February 24, 2006

WOTD - 24 Feb 2006

DEE - English river; River that flows in England and Scotland
ANTIC - CAPER; A ludicrous or extravagant act or gesture done for fun and amusement
TEE - Golf peg; A small peg with a concave top for holding a golf ball for an initial drive
PEG - A small cylindrical or tapered pin, as of wood, used to fasten things or plug a hole
AEGEAN - Greek sea; An arm of the Mediterranean Sea off southeast Europe between Greece and Turkey
CLEMATIS - Plant; Any of various ornamental, mostly climbing plants of the genus Clematis, native chiefly to northern temperate regions and having showy, variously colored flowers or decorative fruit clusters
BANISH - Exile; To force to leave a country or place by official decree
PEN - Enclosure; A fenced enclosure for animals
CATALAN - European language; The Romance language spoken especially in Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, Andorra, and the Roussillon region of France
LEE - Shelter; An area sheltered from the wind
EGRET - Wading bird; Heron
DRAWL - To speak with lengthened or drawn-out vowels
GYRATE - To revolve around a fixed point or axis

How did I miss these?:
SAUCE - Impudence; The quality of being offensively bold

Just to re-emphasise:
WOOFER - Low speaker; a loudspeaker that reproduces lower audio frequency sounds

February 23, 2006

WOTD - 23 Feb 2006

STASH - Hidden store;A secret place where something is hidden or stored; Something, such as money or an illegal drug, that has been hidden or stored
LOT - Auction item; a single article, a number of units of an article, or a parcel of articles offered as one item
LOCUST - Insect; Any of numerous grasshoppers of the family Acrididae, often migrating in immense swarms that devour vegetation and crops
PERCEPTIVE - Astute; keen in discernment
REMUNERATE - Repay; compensate; To pay (a person) a suitable equivalent in return for goods provided, services rendered, or losses incurred
DASH - PANACHE; distinctive and stylish elegance
BEWAIL - To cry over; lament

How did I miss these?:
LINER - Passenger ship; A large commercial ship or airplane, especially one carrying passengers on a regular route

Just to re-emphasise:
LIMB - Leg; One of the jointed appendages of an animal, such as an arm, leg, wing, or flipper, used for locomotion or grasping
MORON - Fool; Dolt, a person who is not very bright.
STAFF - Rod; A stick or cane carried as an aid in walking or climbing
SPOUT - Nozzle; A tube, mouth, or pipe through which liquid is released or discharged
STRAYED - Erred; wander from a direct course

February 21, 2006

WOTD - 22 Feb 2006

VERONA - Italian city; A city of northern Italy on the Adige River west of Venice
CREPT - Sneaked; To move stealthily or cautiously
RATTY - Bad-tempered; Irritable
FLOURISH - A showy or ceremonious passage
INEPT - Awkward; not elegant or graceful in expression
GAMBOL - play boisterously
GAB - To talk idly or incessantly, as about trivial matters
GIFT OF GAB - Talent for verbal fluency, especially the ability to talk persuasively

Just to re-emphasise:
BEAST - Bully; A brutal, contemptible person
MERITED - Deserved
ALIEN - Strange
SLING - Throw; as in with a catapult
FANFARE - Brass fluorish; A loud flourish of brass instruments, especially trumpets; A spectacular public display
CORONA - Halo; A circular band of colored light around a light source, as around the sun or moon, caused by the refraction and reflection of light by ice particles suspended in the intervening atmosphere.

WOTD - 21 Feb 2006

DOUSE - Extinguish; To put out (a light or fire); drench
CLOUT - Influence; special advantage; pull
CRUSTACEAN - Lobster; any mainly aquatic arthropod usually having a segmented body and chitinous exoskeleton
BOG - Swamp; An area of soft, naturally waterlogged ground
ITEM - Detail; A bit of information; an isolated fact that is considered separately from the whole
HEARTY - Vigorous; robust
TUN - Barrel; A large cask for liquids, especially wine
HEROD - Biblical King; king of Judea who (according to the New Testament) tried to kill Jesus by ordering the death of all children under age two in Bethlehem (73-4 BC)
HAREM - SERAGLIO; living quarters reserved for wives and concubines and female relatives in a Muslim household
TRUISM - Platitude; A self-evident truth; cliche
SCOUR - Search; To search through or over thoroughly
DOPE - Fool; A stupid person
REEL - revolve quickly and repeatedly around one's own axis; walk as if unable to control one's movements

How did I miss these?:
ABUTS - Adjoins;lie adjacent
ZONE - Sector

Just to re-emphasise:
RANCOUR - Bitterness; a feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will
ALLURE - Fascination; the power to entice or attract through personal charm
SLIME - Mud; A thick sticky slippery substance
DURABLE - Hard wearing
EUREKA - Cry of triumph

