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amok adv [Malay amok: furious attack, charge] - in a murderously frenzied manner; in a violently raging manner; in an undisciplined manner, needlessly.
banal adj [F, fr. MF, of compulsory feudal service]
- wanting originality, freshness, or novelty; failing to stimulate, appeal, or arrest attention; trite, worn-out, commonplace.
--See
inane, vapid.
chamois n [MF, fr. LL camox, prob. of non-IE origin] - a cloth used for washing or polishing.
chutzpah n
[Y origin]
- supreme self-confidence, shameless audacity; nerve.
--See putz.
codicil
n [MF codicille, fr. L. codicillus, dim. of codex:
book] - a provision, as of a document,
made subsequently to and appended to the original; appendix, supplement.
--See modicum.
discubitory adj
[L. discumbere: to lie down, recline at table] - leaning,
fitted for a reclining posture; the act of reclining at
table according to the manner of the ancients at their meals.
gallivant v [perh. alter. of gallant, fr. ME galaunt fr. MF galant] - to travel or roam for mere pleasure; move, go, travel.
ghiti n [GB var. of E school, fr. ME scole, fr. L schola: lecture, learned discussion] - an institution for the teaching of children. <General Brown-inspired variant spelling of "school" often used sarcastically to represent the low quality of education available there - "I tried having this conversation with my guidance counselor, but... one word - ghiti." -VM>
googly adv [L stupefacient, pres. part. of stupefacere: to stupefy] - bulging, staring; looking amorously at someone. <"googly eyes">
hymnody n [LL hymnodia, fr. Gk hymnoldein: to sing a hymn or song of praise] - a study of hymns and their composition.
inane adj [L inanis]
- lacking significance, meaning, or profundity; shallow, vacant, fatuous, silly.
--See vapid,
banal.
modicum
n [ME, fr. L modicus: small, fr. modus: measure] -
a small portion; a limited quantity or amount.
--See codicil.
narthex n [LGk narthex, fr. Gk.: giant fennel, fr. the resemblance in shape of the thin porch to a stalk of giant fennel] - a western porch (as in early Christian churches) used originally by persons not entering the church itself; a vestibule leading to the nave of a church; a monster.
posh adj
[origin unknown]
- smart or spruce in appearance; elegant or luxurious to an extreme degree.
--See swanky.
putz n [Y origin]
- slang; a fool, an idiot.
--See chutzpah.
spork n [combination of spoon and fork] - a plastic eating utensil with a spoonlike bowl and tines.
stupefacient adj [L stupefacient, pres. part. of stupefacere: to stupefy] - bringing about a stupor; stupefying./font>
suckerducker n [rhyming var. of E. dustbuster, derived fr. E. suck, fr. L sugere: to suck] - an appliance for cleaning by suction, usually portable and powered by a rechargeable battery. <"The stupid suckerducker just blew bleach in my eyes!" -SM>
swanky adj
[perh. fr. MHG swanken: to sway, swag]
- characterized by showy display; ostentatious, plushy OR fashionably elegant;
luxurious, smart.
--See posh./b>
thrice adv [ME thries, fr. thrie: three times (fr. OE thriga, thriwa)] - three times; in a threefold manner or degree.
vapid adj [L vapidus: flat tasting, spiritless]
- lacking flavor, zest, animation, or spirit; having lost the appeal of liveliness, tang, briskness, or force; flat, insipid, uninteresting, pointless, trite.
<"The banal,
inane, vapid putz fell down the stairs, and I laughed." -Anonymous>
--See
inane, banal.
whatnot n [fr. the query what not?] - any of various other things that might also be mentioned; a nondescript person or thing, miscellany; a light open set of shelves for bric-a-brac.
©2002 Steve Maxon