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Post by dilvish on Apr 29, 2024 12:44:41 GMT -5
Pedantic describes someone or something that exhibits the characteristics of a pedant—that is, a person who often annoys other people by correcting small errors and giving too much attention to minor details. Pedantic also means “narrowly, stodgily, and often ostentatiously learned.”
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Post by dilvish on Apr 29, 2024 12:45:11 GMT -5
Megillah is slang for a long, involved story or account. Megillah can also refer to a complicated sequence of events, or it can be used as a synonym of ball of wax meaning “everything involved in what is under consideration.” All three senses of megillah are often preceded by the adjective whole.
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Post by dilvish on Apr 29, 2024 12:45:25 GMT -5
To genuflect is to kneel, or nearly kneel, on one knee and then rise again in worship or as an act of respect. In figurative use, genuflect means "to be humbly obedient or respectful."
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Post by dilvish on Apr 29, 2024 12:45:39 GMT -5
Kismet refers to a power that is believed to control what happens in the future. It is synonymous with both fate and destiny.
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Post by dilvish on Apr 29, 2024 12:46:15 GMT -5
In general use, auxiliary describes someone or something available to provide extra help, power, etc., when it is needed. In linguistics, an auxiliary verb (also called a “helping verb”) is used with another verb to do things like show a verb’s tense or form a question. In nautical contexts, auxiliary can describe a sailboat equipped with a supplementary inboard engine, or a vessel that provides supplementary assistance to other ships.
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Post by dilvish on Apr 29, 2024 12:46:32 GMT -5
To flout something, such as a law or rule, is to treat it with contemptuous disregard. A teenager flouting a curfew, for example, will not hide the fact that they are out past the time they are required to be home.
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Post by dilvish on Apr 29, 2024 12:46:44 GMT -5
Braggadocio refers to brash and self-confident boasting—that is, the annoying or exaggerated talk of someone who is trying to sound very proud or brave.
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Post by dilvish on Apr 29, 2024 12:47:05 GMT -5
Something haphazard has no apparent plan, order, or direction.
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Post by dilvish on Apr 29, 2024 12:47:19 GMT -5
Expiate is a formal word that typically means “to atone or make amends for something, such as a sin or offense.”
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Post by dilvish on Apr 29, 2024 12:49:07 GMT -5
Shambles refers to a place or state in which there is great confusion, disorder, or destruction.
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Post by dilvish on Apr 29, 2024 12:49:19 GMT -5
Ethereal means "of or relating to the regions beyond the earth" or "of or resembling heaven." It can also mean "lacking material substance" and "relating to, containing, or resembling a chemical ether."
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Post by dilvish on Apr 29, 2024 12:49:34 GMT -5
To lambaste something or someone is to criticize them very harshly. Lambaste is also sometimes used as a synonym of beat meaning “to assault.”
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Post by dilvish on Apr 29, 2024 12:50:43 GMT -5
Praxis is a formal word referring to the practical application of a theory—in other words, what one does to act on a theory (such as feminist theory) to which one is committed. Praxis is also used synonymously with action or practice to refer to the exercise of an art, science, or skill, or to customary conduct within a given sphere.
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Post by dilvish on Apr 29, 2024 12:50:57 GMT -5
Something or someone described as meticulous shows extreme or excessive care in the consideration or treatment of details.
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Post by dilvish on Apr 29, 2024 12:51:14 GMT -5
Redoubt can refer specifically to a small building or area that provides soldiers with protection from attack, or more broadly to any safe or protected place, whether literal or figurative.
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Post by dilvish on Apr 29, 2024 12:51:38 GMT -5
Conjecture is a formal synonym of the verb guess that means “to form an opinion or idea without proof or sufficient evidence.”
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Post by dilvish on Apr 29, 2024 12:51:50 GMT -5
To describe something, such as an idea or remark, as fatuous is to say that it is foolish or silly rather than sensible or logical.
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Post by dilvish on Apr 29, 2024 12:52:02 GMT -5
Aegis is a formal word that refers to the power to protect, control, or support something or someone. It is often used in the phrase under the aegis of.
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Post by dilvish on Apr 29, 2024 12:52:15 GMT -5
A vicarious emotion or experience is one felt by watching, hearing about, or reading about someone else rather than by doing something yourself.
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Post by dilvish on Apr 29, 2024 12:53:27 GMT -5
To discomfit someone is to make them confused or upset. Discomfit is a formal synonym of the also formal (but slightly less so) disconcert.
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Post by dilvish on Apr 29, 2024 12:53:40 GMT -5
Surfeit is a formal word that refers to an amount or supply that is too much or more than you need. It is synonymous with the word excess.
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Post by dilvish on Apr 29, 2024 12:53:53 GMT -5
A person may be described as brusque when they are talking or behaving in a very direct, brief, and unfriendly way. Brusque can also describe speech that is noticeably short and abrupt.
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Post by dilvish on Apr 29, 2024 12:54:06 GMT -5
A furlong is a unit of distance equal to 220 yards (about 201 meters), and is used chiefly in horse racing.
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Post by dilvish on Apr 29, 2024 12:54:20 GMT -5
To purloin is to take something that belongs to someone else—that is, to steal it. Purloin is much more formal-sounding than steal, but is often—though not always—encountered in humorous contexts, suggesting that the theft is not serious.
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Post by dilvish on Apr 29, 2024 12:54:33 GMT -5
Something considered inalienable is impossible to take away or give up.
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Post by dilvish on Apr 29, 2024 12:54:58 GMT -5
Circumlocution refers to the use of many words to say something that could be said more clearly and directly with fewer words. Usually encountered in formal speech and writing, circumlocution can also refer to speech that is intentionally evasive.
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Post by dilvish on Apr 29, 2024 12:56:08 GMT -5
Qua is a preposition used in formal speech or writing that means “in the capacity or character of (someone or something).” It is used synonymously with as to indicate that someone or something is being referred to or thought about in a particular way.
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Post by dilvish on Apr 29, 2024 12:57:02 GMT -5
To underwhelm someone is to fail to impress or excite them.
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Post by dilvish on Apr 29, 2024 12:57:20 GMT -5
An act or manner described as gingerly is very cautious or careful.
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Post by dilvish on Apr 29, 2024 12:57:37 GMT -5
Noblesse oblige refers to the idea that people who have high social rank or wealth should be helpful and generous to people of lower rank or to people who are poor.
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