Word Meanings 20191223

sadistic
/səˈdɪstɪk/

adjective
deriving pleasure from inflicting pain, suffering, or humiliation on others.
"she took a sadistic pleasure in tormenting him"
Similar:
callous
barbarous
bestial
perverted
vicious
brutal
cruel

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at one
phrase of one
in agreement or harmony.
"they were completely at one with their environment"

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pod1
/pɒd/
noun
1.
an elongated seed vessel of a leguminous plant such as the pea, splitting open on both sides when ripe.
"gorse pods were popping in the sun"
Similar:
shell
husk
hull
case
seed vessel
shuck
pericarp
capsule
legume
2.
a detachable or self-contained unit on an aircraft, spacecraft, vehicle, or vessel, having a particular function.
"the torpedo's sensor pod"
verb
1.
(of a plant) bear or form pods.
"the peas have failed to pod"
2.
remove (peas or beans) from their pods prior to cooking.
"our friends would pick and pod the peas and beans"

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Novel of manners:

A novel of manners is work of fiction that re-creates a social world, conveying with finely detailed observation the customs, values, and mores of a highly developed and complex society.

The conventions of the society dominate the story, and characters are differentiated by the degree to which they measure up to the uniform standard, or ideal, of behaviour or fall below it. The scope of a novel of manners may be particular, as in the works of Jane Austen, which deal with the domestic affairs of the English landed gentry of the 19th century, or general, as in the novels of Balzac, which mirror the 19th century in stories dealing with Parisian life, provincial life, private life, public life, and military life.

Notable writers of the novel of manners from the end of the 19th century into the 20th include Henry James, Evelyn Waugh, Edith Wharton, and John Marquand.

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Regency era

The Regency in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was a period at the end of the Georgian era, when King George III was deemed unfit to rule due to his illness, and his son ruled as his proxy, as prince regent. Upon George III's death in 1820, the prince regent became King George IV. The term Regency (or Regency era) can refer to various stretches of time; some are longer than the decade of the formal Regency which lasted from 1811 to 1820. The period from 1795 to 1837, which includes the latter part of George III's reign and the reigns of his sons George IV and William IV, is sometimes regarded as the Regency era, characterised by distinctive trends in British architecture, literature, fashions, politics, and culture. It ended in 1837 when Queen Victoria succeeded William IV.

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spar2
/spɑː/

verb
gerund or present participle: sparring
1.
make the motions of boxing without landing heavy blows, as a form of training.
"one contestant broke his nose while sparring"
argue with someone without marked hostility.
"mother and daughter spar regularly over drink, drugs, and career"
Similar:
quarrel
argue
have a row/fight
row
fight
disagree
fail to agree
differ
be at odds
have a misunderstanding
be at variance
fall out
dispute
squabble
brawl
bicker
chop logic
wrangle
bandy words
cross swords
lock horns
be at each other's throats
be at loggerheads
scrap
argufy
spat
have a spat
altercate
2.
(of a gamecock) fight with the feet or spurs.
Origin

Old English sperran, spyrran ‘strike out’, of unknown origin; compare with Old Norse sperrask ‘kick out’.

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regent
/ˈriːdʒ(ə)nt/

noun
noun: regent; plural noun: regents
1.
a person appointed to administer a state because the monarch is a minor or is absent or incapacitated.
2.
NORTH AMERICAN
a member of the governing body of a university or other academic institution.
adjective
adjective: regent
acting as regent for a monarch.
"the queen regent of Portugal"
Origin

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obsequious
/əbˈsiːkwɪəs/

adjective
adjective: obsequious
obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree.
"they were served by obsequious waiters"
Similar:
servile
ingratiating
unctuous
sycophantic
fawning
toadying
oily
oleaginous
greasy
grovelling
cringing
toadyish
sycophantish
subservient
submissive
slavish
abject
Uriah Heepish
slimy
bootlicking
smarmy
sucky
soapy
brown-nosing
vulgar slangarse-licking
bum-sucking
kiss-ass
ass-kissing
Opposite:
domineering
Origin

late 15th century (not depreciatory in sense in early use): from Latin obsequiosus, from obsequium ‘compliance’, from obsequi ‘follow, comply with’.

