Their veciferious arguing made me wish I had earplugs. VECIFERIOUS means noise. The clue is a wish, &quot; ...wish I had earplugs Pronunciation: vō-ˈsi-f(ə-)rəs Function: adjective Date: circa 1611 : marked by or given to vehement insistent outcry — vo·cif·er·ous·ly adverb — vo·cif·er·ous·ness noun synonyms vociferous , clamorous , blatant , strident , boisterous , obstreperous mean so loud or insistent as to compel attention. vociferous implies a vehement shouting or calling out < vociferous cries of protest and outrage>. clamorous may imply insistency as well as vociferousness in demanding or protesting < clamorous demands for prison reforms>. blatant implies an offensive bellowing or insensitive loudness < blatant rock music> <a blatant clamor for impeachment>. strident suggests harsh and discordant noise <heard the strident cry of the crow>. boisterous suggests a noisiness and turbulence due to high spirits <a boisterous crowd of party goers>. obstreperous suggests unruly and aggressive noisiness and resistance to restraint <the obstreperous demonstrators were arrested>.
He was so impudent to his mother that I would have spanked him if he had talked to me that way. IMPUDENT means cheeky, brazen, shamelessly presumptions, cocy boldness. The clue is given as in the way, &quot;..that I would have spanked him if he had talked to me that way. Pronunciation: -dənt Function: adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Latin impudent-, impudens, from in- + pudent-, pudens, present participle of pudēre to feel shame Date: 14th century 1 obsolete : lacking modesty 2 : marked by contemptuous or cocky boldness or disregard of others : insolent — im·pu·dent·ly adverb
When asked if she liked her aunt's new hat, she candidly gave her frank opinion that was ugly. CANDIDLY means frankly, honestly, bluntly, openly straightforward. The clue is appeared to be; &quot;..she CANDIDLY gave her frank opinion...&quot; Pronunciation: ˈkan-dəd Function: adjective Etymology: French & Latin; French candide, from Latin candidus bright, white, from candēre to shine, glow; akin to Welsh can white, Sanskrit candati it shines Date: 1606 1 : white <candid flames> 2 : free from bias, prejudice, or malice : fair <a candid observer> 3 a : marked by honest sincere expression <a candid discussion> b : indicating or suggesting sincere honesty and absence of deception <her candid face> c : disposed to criticize severely : blunt <candid critics> 4 : relating to or being photography of subjects acting naturally or spontaneously without being posed synonyms see frank — can·did·ly adverb — can·did·ness noun
My dad is punctilious that he always corrects my sloppy speech and points out my incorrect use of certain words. punctilious means concerned with being precise or correct, precise, accurate, strict, proper, etiquette behaviour. The clue is said, &quot;...he always cirrects my sloppy speech....&quot;. Pronunciation: -lē-əs Function: adjective Date: 1634 : marked by or concerned about precise accordance with the details of codes or conventions synonyms see careful — punc·til·i·ous·ly adverb — punc·til·i·ous·ness noun
They think of themselves as the elite group on campus, looking down their noses at everyone else. ELITE means special, the best or choice part, megalomania . The clue is given as, &quot;...loking down their noses at everyone else..&quot;. Pronunciation: ā-ˈlēt, i-, ē- Function: noun Etymology: French élite, from Old French eslite, from feminine of eslit, past participle of eslire to choose, from Latin eligere Date: 1823 1 a singular or plural in construction : the choice part : cream <the elite of the entertainment world> b singular or plural in construction : the best of a class <superachievers who dominate the computer elite — Marilyn Chase> c singular or plural in construction : the socially superior part of society <how the elite live — A P World > <how the French-speaking elite…was changing — Economist > d : a group of persons who by virtue of position or education exercise much power or influence <members of the ruling elite> <the intellectual elite s of the country> e : a member of such an elite —usually used in plural <the elite s …, pursuing their studies in Europe — Robert Wernick> 2 : a typewriter type providing 12 characters to the linear inch — elite adjective
