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DIVERSIVOLENT

PRONUNCIATION: (dy-vuhr-SIV-uh-luhnt)

MEANING: adjective: Desiring strife.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin diversus (diverse), from divertere (to turn aside), from di- (away, apart) + vertere (to turn) and volens, present participle of velle (to wish). Earliest documented use: 1612.
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DIVERSIVALENT - describing an element with many different possible valencies, e.g. carbon or silicon

DIVERS "I VOLE...NOT!" - assorted protestations in response to the question "Are you a man or a rodent?"

DIVER'S TiVo LENT - Greg Louganis doesn't have his TV streamer right now, but he expects it to be returned shortly

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SMATCHET

PRONUNCIATION: (SMACH-uht)

MEANING: noun: An insignificant contemptible person.

ETYMOLOGY: Of Scottish origin. Earliest documented use: 1582.
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MATCHET - what you do to call a bet at the poker table

SMATSHET - what you will probably do if you see an ugly bug on the table in front of you

SMART CHET - what David Brinkley called his fellow newscaster, after a particularly penetrating insight

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MENSCH

PRONUNCIATION: (mench, mensh)

plural menschen (MEN-chuhn, MEN-shuhn) or mensches

MEANING: noun: A decent, upright, honorable person.

ETYMOLOGY: From Yiddish mentsh (man, human being), from Middle High German mensch, from Old High German mennisco. Earliest documented use: 1911.
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AMENSCH - response to a prayer, mumbled by a drunken congregant

MENSAH - a social group of very high-IQ Southerners

MEN'S "ICH" - a treatise about the German male ego

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UNFLAPPABLE

PRONUNCIATION: (uhn-FLAP-uh-buhl)

MEANING: adjective: Staying calm even in difficult circumstances.

ETYMOLOGY: From Middle English flap (to beat or shake), probably of imitative origin. Earliest documented use: 1958.
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UN-LAPPABLE - impossible to outrace by more than one full length around the course

UNIFLAPPABLE - when you can shake the wrinkles out, but only once

UNFAPPABLE - Major Hoople when he can't be disconcerted or taken aback

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CIRCUMSPECT

PRONUNCIATION: (SUHR-kuhm-spekt)

MEANING: adjective: Careful to consider all circumstances and potential consequences; prudent.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin circumspicere (to look around; to take heed), from circum (around) + specere (to look). Earliest documented use: 1422.
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CIRCUMSPENT - all-around just plain broke

CIRCUS PECT - can't wait to get to out see the Big Top and the wild animals (especially the trained chickens)

SIR CUMSPECT - an occasional visitor the the Round Table, never without his eyeglasses

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CYNEGETIC

PRONUNCIATION: (sy-nuh-JET-ik)

MEANING: adjective: Relating to the chase or hunting.

ETYMOLOGY: From Greek kunagos (hunter), from kuon (dog) + igetis (leader). Earliest documented use: 1716.
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CYNEGESIC - feeling like a dog

CINEGETIC - always looking for a good movie

ICYNEGETIC - promoting melting

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CATERWAUL

PRONUNCIATION: (KAT-uhr-wol)

MEANING: verb intr.: 1. To make a shrill sound as if of a cat in heat or of cats quarreling.
2. To quarrel noisily.
noun: 1. The cry of a cat in heat.
2. A shrill sound, such as a shriek or a loud cry.

ETYMOLOGY: From Middle English caterwawlen, from cater (tomcat or cat) + wawlen (to howl). Earliest documented use: 1386.
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CATERWALL - when the side of the house is covered with gypsy moth larvae

CATE, RAUL - SeƱor Cate's full name

CATER WAFL - what you'll get if you're careless about arranging for brunch

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DOGGED

PRONUNCIATION: (DAW-gid, DOG-id)

MEANING: adjective: Stubbornly determined or persistent.

ETYMOLOGY: If you have ever faced a dog digging in his heels, you know what dogged is. The word dog is from Old English docga. Also see recalcitrant. Earliest documented use: 1300.
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DOGGE - an olde Irish setter (see aso DOG RED)

NOGGED - tipsy after too much New Years' cheer

DONGED - the next step after your car is dinged

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CANICULAR

PRONUNCIATION: (kuh-NIK-yuh-luhr)

MEANING: adjective: Relating to the dog days.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin canicularis (relating to the dog star, Sirius), from canicula (small dog, Sirius), from canis (dog). Ultimately from the Indo-European root kwon- (dog), which is also the source of canine, chenille (from French chenille: caterpillar, literally, little dog), kennel, canary, hound, dachshund, corgi, cynic, cynosure, cynegetic, canaille, and cynophobia. Earliest documented use: 1398.
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CANINULAR - like small eyeteeth

CARICULAR - of the schedule of what's to be learned in Spelling class (obviously much needed)

CLANICULAR - like a small totem

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FAT CAT

PRONUNCIATION: (FAT cat)

MEANING: noun: A rich, privileged person, especially one who influences elections by making contributions to political campaigns.

ETYMOLOGY: The term was originally used in the 1920s to describe rich political backers in the US elections. Earliest documented use: 1925.
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FAT RAT - Templeton after a week at the fairground

FAT CAPT - Major Hoople before his promotion

FATMAT - 1. where Garfield sleeps; 2. place for Sumo wrestling matches

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