bitful

UK-based weblog on technology, queerness, language and fitness

Archive for the ‘word of the day’ category

roister

Tuesday 26 February 2008

To engage in boisterous merrymaking; revel noisily. To behave in a blustering manner; swagger.

doula

Monday 25 February 2008

A woman who assists another woman during labor and provides support to her, the infant, and the family after childbirth.

fettle

Sunday 24 February 2008

Proper or sound condition. Mental or emotional state; spirits.

chary

Saturday 23 February 2008

Very cautious; wary.

lissom

Friday 22 February 2008

Easily bent; supple.

spoonerism

Thursday 21 February 2008

A transposition of sounds of two or more words, especially a ludicrous one, such as Let me sew you to your sheet for Let me show you to your seat.

furbelow

Wednesday 20 February 2008

A ruffle or flounce on a garment. A piece of showy ornamentation.

cosset

Tuesday 19 February 2008

To pamper. A pet, especially a pet lamb.

unctuous

Monday 18 February 2008

Characterized by affected, exaggerated, or insincere earnestness. Having the quality or characteristics of oil or ointment; slippery.

nimiety

Sunday 17 February 2008

Superfluity; excess.

plunder

Saturday 16 February 2008

To rob of goods by force, especially in time of war; pillage: plunder a village. To seize wrongfully or by force; steal: plundered the supplies.

spatter

Friday 15 February 2008

To scatter (a liquid) in drops or small splashes. To spot, splash, or soil. To sully the reputation of; defame.

epicene

Thursday 14 February 2008

Belonging to or having the characteristics of both the male and the female.

enjoin

Wednesday 13 February 2008

To direct or impose with authority and emphasis. To prohibit or forbid.

potentate

Tuesday 12 February 2008

One who has the power and position to rule over others; a monarch.

latitudinarian

Monday 11 February 2008

Holding or expressing broad or tolerant views, especially in religious matters.

surly

Sunday 10 February 2008

Sullenly ill-humored; gruff. Threatening, as of weather conditions; ominous.

conflate

Saturday 9 February 2008

To bring together; meld or fuse.

arrant

Friday 8 February 2008

Completely such; thoroughgoing: an arrant fool; the arrant luxury of the ocean liner.

milksop

Thursday 7 February 2008

A person who behaves in a childish, weak, or spoiled way.

hector

Wednesday 6 February 2008

A bully. To bully.

ken

Tuesday 5 February 2008

Perception; understanding.

hardscrabble

Monday 4 February 2008

Earning a bare subsistence, as on the land; marginal.

prink

Sunday 3 February 2008

To adorn (oneself) in a showy manner. To primp.

coterminous

Saturday 2 February 2008

Having a boundary in common; contiguous. Having the same scope, range of meaning, or extent in time.

etiolate

Friday 1 February 2008

To cause to appear pale and sickly: a face that was etiolated from years in prison. To make weak by stunting the growth or development of.

look askance

Thursday 31 January 2008

View with mistrust.

gambol

Wednesday 30 January 2008

To leap about playfully; frolic.

doughty

Tuesday 29 January 2008

Marked by stouthearted courage; brave.

moil

Monday 28 January 2008

To toil; slave.