Although the patient is usually MOROSE , she seems happy today. MOROSE means UNHAPPY. signal word is ALTHOUGH. Pronunciation: mə-ˈrōs, mȯ- Function: adjective Etymology: Latin morosus, literally, capricious, from mor-, mos will Date: 1565 1 : having a sullen and gloomy disposition 2 : marked by or expressive of gloom synonyms see sullen — mo·rose·ly adverb — mo·rose·ness noun — mo·ros·i·ty -ˈrä-sə-tē noun
He is usually loquacious , but tonight he's rather silent. loquacious means NOISY. signal word is BUT. Pronunciation: lō-ˈkwā-shəs Function: adjective Etymology: Latin loquac-, loquax, from loqui to speak Date: 1663 1 : full of excessive talk : wordy 2 : given to fluent or excessive talk : garrulous synonyms see talkative — lo·qua·cious·ly adverb — lo·qua·cious·ness noun Pronunciation: lō-ˈkwā-shəs Function: adjective Etymology: Latin loquac-, loquax, from loqui to speak Date: 1663 1 : full of excessive talk : wordy 2 : given to fluent or excessive talk : garrulous synonyms see talkative — lo·qua·cious·ly adverb — lo·qua·cious·ness noun
The boxer feigned a punch with his left rather than actually jabbing. FEIGNED means pretended signal word RATHER THAN . Pronunciation: ˈfān Function: verb Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French feign-, stem of feindre, from Latin fingere to shape, feign — more at dough Date: 13th century intransitive verb : pretend , dissemble transitive verb 1 a : to give a false appearance of : induce as a false impression <feign death> b : to assert as if true : pretend 2 archaic a : invent , imagine b : to give fictional representation to 3 obsolete : disguise , conceal synonyms see assume — feign·er noun
She is usually a laggard ; however, today she was energetic and did her share. LAGGARD means RELUCTANT. signal word is HOWEVER . Pronunciation: ˈla-gərd Function: adjective Date: 1702 : lagging or tending to lag : dilatory — lag·gard·ly adverb or adjective — lag·gard·ness noun
Although his parents were indigent, they somehow managed to provide Tommy with proper food and clothing. INDIGENT means POOR . signal word is ALTHOUGH . Pronunciation: ˈin-di-jənt Function: adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Old French, from Latin indigent-, indigens, present participle of indigēre to need, from Old Latin indu + Latin egēre to need; perhaps akin to Old High German echerode poor Date: 15th century 1 : suffering from indigence : impoverished 2 a archaic : deficient b archaic : totally lacking in something specified — indigent noun
Pronunciation: ˈkle-mən(t)-sē Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural clem·en·cies Date: 15th century 1 a : disposition to be merciful and especially to moderate the severity of punishment due b : an act or instance of leniency 2 : pleasant mildness of weather synonyms see mercy
By burning the village to the ground, shooting all the villagers, and plundering the area for valuables, the rebels committed one of the most heinous acts of the war. HEINOUS means GENOCIDE . example clues can probably be a fragment, &quot;By burning the village.. shooting all the villagers, and plundering the area...&quot; Pronunciation: ˈhā-nəs Function: adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French hainus, heinous, from haine hate, from hair to hate, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German haz hate — more at hate Date: 14th century : hatefully or shockingly evil : abominable — hei·nous·ly adverb — hei·nous·ness noun
Jerry is so indolent ! He sleeps late, never does chores unless yelled at, and would rather lounge around the house than look for a job. INDOLENT means IRRESPONSIBLE. example clues Pronunciation: -lənt Function: adjective Etymology: Late Latin indolent-, indolens insensitive to pain, from Latin in- + dolent-, dolens, present participle of dolēre to feel pain Date: 1663 1 a : causing little or no pain b : slow to develop or heal <indolent tumors> <indolent ulcers> 2 a : averse to activity, effort, or movement : habitually lazy b : conducive to or encouraging laziness <indolent heat> c : exhibiting indolence <an indolent sigh> synonyms see lazy — in·do·lent·ly adverb
