Word of the day

FEBRUARY:



28.VISOR=vi⋅sor   /ˈvaɪzər/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [vahy-zer]

–noun

1.

Armor. a. (on a close helmet) a piece having slits or holes for vision, situated above and pivoted with a beaver or a ventail and beaver. b. a similar piece of plate having holes or slits for vision and breathing, attached to or used with any of various other helmets, as the armet, sallet, basinet, or helm.

2.	the projecting front brim of a cap.

3.	a rigid adjustable flap on an automobile windshield that can shield the eyes of a driver from direct sunlight or glare.

4.	a means of concealment; disguise.

–verb (used with object)

5.	to protect or mask with a visor; shield.

27.UNDULANT=un⋅du⋅lant   /ˈʌndʒələnt, ˈʌndyə-, -də-/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [uhn-juh-luhnt, uhn-dyuh-, -duh-] undulating; wavelike in motion or pattern: an undulant edge.

26.TIMOROUS=tim⋅or⋅ous   /ˈtɪmərəs/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [tim-er-uhs]

1.	full of fear; fearful: The noise made them timorous.

2.	subject to fear; timid.

3.	characterized by or indicating fear: a timorous whisper.

25.STASIS=sta⋅sis   /ˈsteɪsɪs, ˈstæsɪs/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [stey-sis, stas-is] –noun, plural sta⋅ses  /ˈsteɪsiz, ˈstæsiz/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [stey-seez, stas-eez]

1.	the state of equilibrium or inactivity caused by opposing equal forces.

2.	Pathology. stagnation in the flow of any of the fluids of the body, as of the blood in an inflamed area or the intestinal contents proximal to an obstruction.

24.RECALCITRANT=re⋅cal⋅ci⋅trant   /rɪˈkælsɪtrənt/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [ri-kal-si-truhnt]
–adjective

1.	resisting authority or control; not obedient or compliant; refractory.

2.	hard to deal with, manage, or operate.

23.QUISLING=quis⋅ling   /ˈkwɪzlɪŋ/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [kwiz-ling]
–noun a person who betrays his or her own country by aiding an invading enemy, often serving later in a puppet government; fifth columnist.

22.PARLEY=par⋅ley   /ˈpɑrli/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [pahr-lee]
noun, plural -leys, verb, -leyed, -ley⋅ing. –noun

1.	a discussion or conference.

2.	an informal conference between enemies under a truce, esp. to discuss terms, conditions of surrender, etc.

–verb (used without object)

3.	to hold an informal conference with an enemy under a truce, as between active hostilities.

4.	to speak, talk, or confer.

21.OSTENTATION=os⋅ten⋅ta⋅tion   /ˌɒstɛnˈteɪʃən, -tən-/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [os-ten-tey-shuhn, -tuhn-]
–noun

1.	pretentious or conspicuous show, as of wealth or importance; display intended to impress others.

2.	the act of showing or exhibiting; display

20.NICTITATE=nic⋅ti⋅tate   /ˈnɪktɪˌteɪt/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [nik-ti-teyt]
–verb (used without object), -tat⋅ed, -tat⋅ing.
to wink.


8.MALFEASANCE=mal⋅fea⋅sance   /mælˈfizəns/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [mal-fee-zuhns]
–noun Law. the performance by a public official of an act that is legally unjustified, harmful, or contrary to law; wrongdoing (used esp. of an act in violation of a public trust).

7.LINEAMENT=lin⋅e⋅a⋅ment   /ˈlɪniəmənt/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [lin-ee-uh-muhnt]
–noun

1.	Often, lineaments. a feature or detail of a face, body, or figure, considered with respect to its outline or contour: His fine lineaments made him the very image of his father.

2.	Usually, lineaments. distinguishing features; distinctive characteristics: the lineaments of sincere repentance.

3.	Geology. a linear topographic feature of regional extent that is believed to reflect underlying crustal structure.

6.KLEPTOMANIA=klep⋅to⋅ma⋅ni⋅a   /ˌklɛptəˈmeɪniə, -ˈmeɪnyə/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [klep-tuh-mey-nee-uh, -meyn-yuh]
–noun Psychology. an irresistible impulse to steal, stemming from emotional disturbance rather than economic need.

5.JUDDER=jud⋅der   /ˈdʒʌdər/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [juhd-er]
Chiefly British –verb (used without object)

1.	to vibrate violently: an old automobile with a clutch that judders.

–noun

2.	a state or instance of juddering.

4.IMBROGLIO=im⋅bro⋅glio   /ɪmˈbroʊlyoʊ/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [im-brohl-yoh]
–noun, plural -glios.

1.	a misunderstanding, disagreement, etc., of a complicated or bitter nature, as between persons or nations.

2.	an intricate and perplexing state of affairs; a complicated or difficult situation.

3.	a confused heap.

3.HOBBLE=hob⋅ble   /ˈhɒbəl/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [hob-uhl]
verb, -bled, -bling, noun –verb (used without object)

1.	to walk lamely; limp.

2.	to proceed irregularly and haltingly: His verses hobble with their faulty meters.

–verb (used with object)

3.	to cause to limp: His tight shoes hobbled him.

4.	to fasten together the legs of (a horse, mule, etc.) by short lengths of rope to prevent free motion.

5.	to impede; hamper the progress of.

–noun

6.	an act of hobbling; an uneven, halting gait; a limp.

7.	a rope, strap, etc., used to hobble an animal.

8.	hobbles, a leg harness for controlling the gait of a pacer.

9.	Archaic. an awkward or difficult situatio

2.GAINSAY=gain⋅say   /ˈgeɪnˌseɪ, geɪnˈseɪ/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [geyn-sey, geyn-sey]
–verb (used with object), -said, -say⋅ing.

1.	to deny, dispute, or contradict.

2.	to speak or act against; oppose.

1.FEALTY=fe⋅al⋅ty   /ˈfiəlti/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [fee-uhl-tee]
–noun, plural -ties.

1.	History/Historical. a. fidelity to a lord. b. the obligation or the engagement to be faithful to a lord, usually sworn to by a vassal.

2.	fidelity; faithfulness.