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clergyman
/ˈkləːdʒɪmən/

noun: clergyman; plural noun: clergymen
a male priest, minister, or religious leader, especially a Christian one.
Similar:
priest
churchman
man of the cloth
man of God
cleric

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aghast
/əˈɡɑːst/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: aghast
filled with horror or shock.
"she winced, aghast at his cruelty"
Similar:
horrified
appalled
astounded
amazed
dismayed
thunderstruck
stunned
shocked
shell-shocked
in shock
flabbergasted
staggered
taken aback
speechless
awestruck
open-mouthed
wide-eyed
floored
gobsmacked
Origin

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indifferent
/ɪnˈdɪf(ə)r(ə)nt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: indifferent
1.
having no particular interest or sympathy; unconcerned.
"he gave an indifferent shrug"
Similar:
unconcerned about
apathetic about/towards
uncaring about
casual about
nonchalant about
offhand about
uninterested in
uninvolved in/with
heedless of
mindless of
careless of
regardless of
oblivious to
reckless about
cavalier about
frivolous about
dismissive of
unimpressed by
bored by
weary of
unmoved by
unresponsive to
lukewarm about
unenthusiastic about
phlegmatic about
impassive
dispassionate
aloof
insouciant
detached
distant
cold
cool
unresponsive
passionless
unemotional
emotionless
unmoved
unfeeling
unsympathetic
callous
pococurante
Opposite:
heedful
caring
2.
neither good nor bad; mediocre.
"a pair of indifferent watercolours"
Similar:
mediocre
ordinary
commonplace
average
middle-of-the-road
middling
medium
moderate
everyday
workaday
tolerable
passable
adequate
fair
inferior
second-rate
uninspired
undistinguished
unexceptional
unexciting
unremarkable
run-of-the-mill
not very good
pedestrian
prosaic
lacklustre
forgettable
amateur
amateurish
OK
so-so
bog-standard
fair-to-middling
(plain) vanilla
nothing to write home about
no great shakes
not so hot
not up to much
half-pie
Opposite:
brilliant
not good; fairly bad.
"in spite of very indifferent weather"
Origin

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interim
/ˈɪnt(ə)rɪm/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: interim; plural noun: interims
1.
the intervening time.
"in the interim I'll just keep my fingers crossed"
Similar:
meantime
meanwhile
intervening time
interval
interlude
interregnum
2.
BRITISH
an interim dividend, profit, etc.
adjective
adjective: interim
1.
in or for the intervening period; provisional.
"an interim arrangement"
Similar:
provisional
temporary
pro tem
stopgap
short-term
fill-in
caretaker
acting
intervening
transitional
changeover
make-do
makeshift
improvised
impromptu
emergency
pro tempore
ad interim
provisory
provisionary
Opposite:
permanent
2.
relating to less than a full year's business activity.
"an interim dividend"
adverbARCHAIC
adverb: interim
meanwhile.
Origin


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haughty
/ˈhɔːti/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: haughty; comparative adjective: haughtier; superlative adjective: haughtiest
arrogantly superior and disdainful.
"a look of haughty disdain"
Similar:
proud
vain
arrogant
conceited
snobbish
stuck-up
pompous
self-important
superior
egotistical
supercilious
condescending
lofty
patronizing
smug
scornful
contemptuous
disdainful
overweening
overbearing
imperious
lordly
cavalier
high-handed
full of oneself
above oneself
snooty
sniffy
hoity-toity
uppity
uppish
cocky
big-headed
swollen-headed
puffed up
high and mighty
la-di-da
fancy-pants
on one's high horse
too big for one's boots
toffee-nosed
chesty
too big for one's breeches
vainglorious
Opposite:
modest
humble
Origin