Carnegie was very frugal. Even thoug he did not earn a lot, he saved most of his money and lived on very little until he saved $10,000 for the investment that was to make him rich FRUGAL means SAVING MONEY OR IDEALIST. example clues can be the statement, &quot; ...saved most of hs money... lived on very little..&quot; Pronunciation: ˈfrü-gəl Function: adjective Etymology: Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin frugalis virtuous, frugal, from frug-, frux fruit, value; akin to Latin frui to enjoy Date: 1590 : characterized by or reflecting economy in the use of resources synonyms see sparing — fru·gal·i·ty frü-ˈga-lə-tē noun — fru·gal·ly ˈfrü-gə-lē adverb
They enhanced the property by pulling weeds , mowing the lawn, and planting trees around the house. ENHANCED means increased. example clues may be, &quot; ...the property by pulling weeds..&quot;. Pronunciation: in-ˈhan(t)s, en- Function: transitive verb Inflected Form(s): en·hanced; en·hanc·ing Etymology: Middle English enhauncen, from Anglo-French enhaucer, enhauncer, from Vulgar Latin *inaltiare, from Latin in + altus high — more at old Date: 13th century 1 obsolete : raise 2 : heighten , increase ; especially : to increase or improve in value, quality, desirability, or attractiveness < enhanced the room with crown molding> — en·hance·ment -ˈhan(t)-smənt noun
I always felt that the RAPPORT between us was good, based on a relationship of thrust. RAPPORT means AGREEMENT. Pronunciation:
a-ˈpȯr, rə- Function: noun Etymology: French, from rapporter to bring back, refer, from Old French raporter to bring back, from re- + aporter to bring, from Latin apportare, from ad- ad- + portare to carry — more at fare Date: circa 1661 : relation ; especially : relation marked by harmony, conformity, accord, or affinity
The most salient feature on his face is his chin; it's quite prominent. SALIENT means RECOGNIZABLE. Pronunciation: ˈsā-lyənt, -lē-ənt Function: adjective Etymology: Latin salient-, saliens, present participle of salire to leap — more at sally Date: 1646 1 : moving by leaps or springs : jumping 2 : jetting upward <a salient fountain> 3 a : projecting beyond a line, surface, or level b : standing out conspicuously : prominent ; especially : of notable significance <similar to…Prohibition, but there are a couple of salient differences — Tony Gibbs> synonyms see noticeable — sa·lient·ly adverb
Sherry's ill will or, more accurately, malevolence toward her brother become obvious when she tried to push him down the stairs. MALEVOLENCE means CRUEL. Pronunciation: mə-ˈle-və-lən(t)s Function: noun Date: 15th century 1 : the quality or state of being malevolent 2 : malevolent behavior synonyms see malice
Bret's jocose manner soon had all of us laughing and joking. JOCOSE means STRANGE. Pronunciation: jō-ˈkōs, jə- Function: adjective Etymology: Latin jocosus, from jocus joke Date: 1673 1 : given to joking : merry 2 : characterized by joking : humorous synonyms see witty — jo·cose·ly adverb — jo·cose·ness noun — jo·cos·i·ty jō-ˈkä-sə-tē, jə- noun
Hans Zinsser said, &quot;The rat, like men, has become practically omnivorous -it eats anything that lets it.&quot; OMNIVOROUS means PRAGMATIC. Pronunciation: äm-ˈniv-rəs, -ˈni-və- Function: adjective Etymology: Latin omnivorus, from omni- + -vorus -vorous Date: circa 1656 1 : feeding on both animal and vegetable substances 2 : avidly taking in everything as if devouring or consuming <an omnivorous reader> — om·niv·o·rous·ly adverb
laboriously with a great knowlegde with suspicion WITH GREAT EFFORT Pronunciation: lə-ˈbȯr-ē-əs Function: adjective Date: 14th century 1 : devoted to labor : industrious 2 : involving or characterized by hard or toilsome effort : labored — la·bo·ri·ous·ly adverb — la·bo·ri·ous·ness noun
