Word of the Day for Friday, December 18, 2009

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diaphanous \dy-AF-uh-nuhs\, adjective:

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1. Of such fine texture as to allow light to pass through; translucent or transparent.

2. Vague; insubstantial.

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The B.O. - promisor of diaphanous hope!

--Spy Maker, JSA's Blog

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Diaphanous ultimately derives from Greek diaphanes, "showing through," from diaphainein, "to show through, to be transparent," from dia-, "through" + phainein, "to show, to appear." It is related to phantom, something apparently sensed but having no physical reality.

Word of the Day for Thursday, December 17, 2009

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paroxysm \PAIR-uhk-siz-uhm\, noun:

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1. (Medicine) A sudden attack, intensification, or recurrence of a disease.

2. Any sudden and violent emotion or action; an outburst; a fit.

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If the B.O. does not get his way with the health care takeover, it will surely send him into a paroxysm of rage!

--Spy Maker, JSA's Blog

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Paroxysm is from Greek paroxusmos, from paroxunein, "to irritate, provoke or excite (literally to sharpen excessively)," from para-, "beyond" + oxunein, "to sharpen, to provoke."

Word of the Day for Wednesday, December 16, 2009

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doff \DOF\, transitive verb:

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1. To take off, as an article of clothing.

2. To tip or remove (one's hat).

3. To put aside; to rid oneself of.

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Hey, B.O, doff the socialist-Marxist agenda and respond to what the majority of American citizens actually want you to do!

--Spy Maker, JSA's Blog

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Doff Middle English doffen, from don off, "to do off," from don, "to do" + off, "off."

Word of the Day for Tuesday, December 15, 2009

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appellation \ap-uh-LAY-shun\, noun:

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1. The word by which a particular person or thing is called and known; name; title; designation.

2. The act of naming.

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You would think that the B.O. would readily accept and admit that he is in fact a socialist revolutionary and that he would take pride in claiming that appellation for himself!

--Spy Maker, JSA's Blog

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Appellation comes from Latin appellatio, from appellare, "to name."

Word of the Day for Monday, December 14, 2009

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numinous \NOO-min-us; NYOO-\, adjective:

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1. Of or pertaining to a numen; supernatural.

2. Filled with or characterized by a sense of a supernatural presence.

3. Inspiring awe and reverence; spiritual.

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The numinous lustre of the B.O. has worn off for most Americans!

--Spy Maker, JSA's Blog

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Numinous is from Latin numen: literally a "nod of the head," as in giving a command, hence "divine power."

Word of the Day for Saturday, December 12, 2009

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palliate \PAL-ee-ayt\, transitive verb:

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1. To make (an offense or crime) seem less serious; extenuate.

2. To make less severe or intense; mitigate.

3. To relieve the symptoms of a disease or disorder.

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So, how do we, the American public, palliate the damage to our society and economy that the B.O. and his politburo are in the process of wreaking havoc upon?

--Spy Maker, JSA's Blog

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Palliate derives from Late Latin palliatus, past participle of palliare, "to cloak, to conceal," from Latin pallium, "cloak."

Word of the Day for Friday, December 11, 2009

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recalcitrant \rih-KAL-sih-truhnt\, adjective:

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Stubbornly resistant to and defiant of authority or restraint.

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The B.O. continues to be recalcitrant on providing the public an actual copy of his birth certificate!

--Spy Maker, JSA's Blog

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Recalcitrant derives from Latin recalcitrare, "to kick back," from re-, "back" + calcitrare, "to strike with the heel, to kick," from calx, calc-, "the heel."

Word of the Day for Thursday, December 10, 2009

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cogitate \KOJ-uh-tayt\, intransitive verb:

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1. To think deeply or intently; to ponder; to meditate.

2. To think about; to ponder on; to meditate upon; to plan or plot.

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The B.O. seems unable to cogitate on anything other than how to get re-elected!

