Sunday, July 17, 2005

Sundry

adj
consisting of a haphazard assortment of different kinds (even to the point of incongruity)

n
article too small or numerous to be specified; miscellaneous item

Saturday, July 16, 2005

Miasma

(1) A noxious atmosphere or influence: "The family affection, the family expectations, seemed to permeate the atmosphere... like a coiling miasma."

(2a) A poisonous atmosphere formerly thought to rise from swamps and putrid matter and cause disease.
(2b) A thick vaporous atmosphere or emanation: wreathed in a miasma of cigarette smoke.

Mawkish

(1) Excessively and objectionably sentimental.
(2) Sickening or insipid in taste.

Friday, July 15, 2005

Repose

n.
(1) The act of resting or the state of being at rest.
(2) Freedom from worry; peace of mind.
(3) Calmness; tranquillity.

v.
(1) To place (trust, for example): reposed all his hopes in the new cure.
(2) To lay (oneself) down.
(3) To rest or relax (oneself).

Thursday, July 14, 2005

August

(1) Inspiring awe or admiration; majestic: the august presence of the monarch.
(2) Venerable for reasons of age or high rank.

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

Pulchritudinous

Characterized by or having great physical beauty and appeal.

Wednesday, July 06, 2005

Incipient

Beginning to exist or appear: detecting incipient tumors; an incipient personnel problem.

Frisson

A moment of intense excitement; a shudder: The story's ending arouses a frisson of terror.