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recuperate
/rɪˈkuːpəreɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: recuperate; 3rd person present: recuperates; past tense: recuperated; past participle: recuperated; gerund or present participle: recuperating
1.
recover from illness or exertion.
"she has been recuperating from a knee injury"
Similar:
get better
recover
convalesce
get back to normal
get well
regain one's strength/health
get back on one's feet
get over something
be on the road to recovery
be on the mend
improve
mend
pick up
rally
revive
perk up
pull through
bounce back
2.
recover or regain (something lost or taken).
"they will seek to recuperate the returns that go with investment"
Similar:
get back
regain
recover
win back
recoup
retrieve
reclaim
repossess
have something returned
be reunited with
find
redeem
rescue
Origin

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pompous
/ˈpɒmpəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: pompous
1.
affectedly grand, solemn, or self-important.
"a pompous ass who pretends he knows everything"
Similar:
self-important
imperious
overbearing
domineering
magisterial
pontifical
sententious
grandiose
affected
stiff
pretentious
puffed up
arrogant
vain
haughty
proud
conceited
egotistic
supercilious
condescending
patronizing
snooty
uppity
uppish
bombastic
high-sounding
high-flown
lofty
turgid
grandiloquent
magniloquent
ornate
overblown
overripe
inflated
rhetorical
oratorical
declamatory
sonorous
portentous
pedantic
boastful
boasting
bragging
braggart
Falstaffian
highfalutin
windy
fustian
euphuistic
orotund
Opposite:
modest
humble
self-effacing
2.
ARCHAIC
characterized by pomp or splendour.
"processions and other pompous shows"
Origin

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patroness
/peɪtrənˈɛs/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: patroness; plural noun: patronesses
a female patron.

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patron
/ˈpeɪtr(ə)n/
noun
noun: patron; plural noun: patrons
1.
a person who gives financial or other support to a person, organization, or cause.
"a celebrated patron of the arts"
Similar:
sponsor
backer
financier
subsidizer
underwriter
guarantor
benefactor/benefactress
contributor
subscriber
donor
philanthropist
promoter
friend
helper
supporter
upholder
advocate
champion
protector
angel
Maecenas
a distinguished person who takes an honorary position in a charity.
"the Mental Health Foundation, of which Her Royal Highness is Patron"
2.
a customer of a shop, restaurant, etc., especially a regular one.
"we surveyed the plushness of the hotel and its sleek, well-dressed patrons"
Similar:
customer
client
frequenter
shopper
buyer
purchaser
consumer
diner
user
visitor
guest
member of the audience/crowd
clientele
regular
3.
ROMAN HISTORY
a patrician in relation to a client.
the former owner and (frequently) protector of a freed slave.
4.
HISTORICAL•BRITISH
a person or institution with the right to grant a benefice to a member of the clergy.
Origin


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hearten
/ˈhɑːt(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: heartened; past participle: heartened
make more cheerful or confident.
"she was heartened to observe that the effect was faintly comic"
Similar:
cheer up
cheer
raise someone's spirits
encourage
comfort
reassure

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Et al. is defined as an abbreviation for the Latin phrase et alia which means "and others." An example of et. al. used as an abbreviation is in the sentence, "The article was written by Smith, Jones, Paul, et al." which means that Smith, Jones, Paul and others wrote the article.

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dysthymia
/dɪsˈθʌɪmɪə/
Learn to pronounce
nounPSYCHIATRY
noun: dysthymia
persistent mild depression.
"in some, at least two years of dysthymia lead to recurring major depression"
Origin

mid 19th century: from Greek dusthumia .

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novel:

A novel is a relatively long work of narrative fiction, normally written in prose form, and which is typically published as a book. The present English word for a long work of prose fiction derives from the Italian novella for "new", "news", or "short story of something new", itself from the Latin novella, a singular noun use of the neuter plural of novellus, diminutive of novus, meaning "new".