--Spy Maker, JSA's Blog

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Cogitate comes from Latin cogitare, "to turn over in one's mind, to reflect, to think, to consider," from co- + agitare, "to put in constant motion, to drive about," from agere, "to drive." It is related to agitate.

Word of the Day for Wednesday, December 9, 2009

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ratiocination \rash-ee-ah-suh-NAY-shun; rash-ee-oh-\, noun:

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The process of logical reasoning.

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The B.O. uses his powers of ratiocination to justify the government's takeover of the private sector!

--Spy Maker, JSA's Blog

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Ratiocination is from Latin rationcinatio, from ratiocinari, "to compute, to calculate, to reason," from ratio, "reckoning, calculation, reason," from reri, "to reckon, to think."

Word of the Day for Monday, December 7, 2009

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fatuous \FACH-oo-uhs\, adjective:

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1. Inanely foolish and unintelligent; stupid.

2. Illusory; delusive.

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The B.O. and his politburo persist in their belief that the American public is comprised of a bunch of fatuous sops, unable to function without the government telling them what to do in every facet of their pathetic lives!

--Spy Maker, JSA's Blog

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Fatuous comes from Latin fatuus, "foolish, idiotic, silly."

Word of the Day for Friday, December 4, 2009

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gallimaufry \gal-uh-MAW-free\, noun:

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A hodgepodge; jumble; confused medley.

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The B.O.'s health care bills are nothing more than a compilation gallimaufry of special interest groups' submissions!

--Spy Maker, JSA's Blog

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Gallimaufry, originally meaning "a hash of various kinds of meats," comes from French galimafrée, from Old French, from galer, "to rejoice, to make merry" (source of English gala) + mafrer, "to eat much," from Medieval Dutch maffelen, "to open one's mouth wide."

Word of the Day for Thursday, December 3, 2009

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roborant \ROB-uh-ruhnt\, adjective:

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1. Strengthening; restoring vigor.

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noun:

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1. A strengthening medicine; a tonic; a restorative.

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The B.O. believes that the way to make the economy more roborant is to create government jobs!

--Spy Maker, JSA's Blog

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Roborant derives from the present participle of Latin roborare, "to strengthen," from robur, roboris, "strength."

Word of the Day for Wednesday, December 2, 2009

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myrmidon \MUR-muh-don; -duhn\, noun:

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1. (Capitalized) A member of a warlike Thessalian people who followed Achilles on the expedition against Troy.

2. A loyal follower, especially one who executes orders without question.

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ACORN and SEIU are the B.O.'s myrmidons!

--Spy Maker, JSA's Blog

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Myrmidon derives from Greek Myrmidones, a warlike people of ancient Thessaly.

Word of the Day for Tuesday, December 1, 2009

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intrepid \in-TREP-id\, adjective:

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Fearless; bold; brave; undaunted; courageous; as, an intrepid soldier; intrepid spirit.

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Tonight the B.O. will attempt the unattainable and show us that he, the intrepid President, is all about taking care of business in Afghanistan!

--Spy Maker, JSA's Blog

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Intrepid comes from Latin intrepidus, "calm," from in-, "not" + trepidus, "anxious, disturbed."

Word of the Day for Monday, November 30, 2009

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couture \koo-TOOR\, noun:

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1. The business of designing, making, and selling highly fashionable, usually custom-made clothing for women.

2. Dressmakers and fashion designers considered as a group.

3. The high-fashion clothing created by designers.

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adjective:

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1. Created or produced by a fashion designer.

2. Being, having, or suggesting the style, quality, etc., of a fashion designer; very fashionable.

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The workwear couture of the masses and Mrs. B.O's couture of the elite, complete with her $500 soup-kitchen shoes, are definitely polar opposites!

--Spy Maker, JSA's Blog

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Couture is from French meaning sewing, from Old French cousture, from Vulgar Latin cōnsūtūra, from Latin cōnsuere, cōnsūt-, to sew together.