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Word Of The Day Archives - August 2007
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
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| abnegate (v) |
renounce |
| abnegation |
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| Sentence: |
My whole family abnegated candy for a month in a collective effort to lose weight. |
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| Similar Words: |
relinquish, reject |
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Thursday, August 2, 2007
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| defamation (n) |
slander |
| defame |
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| Sentence: |
The TV report defamed the controversial activist. |
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| Similar Words: |
aspersion, calumny, libel, vilification |
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Friday, August 3, 2007
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| utopia (n) |
ideal place |
| utopian |
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| Sentence: |
If you keep searching for utopia your whole life, you will die a disappointed person. |
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| Similar Words: |
nirvana, paradise |
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Saturday, August 4, 2007
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| collegial (adj) |
cooperative, friendly |
| collegiality |
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| Sentence: |
My office-mate and I were once rivals, but now we work together collegially. |
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| Similar Words: |
collaborative |
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Sunday, August 5, 2007
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| astute (adj) |
perceptive |
| versatility |
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| Sentence: |
The sleuth's astute observation led us rapidly to the prize. |
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| Similar Words: |
keen, smart |
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Monday, August 6, 2007
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| belated (adj) |
tardy |
| belatedness |
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| Sentence: |
Here is a belated birthday card for you; sorry for the delay. |
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| Similar Words: |
delayed |
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Tuesday, August 7, 2007
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| heedless (adj) |
unmindful |
| heedlessness |
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| Sentence: |
Heedless of the blackening sky, the novice sailor left the dock and soon foundered in the open water. |
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| Similar Words: |
negligent |
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Wednesday, August 8, 2007
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| apposite (adj) |
fitting |
| appositeness |
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| Sentence: |
The speaker's serious comments were perfectly apposite for the solemn occasion. |
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| Similar Words: |
apt, pertinent, relevant |
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Thursday, August 9, 2007
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| peripatetic (adj) |
wandering |
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| Sentence: |
Would you like a peripatetic lifestyle, like a nomad? |
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| Similar Words: |
nomadic |
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Friday, August 10, 2007
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| nihilism (n) |
rejection of morals, values |
| nihilist |
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| Sentence: |
After subscribing to numerous social theories for 50 years, my grandfather adopted nihilism late in life, giving up all his lifelong beliefs. |
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Saturday, August 11, 2007
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| solace (n) |
sympathy |
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| Sentence: |
All we can do now is give Mary our solace for her loss. |
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| Similar Words: |
consolation |
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Sunday, August 12, 2007
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| undulate (v) |
move in waves |
| undulation |
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| Sentence: |
From a distance, the train looked like a snake undulating through the hills. |
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| Similar Words: |
ripple, roll |
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Monday, August 13, 2007
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| ardent (adj) |
passionate |
| ardency |
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| Sentence: |
I hope you will not disappoint your ardent admirer. |
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| Similar Words: |
zealous, eager |
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Tuesday, August 14, 2007
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| ennui (n) |
boredom |
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| Sentence: |
After three days on the deserted Pacific island, a deep sense of ennui swept over me. |
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| Similar Words: |
lassitude, listlessness |
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Wednesday, August 15, 2007
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| manumit (v) |
free |
| manumission |
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| Sentence: |
When the rebels manumitted the political prisoners, there was dancing in the streets. |
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| Similar Words: |
liberate |
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Thursday, August 16, 2007
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| wry (adj) |
devious |
| wryness |
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| Sentence: |
My father's wry sense of humor always left my mother scratching her head. |
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| Similar Words: |
insidious, crafty, sly |
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Friday, August 17, 2007
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| assiduous (adj) |
determined |
| assiduousness |
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| Sentence: |
The assiduous efforts of our newest player made all the difference in the team's triumph. |
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| Similar Words: |
persistent, diligent, tenacious, dogged, sedulous |
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Saturday, August 18, 2007
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| largess (n) |
generosity |
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| Sentence: |
The family's largess built almost all of the schools in my town. |
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| Similar Words: |
philanthropy, benefaction |
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Sunday, August 19, 2007
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| respite (n) |
pause |
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| Sentence: |
A golf shack provided some respite from the lightening storm. |
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| Similar Words: |
shelter |
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Monday, August 20, 2007
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| ascribe (v) |
attribute |
| ascription |
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| Sentence: |
To what do you ascribe your great success? |
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| Similar Words: |
impute, assign |
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Tuesday, August 21, 2007
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| austere (adj) |
severe, plain |
| austerity |
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| Sentence: |
The hermit's austere lifestyle contrasted with his earlier life of luxury. |
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| Similar Words: |
ascetic |
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Wednesday, August 22, 2007
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| molt (v) |
shed |
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| Sentence: |
The rattlesnake molted his skin right in front of us, leaving it in a pile behind the rocks. |
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| Similar Words: |
discard, jettison |
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Thursday, August 23, 2007
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| prudent (adj) |
careful, sensible |
| prudence |
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| Sentence: |
The plant shut-down was a prudent decision by an experienced manager. |
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| Similar Words: |
cautious, judicious |
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Friday, August 24, 2007
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| ascertain (v) |
determine |
| ascertainment |
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| Sentence: |
How did you ascertain that your son's alibi was true? |
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| Similar Words: |
learn |
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Saturday, August 25, 2007
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| inculcate (v) |
impress upon; teach |
| inculcation |
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| Sentence: |
Good teachers try to inculcate in their students a love of learning. |
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| Similar Words: |
instill, indoctrinate |
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Sunday, August 26, 2007
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| mire (n) |
swamp |
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| Sentence: |
Stuck in a deep mire, our ancient model T eventually came through. |
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| Similar Words: |
fen, marsh |
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Monday, August 27, 2007
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| concierge (n) |
doorkeeper |
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| Sentence: |
I left the keys with my apartment's concierge. |
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Tuesday, August 28, 2007
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| brevity (adj) |
conciseness |
| brief |
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| Sentence: |
The crowd appreciated the brevity of the candidate's stump speech. |
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| Similar Words: |
succinctness, economy |
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Wednesday, August 29, 2007
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| idiosyncrasy (n) |
eccentricity |
| idiosyncratic |
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| Sentence: |
My quirky friend had many idiosyncrasies. |
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| Similar Words: |
quirk |
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Thursday, August 30, 2007
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| nuptial (adj) |
pertaining to marriage |
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| Sentence: |
My finance and I plan to exchange our nuptial vows in Las Vegas. |
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| Similar Words: |
wedding |
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Friday, August 31, 2007
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| deft (adj) |
skilled |
| deftness |
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| Sentence: |
My father's deft wit always had a way of defusing family fights. |
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| Similar Words: |
competent, adroit |
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