employ develop USE produce Pronunciation: im-ˈplȯi, em- Function: transitive verb Etymology: Middle English emploien, from Anglo-French empleier, emploier, emplier to entangle, apply, make use of, from Latin implicare to enfold, involve, from in- + plicare to fold — more at ply Date: 15th century 1 a : to make use of (someone or something inactive) <employ a pen for sketching> b : to use (as time) advantageously <a job that employ ed her skills> c (1) : to use or engage the services of (2) : to provide with a job that pays wages or a salary 2 : to devote to or direct toward a particular activity or person <employ ed all her energies to help the poor> synonyms see use — em·ploy·er noun
obsess DELIVER QUICKLY fulfill BECOME PREOCCUPPIED WITH Pronunciation: əb-ˈses, äb- Function: verb Etymology: Latin obsessus, past participle of obsidēre to frequent, besiege, from ob- against + sedēre to sit — more at ob- , sit Date: 1531 transitive verb : to haunt or excessively preoccupy the mind of <was obsess ed with the idea> intransitive verb : to engage in obsessive thinking : become obsessed with an idea
immoral sexually attractive long-lasting wicked Pronunciation: (ˌ)i(m)-ˈmȯr-əl, -ˈmär- Function: adjective Date: 1660 : not moral; broadly : conflicting with generally or traditionally held moral principles — im·mor·al·ly -ə-lē adverb
pseudo-aristocratic falsely proud or pretending &quot;upper-classness&quot; not genuine abnormal, according to accepted standards Pronunciation: ˈsü-(ˌ)dō Function: adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Late Latin pseudo- Date: 15th century : being apparently rather than actually as stated : sham , spurious <distinction between true and pseudo humanism — K. F. Reinhardt>
pretentious false showy taken for granted Pronunciation: pri-ˈten(t)-shəs Function: adjective Etymology: French prétentieux, from prétention pretension, from Medieval Latin pretention-, pretentio, from Latin praetendere Date: 1832 1 : characterized by pretension : as a : making usually unjustified or excessive claims (as of value or standing) <the pretentious fraud who assumes a love of culture that is alien to him — Richard Watts> b : expressive of affected, unwarranted, or exaggerated importance, worth, or stature <pretentious language> <pretentious houses> 2 : making demands on one's skill, ability, or means : ambitious <the pretentious daring of the Green Mountain Boys in crossing the lake — American Guide Series: Vermont > synonyms see showy — pre·ten·tious·ly adverb — pre·ten·tious·ness noun
Pronunciation: fə-ˈlak-t(ə-)rē Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural phy·lac·ter·ies Etymology: Middle English philaterie, from Medieval Latin philaterium, alteration of Late Latin phylacterium, from Greek phylaktērion amulet, phylactery, from phylassein to guard, from phylak-, phylax guard Date: 14th century 1 : either of two small square leather boxes containing slips inscribed with scriptural passages and traditionally worn on the left arm and on the head by observant Jewish men and especially adherents of Orthodox Judaism during morning weekday prayers 2 : amulet [phylactery illustration]
pompous Pronunciation: ˈpäm-pəs Function: adjective Date: 15th century 1 : excessively elevated or ornate <pompous rhetoric> 2 : having or exhibiting self-importance : arrogant <a pompous politician> 3 : relating to or suggestive of pomp : magnificent — pomp·ous·ly adverb — pomp·ous·ness noun
wrath : anger Pronunciation: ˈrath, chiefly British ˈrȯth Function: noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English wrǣththo, from wrāth wroth — more at wroth Date: before 12th century 1 : strong vengeful anger or indignation 2 : retributory punishment for an offense or a crime : divine chastisement synonyms see anger
overbearing : very strong and powerful, domineering Function: adjective Date: 1614 1 a : tending to overwhelm : overpowering b : decisively important : dominant 2 : harshly and haughtily arrogant synonyms see proud
timid : masterful, powerful, controlling Pronunciation: ˈti-məd Function: adjective Etymology: Latin timidus, from timēre to fear Date: 1549 1 : lacking in courage or self-confidence <a timid person> 2 : lacking in boldness or determination <a timid policy> — ti·mid·i·ty ə-ˈmi-də-tē noun — tim·id·ly ˈti-məd-lē adverb — tim·id·ness noun