Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 101 1 2 3 100 101
#230337 04/28/20 03:20 PM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,747
Likes: 2
W
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,747
Likes: 2

(continued from here)

AMBIVERT

PRONUNCIATION: (AM-bi-vuhrt)

MEANING: noun: One having the characteristics of both an extrovert and an introvert.

NOTES: An ambivert is one who can be an extrovert or an introvert depending on the situation. For example, with family or close friends one can be open and outgoing while being reserved in the presence of strangers. Also, an ambivert can refer to someone who falls somewhere between the two extremes and shows some tendencies of each.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin ambi- (both) + -vert (as in introvert/extrovert), from vertere (to turn). Ultimately from the Indo-European root wer- (to turn or bend), which also gave us wring, weird, writhe, worth, revert, universe, animadvert, divers, quaquaversal, obverse, obvert, and verso. Earliest documented use: 1923.
________________________________

AMEBIVERT - when a one-celled organism turns itself inside out

AMBILERT - broadcast widely over the Internet alerting the public to a missing child

AMBIVORT - a whirlpool that can't make up its mind whether it's spinning clockwise or counter-clockwise

Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,747
Likes: 2
W
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,747
Likes: 2

HAPLESS

PRONUNCIATION: (HAP-lis)

MEANING: adjective: Unfortunate.

ETYMOLOGY: From Old Norse happ (good luck) + less, from Old English laes (without). Earliest documented use: 1400.
__________________________

HA-LESS - a bad comedian. See also subgroups HAH-LESS - a bad Boston comedian; HAR-LESS - a bad Ozark comedian; HAW-LESS - a bad Texas comedian

HARPLESS - why the choir of angels doesn't sound as full any more

HASPLESS - my diary can''t be locked

CHAPLESS - for women only

Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,747
Likes: 2
W
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,747
Likes: 2

SUPERBIOUS

PRONUNCIATION: (su-PUHR-bee-uhs)

MEANING: adjective: Proud; insolent.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin superbiosus (proud or insolent), from superbia (pride), from superbus (superb, proud). Earliest documented use: 1509.
_____________________________

SUPER-BIOS - the life stories of Kal-El, Mary Batson, Bruce Banner, Hal Jordan, Peter Parker, Diana Prince, and many others

SUP HERBIOUS - season your dinner with sage, rosemary, thyme, et.al.

SOUP ERBIOUS - potage made with rare earth

SUPERB IOUs - the highest quality promissory notes

Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,747
Likes: 2
W
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,747
Likes: 2

HOARY

PRONUNCIATION: (HOHR-ee)

MEANING: adjective:
1. Gray or white, as from age.
2. Ancient.
3. Trite.

ETYMOLOGY: From hoar (frost), from Old English har. Earliest documented use: 1530.
_____________________

OARY - multi-sculled

HONARY - the athlete being appludded

HOVARY - a Cockney hegg-prodcucing organ

Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,747
Likes: 2
W
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,747
Likes: 2

PRECOCIOUS

PRONUNCIATION: (pri-KOH-shuhs)

MEANING: adjective: Exhibiting advanced development at an early age.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin praecox (premature, early ripening), from praecoquere (to ripen early), from prae- (pre) + coquere (to cook or ripen). Ultimately from the Indo-European root pekw- (to cook or ripen), which is also the source of cook, cuisine, kitchen, kiln, biscuit, apricot (an early-ripening peach, literally speaking), pumpkin, and Hindi pakka (ripened, cooked). Earliest documented use: 1650.
___________________________

PROCOCIOUS - preferring meat cooked rare (not done, even yet!)

PYRECOCIOUS - preferring meat well-done

PRECONIOUS - ice cream before it leaves the scoop

Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,747
Likes: 2
W
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,747
Likes: 2

HANDFAST

PRONUNCIATION: (HAND-fast)

MEANING: noun: A contract or agreement, especially about a betrothal or marriage.
verb tr.: To engage to be married or to bind in wedlock.

ETYMOLOGY: From Old English handfæsten (to pledge or betroth), from hand + fæstan (to fasten). Earliest documented use: 1275.

USAGE: “The couple’s decision to be handfasted under the full moon is particularly blessed and by our lights very romantic.”
Dear Abby: I Agree with You; The Washington Post; Oct 13, 2002.
____________________________

BANDFAST - the music was presto

HANDCAST - thrown on a wheel by a live potter

BINDFAST - to tie down

HARDFAST - inflexible, like some rules

Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,747
Likes: 2
W
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,747
Likes: 2

REPUGNANT

PRONUNCIATION: (ri-PUHG-nuhnt)

MEANING: adjective: Distasteful; offensive; objectionable.

ETYMOLOGY: From Old French répugnant (disgusting), from Latin repugnant (contrary, opposed), from repugnare, from re- (again) + pugnare (to fight), from pugnus (fist). Ultimately from the Indo-European root peuk- (to prick), which is also the source of point, puncture, pungent, punctual, poignant, pounce, poniard, impugn, pugilist, and pugnacious. Earliest documented use: 1425.
______________________

R.I.PUGNANT - epitaph for Benny Paret

REDUGNANT - disinterred

REPUGNAT - pesky little critters, aren't they

Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,747
Likes: 2
W
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,747
Likes: 2

BACKHANDED

PRONUNCIATION: (BAK-han-did)

MEANING: adjective:
1. Indirect or ambiguous, having double meaning; sarcastic or malicious.
2. Performed with the back of the hand facing forward.

ETYMOLOGY: The metaphorical sense of the term derives from the image of a hand facing backward being indirect or hiding something. Earliest documented use: 1800. The word forehanded is not an opposite of this word.
____________________________

JACKHANDED - halfway to being able to open the pot

BOCKHANDED - holding a large stein of beer

BACHANDED - Tempus Fugit - write faster!

Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,747
Likes: 2
W
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,747
Likes: 2

IRONFISTED

PRONUNCIATION: (EYE-uhrn-fis-tid)

MEANING: adjective:
1. Ruthless; tyrannical.
2. Stingy; tight-fisted.

ETYMOLOGY:
For sense 1, from the allusion to someone wielding a crushing fist.
For sense 2, from the allusion to a hard-to-open fist clutching money.
Earliest documented use: 1852.
____________________________

I WON!-FISTED - aggressive celebration of victory, pumping a clenched hand skyward

IRON-FOISTED - the victim thought it was gold

IRON-FITTED - just got made-to-measure golf clubs for the short game

Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,747
Likes: 2
W
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,747
Likes: 2

DEAD HAND

PRONUNCIATION: (DED hand)

MEANING: noun:
1. The stifling influence of something, especially of the past on the present.
2. The perpetual ownership of property by institutions, such as churches.

ETYMOLOGY: A literal translation of the term mortmain. Earliest documented use: 1615.
__________________________

DREAD HAND - 2-3-4-5-7. You lose. Period.

DEAR HAND - Four Aces. That's much better. Until it loses to a straight-flush; then it was very dear, indeed...

DEAD BAND - for which we are forever Grateful

Page 1 of 101 1 2 3 100 101

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,633
Members9,187
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
Karin, JeffMackwood, artguitar, Jim_W, Rdbuffalo
9,187 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 143 guests, and 3 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
wofahulicodoc 10,747
tsuwm 10,542
LukeJavan8 9,935
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5