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congenial
/kənˈdʒiːnɪəl/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
(of a person) pleasing or liked on account of having qualities or interests that are similar to one's own.
"his need for some congenial company"
Similar:
like-minded
compatible
kindred
well suited
easy to get along with
companionable
sociable
sympathetic
comradely
convivial
neighbourly
hospitable
genial
personable
agreeable
friendly
pleasant
likeable
kindly
pleasing
amiable
nice
good-natured
sympathique
simpatico
Opposite:
disagreeable
incompatible
(of a thing) pleasant or agreeable because suited to one's taste or inclination.
"he went back to a climate more congenial to his cold stony soul"
Similar:
pleasant
pleasing
to one's liking
agreeable
enjoyable
pleasurable

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sycophantic
/ˌsɪkəˈfantɪk/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: sycophantic
behaving or done in an obsequious way in order to gain advantage.
"a sycophantic interview"
Similar:
obsequious
servile
subservient
deferential
grovelling
toadying

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née
/neɪ/
adjective
originally called; born (used in giving a married woman's maiden name after her surname).
"Mary Toogood, née Johnson"
Similar:
born
formerly
previously
heretofore

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mortify
/ˈmɔːtɪfʌɪ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: mortified; past participle: mortified
1.
cause (someone) to feel very embarrassed or ashamed.
"she was mortified to see her wrinkles in the mirror"
Similar:
embarrass
humiliate
chagrin
shame
discomfit
abash
horrify
appal
crush
Opposite:
be pleased
be proud
2.
subdue (the body or its needs and desires) by self-denial or discipline.
"return to heaven by mortifying the flesh"
Similar:
subdue
suppress
subjugate
control
restrain
get under control

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gambit
/ˈɡambɪt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
1.
an act or remark that is calculated to gain an advantage, especially at the outset of a situation.
"his resignation was a tactical gambit"
Similar:
stratagem
machination
scheme
plan
tactic
manoeuvre
move
course of action
line of action
device
operation
ruse
trick
ploy
artifice
wheeze
wangle
2.
(in chess) an opening move in which a player makes a sacrifice, typically of a pawn, for the sake of a compensating advantage.
"he tried the dubious Budapest gambit"

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fluster
/ˈflʌstə/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: flustered; past participle: flustered
make (someone) agitated or confused.
"Rosamund seemed rather flustered this morning"
Similar:
unsettle
make nervous
unnerve
agitate
ruffle
upset
bother
put on edge
discompose
disquiet
disturb
worry
alarm
panic
perturb
disconcert
confuse
throw off balance
confound
nonplus
hassle
rattle
faze
discombobulate
put into a flap
throw into a tizz
send into a spin
Opposite:
calm
Origin

early 17th century (in the sense ‘make slightly drunk’): perhaps of Scandinavian origin and related to Icelandic flaustra ‘hurry, bustle’.

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fluke1
/fluːk/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: fluke; plural noun: flukes
an unlikely chance occurrence, especially a surprising piece of luck.
"their victory was a bit of a fluke"
Similar:
chance
coincidence
accident
a twist of fate
piece/stroke of luck
piece/stroke of good luck
piece/stroke of good fortune
lucky stroke
happy/lucky chance
lucky break
verb
verb: fluke; 3rd person present: flukes; past tense: fluked; past participle: fluked; gerund or present participle: fluking
achieve (something) by luck rather than skill.
Origin
mid 19th century (originally a term in games such as billiards denoting a lucky stroke): perhaps a dialect word.
fluke2
/fluːk/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: fluke; plural noun: flukes
1.
a parasitic flatworm which typically has suckers and hooks for attachment to the host. Some species are of veterinary or medical importance.




2.
DIALECT•NORTH AMERICAN
a flatfish, especially a flounder.
Origin

Old English flōc (in fluke2 (sense 2)), of Germanic origin; related to German flach ‘flat’.
fluke3
/fluːk/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: fluke; plural noun: flukes
1.
a broad triangular plate on the arm of an anchor.
2.
either of the lobes of a whale's tail.
Origin

mid 16th century: perhaps from fluke2 (because of the shape).

