Idiom of the Day
- at a (single) strokeAll at once, with a single decisive or powerful action. Watch the video
- in no way, shape, or formIn no possible manner; under no circumstances; not by any means. Watch the video
Word of the Day
- coltishDefinition: (adjective) Lively and playful; frisky. Synonyms: frolicky, frolicsome, rollicking, sportive. Usage: The substitute teacher found himself entirely overwhelmed by the energetic seventh-graders, whose coltish antics disrupted the lesson time and time again. Discuss
- exceptionableDefinition: (adjective) Open or liable to objection or debate; debatable. Synonyms: objectionable. Usage: We can't have perfection; and if I keep him, I must sustain his administration as a whole, even if there are, now and then, things that are exceptionable.
Word Origins
- surroundedinvolve - First meant "enfold, surround, wrap." More...enclave, exclave - An enclave is a group or area different from the surroundings, a secured area within another secured area, from Latin clavis, "key"; an exclave is the same thing, but usually describes a portion of a country separated from the main part and surrounded by politically […]
- scentbreath - From an Old English word meaning "scent, smell." More...flair - Comes from Latin fragrare, "smell sweet," and was first the ability to detect the "essence" or "scent" of something and know how to act accordingly. More...red herring - Something intended to be misleading or distracting, so named from the practice of using the […]
- presencehoodoo - A person who practices voodoo; the word also describes a person or thing whose presence is supposed to bring bad luck. More...al fresco - Implies the presence of some nearby structure (one does not hike al fresco). More...pyrosis - Heartburn is actually pyrosis, caused by the presence of gastric secretions, called reflux, in […]