February 20, 2006

WOTD - 20 Feb 2006

TOP HAT - Headwear Item; A man's hat having a narrow brim and a tall cylindrical crown, usually made of silk. Also called high hat.
TEMP - Office worker;A temporary worker, as in an office; To work as a temporary worker.
PHILISTINE - Barbarian;An insensitive, uncultured person
SMITHY - Forge;a workplace where metal is worked by heating and hammering;A blacksmith's shop
SAUCY - PERT;Impudently bold
CRETIN - Idiot;a person of subnormal intelligence
WHEREWITHAL - Means; The necessary means, especially financial means
HOLDUP - An interruption or a delay; robbery at gunpoint

How did I miss these!?
ONLOOKER - Witness; a spectator
SALESMAN - Rep
TRAIT - Characteristic

Just to re-emphasise:
TROT - Horse's gait; The gait of a horse or other four-footed animal, between a walk and a canter in speed, in which diagonal pairs of legs move forward together
HOOP - Circuit;Circle; Round figure
TRAMP - Vagrant; wanderer

February 17, 2006

WOTD - 17 Feb 2006

EDAM - Dutch cheese; A mild, yellow Dutch cheese, pressed into balls and usually covered with red wax
DREDGE - Dig up; unearth
TALLOW - Animal fat; Hard fat obtained from parts of the bodies of cattle, sheep, or horses, and used in foodstuffs or to make candles, leather dressing, soap, and lubricants.
HALIBUT - Fish; Edible fishes of northern Atlantic or Pacific waters.
HADES - Hell; the world of the dead
TARRY - Dawdle
PENCE - Pennies; plural of Penny
SQUALL - A brief sudden violent windstorm, often accompanied by rain or snow
FERRIS WHEEL - An amusement ride consisting of a large upright rotating wheel having suspended seats that remain in a horizontal position as the wheel revolves

How did I miss these!?:
ADHERENT - Fan; A supporter, as of a cause or individual

Just to re-emphasise:
HOVEL - Slum; A small, miserable dwelling
CAROUSEL - Merry go around; large mechanical apparatus with seats for children to ride on
BEDEVIL - Plague; To torment mercilessly
BIT - Section
GEN - Information; informal term for information
BELLOWS - Roars; To make the deep roaring sound characteristic of a bull; To shout in a deep voice

February 16, 2006

WOTD - 16 Feb 2006

SPRIG - Shoot; A small shoot or twig of a plant
BUGLE - Brass instrument; A brass wind instrument somewhat shorter than a trumpet and lacking keys or valves
INTONED - Chanted; To recite in a singing tone;To utter in a monotone.
SPINET - Keyboard instrument; A small, compact upright piano
SLIP - Undergarment; A woman's undergarment of dress length with shoulder straps
SCRAWNY - lean

Just to re-emphasise:
MARINE - Of the sea
PANEL - Board; A thin wooden board, used as a surface for an oil painting; A board having switches or buttons to control an electric device.
REALM - Empire; A community or territory over which a sovereign rules
CHOSEN - Elite
CROON - Sing; To utter a series of words or sounds in musical tones;To vocalize songs or selections.
LAIR - Den; dwelling of a wild animal
REDEEM - To restore the honor, worth, or reputation of; To make up for

February 15, 2006

WOTD - 15 Feb 2006

TATTER - SHRED; A torn and hanging piece of cloth
LARD - Animal fat; The white solid or semisolid rendered fat of a hog
SLIME - Mud; Soft moist earth
STEAD - Place; the function or position properly or customarily occupied or served by another
DRUID - Ancient priest; A member of an order of priests in ancient Gaul and Britain who appear in Welsh and Irish legend as prophets and sorcerers
BITUMEN - Viscous substance; Any of various flammable mixtures of hydrocarbons and other substances, occurring naturally or obtained by distillation from coal or petroleum
RIND - Peel; the tissue forming the hard outer layer (of e.g. a fruit)
LUG - Drag; To drag or haul (an object) laboriously
CABERNET - Cabernet Sauvignon is a variety of red grape mainly used for wine production

How did I miss these!?:
COL - Mountain pass
BOSS - Chief
INHIBIT - Constrain
DEFINED - Described

Just to re-emphasise:
BERATE - Scold
BEMUSE - Bewilder; confuse
LIVID - Furious
RELATED - Told
TOR - Hill
TOM - Male cat
BRIDLE - headgear for a horse

