Wiktionary:Word of the day/Archive/2006/December

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1

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nimbus n

A circle of light; halo. A gray rain cloud

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2

3

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fastidious adj

Excessively particular, demanding, or fussy about details. Overly concerned about tidiness and cleanliness

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4

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arbitrary adj

Determined by impulse rather than reason. Chosen for no reason or at random

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5

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prevaricate v

To evade the truth; to waffle or be intentionally ambiguous. To speak with equivocation; to shuffle; to quibble

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6

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lugubrious adj

Gloomy, mournful or dismal, especially to an exaggerated degree

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7

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segue v

To move smoothly from one state or subject to another. (music) To make a smooth transition from one theme to another

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8

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emaciated adj

Thin or haggard, especially from hunger or disease; weak from being malnourished

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9

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optimize v

To make (something) optimal; to make the best that is possible. To make something more efficient

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10

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inchoate adj

Recently started but not fully formed yet; only elementary or immature

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11

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extemporise v

To do something, particularly to perform or speak, without prior planning or thought; to act in an impromptu manner; to improvise

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12

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lexicon n

(linguistics) A dictionary that includes or focuses on vocabulary. A dictionary of Classical Greek, Hebrew, Latin, or Aramaic. The vocabulary employed by or known to an individual

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13

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knock on wood v

(idiomatic) An action taken or referred to ward off some misfortune that is discussed but has not happened yet

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14

15

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shako n

(From Hungarian csákó): A stiff cylindrical military dress hat with a metal plate in front, a short visor, and a plume

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16

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paddy n

(From Malay padi): An irrigated or flooded field where rice is grown

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17

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robot n

(From Czech and Slovak robota): A machine that resembles humans in shape or function

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18

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capoeira n

(From Portuguese): A martial art developed in Brazil

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19

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hoi polloi n

(From Ancient Greek οἱ πολλοί): The common people; the masses

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20

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brogue n

(From Irish Gaelic bróg): A strong dialectal accent, especially a strong Irish accent

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21

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geronimo interj

(After Chiricahua Goyaałé): A cry shouted before jumping out of or into something

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22

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kabuki n

(From Japanese 歌舞伎): A form of Japanese theatre in which elaborately costumed male performers use stylized movements, dances, and songs to enact tragedies and comedies

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23

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chocolate n

(From Nahuatl chocolatl): A food made from ground roasted cocoa beans

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24

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tundra n

(From Kildin Sami tūndar): A flat and treeless arctic region

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25

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Hanukkah n

(From Hebrew חנוכה): A Jewish festival that commemorates the rededication of the temple in Jerusalem after the victory of the Maccabees

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26

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pariah n

(From Tamil paraiyar): An outcast. A demographic group or community that is generally despised

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27

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zero num

(From Arabic صفر): The number that denotes no quantity or amount at all

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28

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ogonek n

(From Polish "little tail"): A hook-shaped diacritical mark attached underneath a vowel to indicate nasalization

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29

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juggernaut n

(From Hindustani जगन्नाथ): A literal or metaphorical force regarded as unstoppable

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30

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abalone n

(From Ohlone aulon): An edible univalve mollusc having a shell lined with mother-of-pearl

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31

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wiki n

(From Hawaiian wikiwiki): A website based on any kind of Wiki software which enables users to add to, edit, and delete from the site’s content quickly

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