Monday, January 10, 2005

Seriatim

One after another; in a series.

Sunday, January 09, 2005

Appurtenance

(1) Something added to another, more important thing; an appendage. See Synonyms at appendage.
(2) Equipment, such as clothing, tools, or instruments, used for a specific purpose or task; gear.
(3) Law. A right, privilege, or property that is considered incident to the principal property for purposes such as passage of title, conveyance, or inheritance.

Monday, January 03, 2005

Molder

To crumble to dust; disintegrate.

Saturday, January 01, 2005

Bilious

(1) Of, relating to, or containing bile; biliary.
(2a) Characterized by an excess secretion of bile.
(2b) Relating to, characterized by, or experiencing gastric distress caused by a disorder of the liver or gallbladder.
(2c) Appearing as if affected by such a disorder; sickly.
(3) Resembling bile, especially in color: a bilious green.
(4) Having a peevish disposition; ill-humored.

Friday, December 31, 2004

Augur

(1) One of a group of ancient Roman religious officials who foretold events by observing and interpreting signs and omens.
(2) A seer or prophet; a soothsayer.

Thursday, December 30, 2004

Baluster

(1a) One of the upright, usually rounded or vase-shaped supports of a balustrade.
(1b) An upright support, such as a furniture leg, having a similar shape.
(2) One of the supporting posts of a handrail.

Tuesday, December 28, 2004

Lilliputian

n.
A very small person or being.


adj.
(1) Very small; diminutive.
(2) Trivial; petty.

Etymology: After Lilliput, a country in Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift, where everything was diminutive.

Sunday, December 26, 2004

Satori

A spiritual awakening sought in Zen Buddhism, often coming suddenly.

Friday, December 24, 2004

Verdigris

(1) A blue or green powder consisting of basic cupric acetate used as a paint pigment and fungicide.
(2) A green patina or crust of copper sulfate or copper chloride formed on copper, brass, and bronze exposed to air or seawater for long periods of time.

Tuesday, December 21, 2004

Surreptitious

(1) Obtained, done, or made by clandestine or stealthy means.
(2) Acting with or marked by stealth.

Monday, December 20, 2004

Mephistopheles

The devil in the Faust legend to whom Faust sold his soul.

Sunday, December 19, 2004

Tsuris

Trouble; aggravation.

Wednesday, November 24, 2004

Schadenfreude

Pleasure derived from the misfortunes of others.

Mendacity

(1) The condition of being mendacious; untruthfulness.
(2) A lie; a falsehood.

Sunday, November 21, 2004

Tergiversate

(1) To use evasions or ambiguities; equivocate.
(2) To change sides; apostatize.