o·ti·ose (oh-tee-ose | oʊtioʊs)
Latin
adjective
superfluous, useless or ineffectual
Most of his otiose rambling went in one ear and out of the other.
April 2, 2012
Otiose
March 30, 2012
Hegemonic
heg·e·mon·ic (hej-uh-mon-ik | hɛdʒəmɒnɪk)
Greek
adjective
dominant or influencing over others
The domineering, hegemonic attitude did nothing to improve relationships between the two parties.
February 12, 2012
meretricious
mer·e·tri·cious (mer-uh-tri-shus | mer-ə-tri-shəs)
Latin
adjective
of or relating to a prostitute, OR something tawdrily and falsely attractive or superficially significant.
The forged coins gleamed like gold but were entirely meretricious.
Submitted by Coeurdelhistoire
February 12, 2012
decimate
dec·i·mate (dess-uh-mayt | dɛsəˌmeɪt )
Latin
verb
to destroy or remove ten percent of something.
“I intend to decimate my word count today.”
Submitted by the-unholy-grail
February 11, 2012
Velleity
vel·le·i·ty (vuh-lee-it-tee | vəliɪti)
Latin
noun
1) Volition in its weakest form
2) a mere wish, unaccompanied by the effort to obtain it
Until recently, my desire to submit to this blog was little more than velleity.
Submitted by khittyhawk
February 11, 2012
loden
lo·den (loh-den | loʊdn )
German
noun
A durable, water-repellent, coarse woolen fabric used chiefly for coats and
adjective
A deep olive green, sometimes with gray undertones.
That dress is not quite green yet not quite gray, so it must be loden.
Submitted by eyeslikethenight
January 14, 2012
vigil
vig·il (vij-uhl, vij-ill | vɪdʒəl, vɪdʒɪl)
Latin
noun
wakefulness maintained for any reason during the normal hours for sleeping
The son kept vigil at the bedside of his dying mother.
Submitted by deadstillcurious
January 14, 2012
propensity
pro·pen·si·ty (pruh-pen-si-tee | prəpɛnsɪti)
Latin
noun
a natural inclination or predisposition toward something, (obsolete) a predisposition or partiality toward something favourable
I have a propensity for using sexy words.
(see also: proclivity [link to follow])
Submitted by Elisa, via email.
January 13, 2012
miasma
mi·as·ma (my-az-muh, mee-az-muh | maɪæzmə, miæzmə)
Greek
noun
1) noxious exhalations from putrescent organic matter; poisonous effluvia or germs polluting the atmosphere
2) a dangerous, foreboding, or deathlike influence or atmosphere
The miasma in the air was indicative of the approaching zombie hoard.
January 13, 2012
tortuous
tor·tu·ous (tor·choo·us | tɔrtʃuəs)
Middle English, from Latin
adjective
1) full of twists, turns, or bends; twisting, winding, or crooked.
2) not direct or straightforward, as in procedure or speech; intricate; circuitous.
3) deceitfully indirect or morally crooked, as proceedings, methods, or policy; devious.
“In cities like Athens, poor houses lined narrow and tortuous streets in spite of luxurious public buildings.” —Stephen Gardiner
Submitted by no-pants-sherlock
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