Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day

refractory
Thu, 28 Aug 2008 01:15:01 -0500
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 28, 2008 is: refractory • \rih-FRAK-tuh-ree\  • adjective *1 : resisting control or authority : stubborn, unmanageable 2 a : resistant to treatment or cureb : unresponsive to stimulusc : immune, insusceptible 3 : difficult to fuse, corrode, or draw out; especially : capable of enduring high temperature Example sentence: Refractory students may be disciplined, suspended, or expelled, depending on the seriousness of their offense. Did you know? "Refractory" is from the Latin word "refractarius." During the 17th century, it was sometimes spelled as "refractary," but that spelling, though more in keeping with its Latin parent, had fallen out of use by the century's end. "Refractarius," like "refractory," is the result of a slight variation in spelling. It stems from the Latin verb "refragari," meaning "to oppose." *Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.
pejorative
Wed, 27 Aug 2008 01:15:01 -0500
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 27, 2008 is: pejorative • \pih-JOR-uh-tiv\  • adjective : having negative connotations; especially : tending to disparage or belittle : depreciatory Example sentence: The team's star player has come under fire for making pejorative remarks about women during a magazine interview. Did you know? "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." Moms have given that good advice for years, but unfortunately many people haven't heeded it. The word "pejorative" makes it clear that both English and Latin speakers have long known that disparaging words can make a bad situation worse. "Pejorative" derives from the Late Latin adjective "pejoratus," which in turn comes from the Latin verb "pejorare," meaning "to make or become worse." Although pejorative words have probably always been part of English, the adjective "pejorative" has only been found in English texts since the late 1880s. Before then, English speakers could rely on older synonyms of "pejorative" such as "derogatory" and "uncomplimentary" to describe disparaging words.
sophistry
Tue, 26 Aug 2008 01:15:01 -0500
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 26, 2008 is: sophistry • \SAH-fuh-stree\  • noun *1 : subtly deceptive reasoning or argumentation 2 : an argument apparently correct in form but actually invalid; especially : such an argument used to deceive Example sentence: The senatorial candidate argued that his opponent was using sophistry in an effort to distort his plan for education reform. Did you know? The original Sophists were ancient Greek teachers of rhetoric and philosophy prominent in the 5th century B.C. In their heyday, these philosophers were considered adroit in their reasoning, but later philosophers (particularly Plato) described them as sham philosophers, out for money and willing to say anything to win an argument. Thus "sophist" (which comes from Greek "sophistēs," meaning "wise man" or "expert") earned a negative connotation as "a captious or fallacious reasoner." "Sophistry" is reasoning that seems plausible on a superficial level but is actually unsound, or reasoning that is used to deceive. *Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.
dilapidate
Mon, 25 Aug 2008 01:15:01 -0500
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 25, 2008 is: dilapidate • \dih-LAP-uh-dayt\  • verb *1 : to bring into a condition of decay or partial ruin 2 : to become decayed or partially ruined Example sentence: Although years of abandonment had dilapidated the old warehouse, Stuart still thought it could be salvaged and remade into an apartment building. Did you know? Something that is dilapidated may not have been literally pummeled with stones, but it might look that way. "Dilapidate" derives from the past participle of the Latin verb "dilapidare," meaning "to squander or destroy." That verb was formed by combining "dis-" with another verb, "lapidare," meaning "to pelt with stones." From there it's just a stone's throw to some other English relatives of "dilapidate." You might, for example, notice a resemblance between "lapidare" and our word for a person who cuts or polishes precious stones, "lapidary." That's because both words share as a root the Latin noun "lapis," meaning "stone." We also find "lapis" in the name "lapis lazuli," a bright blue semiprecious stone. *Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.
aggregate
Sun, 24 Aug 2008 01:15:01 -0500
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 24, 2008 is: aggregate • \AG-rih-gut\  • noun 1 : a mass or body of units or parts somewhat loosely associated with one another *2 : the whole sum or amount : sum total Example sentence: "The aggregate of incriminating details unmistakably points towards a conviction," said the prosecuting attorney. Did you know? We added "aggregate" to our flock of Latin borrowings in the 15th century. It descends from "aggregare" ("to add to"), a Latin verb made up of the prefix "ad-" (which means "to," and which usually changes to "ag-" before a "g") and "greg-" or "grex" (meaning "flock"). "Greg-" also gave us "congregate," "gregarious," and "segregate." "Aggregate" is commonly employed in the phrase "in the aggregate," which means "considered as a whole" (as in the sentence "In the aggregate, the student's various achievements were sufficiently impressive to merit a scholarship"). "Aggregate" also has some specialized senses. For example, it is used for a mass of minerals formed into a rock and for a material, such as sand or gravel, used to form concrete, mortar, or plaster. *Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.
callow
Sat, 23 Aug 2008 01:15:01 -0500
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 23, 2008 is: callow • \KAL-oh\  • adjective : lacking adult sophistication : immature Example sentence: "Back when I was a callow college student," said Emma, "I paid little attention to the advice given to me by my professors." Did you know? You might not expect a relationship between "callow" and baldness, but that connection does in fact exist. "Callow" comes from "calu," a word that meant "bald" in Middle English and Old English. By the 17th century, "callow" had come to mean "without feathers" and was applied to young birds not yet ready for flight. The term was also used for those who hadn't yet spread their wings in a figurative sense. "Callow" continues to mean "inexperienced" or "unsophisticated" today.

MedTerms Word of the Day

Quincke's disease
Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700
Quincke's disease: This is angioneurotic edema (or angioedema), a form of localized swelling of the deeper layers of the skin and fatty tissues beneath the skin. Hereditary angioneurotic edema (or hereditary angioedema) is a genetic form of angioedema. Persons with it are born lacking an inhibitor protein (called C1 esterase inhibitor) that normally prevents activation of a cascade of proteins leading to the swelling of angioedema. Patients can develop recurrent attacks of swollen tissues, pain in the abdomen, and swelling of the voice box (larynx) which can compromise breathing. The diagnosis is suspected with a history of recurrent angioedema. It is confirmed by finding abnormally low levels of C1 esterase inhibitor in the blood. Treatment options include antihistamines and male steroids (androgens) that can also prevent the recurrent attacks.MedTerms (TM) is the Medical Dictionary of MedicineNet.com.We Bring Doctors' Knowledge To You

Subscribe to Dictionaries RSS feed