February 14, 2006

WOTD - 14 Feb 2006

LEAD - Leash; A chain, rope, or strap attached to an animal to hold it in check.
CRASS - Stupid; So crude and unrefined as to be lacking in discrimination and sensibility
SWAGGER - PANACHE; a charisma or flair
STRUT - Pompous walk
FESTER - Decay; Rot
PEW - Church seat; One of the long, fixed, backed benches that are arranged in rows for the seating of a congregation in church
HOOLIGAN - LOUT; a cruel and brutal fellow
BLOATER - Smoked herring(Herring is a type of fish)
ENTREE - Dish; The main dish of a meal
SPURT - SPOUT; gush; A sudden short burst, as of energy, activity, or growth
BATH - Tub; A bathtub
CHARGER - Battle horse; A horse trained for battle; a cavalry horse
CROSS - Angry; frustration
SAUCE - Impudence; The quality of being offensively bold
PIVOT - Fulcrum; A short rod or shaft on which a related part rotates or swings
NESTLE - SNUGGLE;Cuddle; To lie or press close together
ASSAY - An analysis or examination
BEAGLE - One of a breed of small hounds having short legs, drooping ears, and a smooth coat with white, black, and tan markings.(Hound - Dog)
HALLOW - To respect or honor greatly; revere.

How did I miss these!?:
TRAIL - Track; To follow the traces or scent of, as in hunting
AWFULLY - Dreadfully
AVERSE - Opposed

Just to re-emphasise:
ANGLE - Corner; A sharp or projecting corner, as of a building
ASTER - Flower; Type of flower
MACAW - Tropical bird; type of parrot
FURORE - Uproar; a sudden outburst (as of protest)

February 12, 2006

WOTD - 13 Feb 2006

SCAMP - Rascal; one who is playfully mischievous
CASK - Barrel; a cylindrical container that holds liquids
PATENT - Obvious
THICKSET - Sturdy; heavy and compact in form or stature
CAVORT - ROMP; To have lively or boisterous fun; to behave in a high-spirited, festive manner
NICK - Steal
POTTY - Crazy

How did I miss these!?:
KINDLE - set alight
LATENT - dormant

Just to re-emphasise:
KAYAK - Canoe
TAVERN - Inn; An inn for travelers
KNEAD - To mix and work into a uniform mass, as by folding, pressing, and stretching with the hands: kneading dough.
DENT - Hollow; A depression in a surface made by pressure or a blow

February 09, 2006

WOTD - 10 Feb 2006

PIKER - A cautious gambler;A person regarded as petty or stingy
BENIN - African Country; country on western coast of Africa
ANUBIS - Egyptian God; jackal-headed Egyptian god of tombs; conducted dead to judgment
GRIT - GRAVEL; Mixture of sand
PITCH - Tar; Any of various thick, dark, sticky substances obtained from the distillation residue of coal tar, wood tar, or petroleum and used for waterproofing, roofing, caulking, and paving.
FERRET - Small mammal; A weasellike, usually albino mammal trained to hunt rats or rabbits.
LEA - Meadow; a field covered with grass or herbage and suitable for grazing by livestock

How did I miss these!?:
DANGLE - Suspend
ROTATE - Turn
DECENT - Proper
LORE - Knowledge; Knowledge acquired through education or experience.
ENRAGE - Infuriate

Just to re-emphasise:
DECANTER - Winebottle; A vessel used for decanting, especially a decorative bottle used for serving wine.



WOTD - 09 Feb 2006

COWER - Cringe; show submission or fear
TEND - Nurse; To have the care of; watch over; look after,To be an attendant or servant
MOPE - Brood; To be gloomy or dejected.
MUSTY - Stale;Unclean smelling;Having lost freshness, effervescence, or palatability
CUDGEL - A short heavy stick; a club

How did I miss these!?:
SENDS - Posts
FACILE - Easy
ATONE - Make amends for
RELATE - Inform
IMPEND - Loom; To be about to occur
DOE - Female deer
SKINFLINT - Miser

Just to re-emphasise:
BRAID - PLAIT; To style (the hair) by interweaving
ENAMEL - Tooth covering; The hard, calcareous substance covering the exposed portion of a tooth
SEDAN - Type of chair; A portable enclosed chair for one person, having poles in the front and rear and carried by two other people
SAMOVAR - Tea Urn
OVERDO - Exaggerate

WOTD - 08 Feb 2006

TRAMP - VAGRANT; One who travels aimlessly about on foot, doing odd jobs or begging for a living
HER - Possessive pronoun (There are seven possessive pronouns in modern English: mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, theirs)
VANITY - Conceit; Excessive pride in one's appearance or accomplishments
DOWAGER - Titled widow; A widow who holds a title or property derived from her deceased husband
MONEYED - Rich
DIVAN - SETTEE; A small or medium-sized sofa
SEW - Dam
VENISON - Deer meat
DACHA - Russian villa; A Russian country house
SLEEPER - Track support; one of the cross braces that support the rails on a railway track
GRIMY - Dirty
MORTAR - Explosive; A portable, muzzleloading cannon used to fire shells at low velocities, short ranges, and high trajectories

