Word Of The Day

Jerkwater

Jerkwater means “remote and unimportant.” It is often used to describe a small town, village, etc., that is out in the country far from cities. Jerkwater can also mean “trivial.”

// I grew up in a jerkwater town in the middle of nowhere.



Rue

To rue something is to feel penitence, remorse, or regret for it. Rue is often used in the phrase "rue the day."

// I rue the day I signed that infernal contract.



Heinous

Heinous describes things—such as acts, deeds, or crimes—that are hatefully or shockingly evil, or in other words, deserving of hate or contempt.

// The former dictator will stand trial for the role he played in his government’s heinous treatment of political dissidents.



Yuppie

a young, ambitious, and well-educated city-dweller who has a professional career and an affluent lifestyle



Approbation

Approbation is a formal word that refers to praise or approval.

// Their plan to rewild portions of the city’s parks has won the approbation of the mayor.



By and large

By and large is another way of saying "in general" or "on the whole."

// By and large, I like the way things have gone.



Dally

The word dally has a number of meanings. To dally can be to physically linger or dawdle, or to waste time. Dally may also mean "to act playfully," especially in a romantic sense, or "to deal with something lightly or in a way that is not serious."

// Three members of the hiking group were dallying and didn't arrive at the overlook until others were already starting to head back to the trailhead.

// Alton has been dallying with the idea of starting a bakery.



Nebula

A nebula is a large cloud of interstellar gas or dust. In nontechnical use, the word nebula also refers to a galaxy other than the Milky Way.

// We were eventually able to see the nebula through the telescope.



Liminal

Liminal is a formal word most often used to describe an intermediate state, phase, or condition. It can also describe something that is barely perceptible or barely capable of eliciting a response.

// The essay presents an image of the border region as a liminal zone where one culture blends into another.



Callow

Callow is a synonym of immature used to describe someone, especially a young person, who does not have much experience and does not know how to behave like an adult. Like the word immature, callow is often used disapprovingly.

// The novel’s plot involves a callow youth who eventually learns the value of hard work and self-reliance.