Word of the Day (February 06, 2015)

Word of the Day (February 06, 2015)

Quagmire – (n.) an area of soft, wet ground (also: a situation that is hard to deal with or get out of; a situation that is full of problems)

Example: “The employees were surprised that they were able to survive from the quagmire.”

First use: circa 1580

(Reference: Merriam Webster Dictionary. Merriam-Webster Dictionary Application. Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2015.)

Word of the Day (February 05, 2015)

Word of the Day (February 05, 2015)

Vainglory – (n.) excessive or ostentatious pride especially in one’s achievements

Example: “ His vainglory lead him to his downfall.”

First use: 13^th century

(Reference: Merriam Webster Dictionary. Merriam-Webster Dictionary Application. Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2015.)

Word of the Day (February 04, 2015)

Word of the Day (February 04, 2015)

Adage – (n.) an old and well-known saying that expresses a general truth

Example: “She always believes in the adage, “Time is gold.”

Origin: Middle French, from Latin “adagium,” from “ad-“ + “-agium” (akin to “aio” I say); akin to Greek “ē” he said.

First use: 1513

(Reference: Merriam Webster Dictionary. Merriam-Webster Dictionary Application. Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2015.)

Word of the Day (February 03, 2015)

Word of the Day (February 03, 2015)

Prolusion – (n.) a preliminary trial or exercise (also: an introductory and often tentative discourse)

Example: “The guest speaker’s prolusion included issues regarding employment in the government sector.”

Origin: Latin “prolusion-,” “prolusio,” from “proludere” to play beforehand, from “pro-“ before + “ludere” to play.

First use: 1601

(Reference: Merriam Webster Dictionary. Merriam-Webster Dictionary Application. Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2015.)

Word of the Day (February 02, 2015)

Word of the Day (February 02, 2015)

Disparage – (v.) to describe (someone or something) as unimportant, weak, bad, etc.

Example: “Extremely modest persons usually speak of their accomplishments disparagingly.”

Origin: Middle English, to degrade by marriage below one’s class, disparage, from Anglo-French “disparager” to marry below one’s class, from “des-“ “dis-“ + “parage” equality, lineage, from “per” peer.

First use: 14^th century

(Reference: Merriam Webster Dictionary. Merriam-Webster Dictionary Application. Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2015.)

Word of the Day (February 01, 2015)

Word of the Day (February 01, 2015)

Ramshackle – (adj.) in a very bad condition and needing to be repaired (also: not carefully made or put together

Example: “The ramshackle house collapsed during the typhoon.”

Origin: Alteration of “ransackled,” from past participle of obsolete “ransackle,” frequentative of “ransack.”

First use: 1830

(Reference: Merriam Webster Dictionary. Merriam-Webster Dictionary Application. Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2015.)