bitful

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

Archive for the ‘word of the day’ category

eldritch

Sunday 27 January 2008

Strange or unearthly; eerie.

maunder

Saturday 26 January 2008

To talk incoherently or aimlessly. To move or act aimlessly or vaguely; wander.

flummery

Friday 25 January 2008

Meaningless or deceptive language; humbug.

mulct

Thursday 24 January 2008

To acquire by trickery or deception. To defraud or swindle.

caterwaul

Wednesday 23 January 2008

To cry or screech like a cat in heat. To make a shrill, discordant sound. To have a noisy argument.

germane

Tuesday 22 January 2008

Related to the matter at hand. Pertinent. To the point.

snifter

Monday 21 January 2008

A pear-shaped goblet with a narrow top, used especially in serving brandy. Slang. A small portion of liquor.

slake

Sunday 20 January 2008

To satisfy (a craving); quench. To lessen the force or activity of; moderate. To cool or refresh by wetting or moistening.

aright

Saturday 19 January 2008

In a proper manner; correctly.

brackish

Friday 18 January 2008

Having a somewhat salty taste, especially from containing a mixture of seawater and fresh water. Distasteful; unpalatable.

carom

Thursday 17 January 2008

A collision followed by a rebound. To collide and rebound; glance.

sere

Wednesday 16 January 2008

Withered, dry. Having little or no liquid or moisture.

slaver

Tuesday 15 January 2008

To slobber; drool. To behave in an obsequious manner; fawn.

irenic

Monday 14 January 2008

Promoting peace; conciliatory.

stripling

Sunday 13 January 2008

An adolescent youth.

egress

Saturday 12 January 2008

The act of coming or going out; emergence. The right to leave or go out: denied the refugees egress. A path or opening for going out; an exit.

inkhorn

Friday 11 January 2008

Affectedly or ostentatiously learned; pedantic.

hullabaloo

Thursday 10 January 2008

Great noise or excitement; uproar.

fillip

Wednesday 9 January 2008

A snap or light blow made by pressing a fingertip against the thumb and suddenly releasing it. An embellishment that excites or stimulates. One that is trivial or of little importance.

parlous

Tuesday 8 January 2008

Perilous; dangerous. Dangerously cunning (obsolete).

bailiwick

Monday 7 January 2008

A person's specific area of interest, skill, or authority. See synonyms at field. The office or district of a bailiff.

bevy

Sunday 6 January 2008

A group of animals or birds, especially larks or quail. A group or an assemblage.

clamber

Saturday 5 January 2008

To climb with difficulty, especially on all fours; scramble. A difficult, awkward climb.

potboiler

Friday 4 January 2008

A literary or artistic work of poor quality, produced quickly for profit.

scion

Thursday 3 January 2008

A descendant or heir. also ci·on (sī'ən) A detached shoot or twig containing buds from a woody plant, used in grafting.

piddle

Wednesday 2 January 2008

To use triflingly; squander. To spend time aimlessly; diddle. To urinate (informal).

raiment

Tuesday 1 January 2008

Clothing; garments.

philistine

Monday 31 December 2007

A smug, ignorant, especially middle-class person who is regarded as being indifferent or antagonistic to artistic and cultural values.

joist

Sunday 30 December 2007

Any of the wood, steel, or concrete beams set parallel from wall to wall or across or abutting girders to support a floor or ceiling.

dowel

Saturday 29 December 2007

A usually round pin that fits tightly into a corresponding hole to fasten or align two adjacent pieces.