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Jan 27, 2014
This week's themeAmericanisms This week's words bloviate skulduggery honeyfuggle lallygag bumfuzzle Words, language & more Join us in our discussion forum: Wordsmith Talk 
A.Word.A.Day
with Anu GargThis week we'll feature five Americanisms. Some of these are words from the American West. For most, the origin remains obscure. Many of these are pseudo-Latin words, fanciful formations that may sound highfalutin today. Use these words to bring a certain earthy flavor to your discourse. But like spices in a preparation, a little goes a long way. Use them judiciously. bloviate
PRONUNCIATION:
(BLO-vee-ayt)
MEANING:
verb intr.: To speak pompously.
ETYMOLOGY:
Pseudo-Latin alteration of blow (to boast). Earliest documented use: 1845.
USAGE:
"All you cinephiles who like to find grand statements and social
criticism in horror movies, prepare to bloviate. It's midnight
at the Tribeca Film Festival." Neil Genzlinger; Scare Me, Sure, But Also Make A Statement; The New York Times; Apr 18, 2013. See more usage examples of bloviate in Vocabulary.com's dictionary. A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
A fellow of mediocre talent will remain a mediocrity, whether he travels or not; but one of superior talent (which without impiety I cannot deny that I possess) will go to seed if he always remains in the same place. -Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, composer and musician (1756-1791)
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