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tuft
/tʌft/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: tufts
a bunch or collection of threads, grass, hair, etc., held or growing together at the base.
"scrubby tufts of grass"
Similar:
clump
bunch
knot
cluster
tussock
tuffet
lock
wisp
crest
topknot
tassel
floccule
flocculus
floccus
byssus
coma
pappus
scopa
panache
ANATOMY•ZOOLOGY
a bunch of small blood vessels, respiratory tentacles, or other small anatomical structures.
verb
3rd person present: tufts
1.
provide with a tuft or tufts.
"the fringe can be tasselled or tufted"
2.
NEEDLEWORK
strengthen (upholstery) by passing a cluster of threads through the material, so making depressions at regular intervals.
Origin

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languid
/ˈlaŋɡwɪd/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: languid
1.
(of a person, manner, or gesture) having or showing a disinclination for physical exertion or effort.
"his languid demeanour irritated her"
Similar:
relaxed
unhurried
languorous
unenergetic
lacking in energy
slow
slow-moving
listless
lethargic
phlegmatic
torpid
sluggish
lazy
idle
slothful
inactive
indolent
lackadaisical
apathetic
indifferent
uninterested
impassive
laid back
otiose
pococurante
Laodicean
Opposite:
energetic
active
(of a period of time) relaxed and peaceful.
"the terrace was perfect for languid days in the Italian sun"
Similar:
leisurely
peaceful
languorous
relaxed
restful
lazy
Opposite:
energetic
action-packed
2.
weak or faint from illness or fatigue.
"she was pale, languid, and weak, as if she had delivered a child"
Similar:
sickly
weak
faint
feeble
frail
delicate
debilitated
flagging
drooping
tired
weary
fatigued
enervated
Opposite:
energetic
vigorous
Origin

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Cheshire cat
/tʃɛʃə ˈkat/
noun
noun: Cheshire cat; plural noun: Cheshire cats
a cat depicted with a broad fixed grin, as popularized through Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865).
Phrases
grin like a Cheshire cat — have a broad fixed smile on one's face.

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insinuate
/ɪnˈsɪnjʊeɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: insinuate; 3rd person present: insinuates; past tense: insinuated; past participle: insinuated; gerund or present participle: insinuating
1.
suggest or hint (something bad) in an indirect and unpleasant way.
"he was insinuating that I had no self-control"
Similar:
imply
suggest
hint
intimate
whisper
indicate
convey the impression
give a clue
give an inkling
allude to the fact
make reference to the fact
let it be known
give someone to understand
give someone to believe
make out
tip someone the wink
2.
slide (oneself or a thing) slowly and smoothly into a particular place.
"I insinuated my shoulder in the gap"
Similar:
slide
slip
manoeuvre
insert
edge
work
move into position
manoeuvre oneself into (a favourable position) by subtle manipulation.
"he insinuated himself into the king's confidence"
Similar:
worm one's way into
work one's way into
ingratiate oneself with
curry favour with
foist oneself on
introduce oneself into
squeeze oneself into
edge one's way into
infiltrate
invade
sneak into
intrude on
impinge on
get in with
muscle in on
Origin

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tarmac
/ˈtɑːmak/
Learn to pronounce
nounTRADEMARK IN UK
material used for surfacing roads or other outdoor areas, consisting of broken stone mixed with tar.
"the tarmac path"
verb
surface (a road or other outdoor area) with tarmac or a similar material.
"they'll be wanting to tarmac the path"

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denomination
/dɪˌnɒmɪˈneɪʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
1.
a recognized autonomous branch of the Christian Church.
"the Presbyterian community is the second largest denomination in the country"
Similar:
religious group
sect
Church
cult
movement
faith community
body
persuasion
religious persuasion
communion
order
fraternity
brotherhood
sisterhood
school
faith
creed
belief
religious belief
religion
sodality
2.
the face value of a banknote, coin, or postage stamp.
"high-denomination banknotes"
Similar:
value
unit
grade
size
measure

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black swan
noun
noun: black swan; plural noun: black swans
1.
a mainly black swan with white flight feathers which is common in Australia and Tasmania and has been introduced elsewhere.
2.
an unpredictable or unforeseen event, typically one with extreme consequences.
"the bank industry's vulnerability to black swans"
something extremely rare.
"husbands without faults, if such black swans there be"

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