Excessively sparing or frugal.
Thursday, September 30, 2004
Monday, September 27, 2004
Privation
(1a) Lack of the basic necessities or comforts of life.
(1b) The condition resulting from such lack.
(2) An act, condition, or result of deprivation or loss.
(1b) The condition resulting from such lack.
(2) An act, condition, or result of deprivation or loss.
Limn
limned, limn·ing,
(1) To describe.
(2) To depict by painting or drawing. See Synonyms at represent.
"Let a painter carelessly limn out a million of faces, and you shall find them all different."
(1) To describe.
(2) To depict by painting or drawing. See Synonyms at represent.
"Let a painter carelessly limn out a million of faces, and you shall find them all different."
Sunday, September 26, 2004
Hoi Polloi
The common people; the masses.
Usage Note: Hoi polloi is a borrowing of the Greek phrase hoi polloi, consisting of hoi, meaning “the” and used before a plural, and polloi, the plural of polus, “many.” In Greek hoi polloi had a special sense, “the greater number, the people, the commonalty, the masses.” This phrase has generally expressed this meaning in English since its first recorded instance, in an 1837 work by James Fenimore Cooper. Hoi polloi is sometimes incorrectly used to mean “the elite,” possibly because it is reminiscent of high and mighty or because it sounds like hoity-toity.
Usage Note: Hoi polloi is a borrowing of the Greek phrase hoi polloi, consisting of hoi, meaning “the” and used before a plural, and polloi, the plural of polus, “many.” In Greek hoi polloi had a special sense, “the greater number, the people, the commonalty, the masses.” This phrase has generally expressed this meaning in English since its first recorded instance, in an 1837 work by James Fenimore Cooper. Hoi polloi is sometimes incorrectly used to mean “the elite,” possibly because it is reminiscent of high and mighty or because it sounds like hoity-toity.
Saturday, September 25, 2004
Plenary
(1) Complete in all respects; unlimited or full: a diplomat with plenary powers.
(2) Fully attended by all qualified members: a plenary session of the council.
(2) Fully attended by all qualified members: a plenary session of the council.
Thursday, September 23, 2004
Moiety
(1) A half.
(2) A part, portion, or share.
(3) Anthropology. Either of two kinship groups based on unilateral descent that together make up a tribe or society.
(2) A part, portion, or share.
(3) Anthropology. Either of two kinship groups based on unilateral descent that together make up a tribe or society.
Tuesday, September 21, 2004
Monday, September 20, 2004
Sunday, September 19, 2004
Friday, September 17, 2004
Platitude
(1) A trite or banal remark or statement, especially one expressed as if it were original or significant. See Synonyms at cliché.
(2) Lack of originality; triteness.
(2) Lack of originality; triteness.
Wednesday, September 15, 2004
Meretricious
(1a) Attracting attention in a vulgar manner: meretricious ornamentation.
(1b) Plausible but false or insincere; specious: a meretricious argument.
(2) Of or relating to prostitutes or prostitution: meretricious relationships.
(1b) Plausible but false or insincere; specious: a meretricious argument.
(2) Of or relating to prostitutes or prostitution: meretricious relationships.
Tuesday, September 14, 2004
Longueur
A tedious passage in a work of literature or performing art: “longueurs and passages of meretricious vulgarity."
Epistolary
(1) Of or associated with letters or the writing of letters.
(2) Being in the form of a letter: epistolary exchanges.
(3) Carried on by or composed of letters: an epistolary friendship.
(2) Being in the form of a letter: epistolary exchanges.
(3) Carried on by or composed of letters: an epistolary friendship.
Saturday, September 11, 2004
Pillory
(1) A wooden framework on a post, with holes for the head and hands, in which offenders were formerly locked to be exposed to public scorn as punishment.
(2a) To expose to public ridicule and abuse.
(2b) To put in a pillory as punishment.
(2a) To expose to public ridicule and abuse.
(2b) To put in a pillory as punishment.