGACIOUS
Latin
sagac-, sagax, from
sagire to perceive keenly; akin to Latin
sagus prophetic — more at
seek
First Known Use: 1607
Definition source: http://www.merriam-webster.com
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"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us." ~ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