How did I miss these!?:
RATIO - Proportion

Just to re-emphasise:
RENAL - Of the kidneys
DEFER - Postpone
PREEN - Primp

February 07, 2006

WOTD - 07 Feb 2006

ASCOT - Race meeting; Ascot is a large village in the English county of Berkshire.Ascot is most famous as the location of Ascot Racecourse, home of the prestigious Royal Ascot meeting
OSIER - Willow; any of various willows having pliable twigs used in basketry and furniture
APACHE - Red Indian; A Native American people inhabiting the southwest United States and northern Mexico
SLOOP - Sailing vessel; A single-masted, fore-and-aft-rigged sailing boat with a short standing bowsprit or none at all and a single headsail set from the forestay
MAHON - Minorcan capital
PAELLA - Spanish dish; A saffron-flavored Spanish dish made with varying combinations of rice, vegetables, meat, chicken, and seafood
HIDING - Beating; To beat severely; flog
POSIT - Assume; To assume the existence of; postulate
DODO - Extinct bird; extinct heavy flightless bird of Mauritius related to pigeons
- One who is out-of-date, as in dress or ideas
- A stupid person; an idiot.
TYPHUS - any of various bacterial diseases caused by rickettsial bacteria, especially those transmitted by fleas, lice, or mites, and characterized generally by severe headache, sustained high fever, depression, delirium, and the eruption of red rashes on the skin

How did I miss these!?:
STREW - Scatter

Just to re-emphasise:
PIG IRON - Moulded metal; crude iron tapped from a blast furnace
BOOTY - Loot; Plunder taken from an enemy in time of war;Goods or property seized by force or piracy
FLOUT - (V) To show contempt for; scorn;
- (N) A contemptuous action or remark; an insult.

February 06, 2006

WOTD - 06 Feb 2006

MOAT - Water filled ditch; ditch dug as a fortification and usually filled with water
SPIRE - STEEPLE; A tall tower forming the superstructure of a building, such as a church or temple and that tapers to a point at the top
MINSTER - Church; any of certain cathedrals and large churches; originally connected to a monastery
GULLY - Ravine; A deep narrow valley or gorge in the earth's surface worn by running water
DAFT - Silly; Mad; crazy.Foolish; stupid
COUPE - A closed four-wheel carriage with two seats inside and one outside.
- A dessert of ice cream or fruit-flavored ice, garnished and served in a special dessert glass.
SNITCH - To steal
- A thief,An informer

How did I miss these!?:
RID - Free
ENTITLED - Permitted

Just to re-emphasise:
CURT - Terse

February 03, 2006

WOTD - 03 Feb 2006

INDOLENT - Lazy
MOTET - Religious song; A polyphonic composition based on a sacred text and usually sung without accompaniment
FRINGE - Margin;Periphery,border
SOVEREIGN - Ruler
GROOM - Horse attendant; A person employed to take care of horses or a stable
TACKS - Nails
FRET - Worry
RAVE - Rant, To speak wildly, irrationally, or incoherently
USURP - To take over or occupy without right
SEXTON - An employee or officer of a church who is responsible for the care and upkeep of church property and sometimes for ringing bells and digging graves.

February 02, 2006

WOTD - 02 Feb 2006

GREEN - naive;not mature or ripe, lacking training or experience
PUTTY - stiff paste; A doughlike cement made by mixing whiting and linseed oil, used to fill holes in woodwork and secure panes of glass.
HERON - wading bird
SAS - crack team; Special Air Service: a specialist regiment of the British army that is trained in commando techniques of warfare and used in clandestine operations
ASTER - Flower; a type of flower
APPAL - Horrify; Appall
USHER - Guide;escort,One who is employed to escort people to their seats, as in a theater, church, or stadium
PORTAL - Gate; A doorway, entrance, or gate, especially one that is large and imposing.
ENTAIL - Bring about; To have, impose, or require as a necessary accompaniment or consequence
BERET - Brimless cap(Brim - A projecting rim or edge: the brim of a hat)
TENON - type of a saw
HAMSTER - Rodent; A small Eurasian rodent
HAMPER - Picnic basket; A large basket, usually with a cover.
RIBALD - BAWDY;humorously vulgar,someone who uses vulgar and offensive language
CODGER - A somewhat eccentric man, especially an old one