Word Word Word dot com

Sunday, February 25, 2007

hy·per·tro·phy
Pronunciation: hI-'p&r-tr&-fE
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -phies
Etymology: probably from New Latin hypertrophia, from hyper- + -trophia -trophy
1 : excessive development of an organ or part; specifically : increase in bulk (as by thickening of muscle fibers) without multiplication of parts
2 : exaggerated growth or complexity
- hy·per·tro·phic /"hI-p&r-'trO-fik/ adjective

from an ad

Monday, February 19, 2007

de·lec·ta·ble
Pronunciation: di-'lek-t&-b&l
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin delectabilis, from delectare to delight -- more at DELIGHT
1 : highly pleasing : DELIGHTFUL
2 : DELICIOUS - de·lec·ta·bil·i·ty /-"lek-t&-'bi-l&-tE/ noun
- de·lec·ta·bly /-blE/ adverb

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

sua·sion
Pronunciation: 'swA-zh&n
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin suasion-, suasio, from suadEre to urge, persuade -- more at SWEET
: the act of influencing or persuading
- sua·sive /'swA-siv, -ziv/ adjective
- sua·sive·ly adverb
- sua·sive·ness noun

(from Serling's blog)

Sunday, February 11, 2007

fob off
Function: transitive verb
1 : to put off with a trick, excuse, or inferior substitute
2 : to pass or offer (something spurious) as genuine
3 : to put aside

(from Straits Times)

Saturday, February 10, 2007

attending

Function: adjective
: serving as a physician on the staff of a teaching hospital

Function: noun
: an attending physician or surgeon

from "Grey's Anatomy"

Saturday, February 03, 2007

hon·ky-tonk
Pronunciation: 'hä[ng]-kE-"tä[ng]k, 'ho[ng]-kE-"to[ng]k
Function: noun
Etymology: origin unknown
1 : a usually tawdry nightclub or dance hall; especially : one that features country music
2 : a district marked by places of cheap entertainment
3 : country music that has a heavy beat and lyrics dealing usually with vice or misfortune - hon·ky-tonk·er /-"tä[ng]-k&r, -"to[ng]-/ noun