Heuristic
Adjective
Greek, 19th century
Enabling a person to discover or learn something for themselves. A heuristic process or method.
Example: A college English instructor’s heuristic approach to literature prompted me to become a better writer.
Tag Archives: dictionary
Word of the Week – April 10, 2021
Obnubilate
Verb
Latin, 16th century
Darken, dim, or cover with or as if with a cloud; obscure
Example: Anxiety began to obnubilate my sense of self-worth, but reading and writing snuffed it out.
Filed under News
Word of the Week – April 3, 2021
Effloresce
Verb
Latin, 18th century
Reach an optimum stage of development; blossom; (of a substance) lose moisture and turn to a fine powder on exposure to air.
Example: Even at this age, I know my writing career has yet to effloresce.
Filed under News
Word of the Week – March 27, 2021
Antediluvian
Adjective
Latin, 17th century
Absurdly outmoded or old-fashioned. Of or relating to a time before the biblical flood.
Example: Like 8-track tape players and dial phones, the political process in Washington seems so antediluvian.
Filed under News
Word of the Week – March 20, 2021
Pleonasm
Noun
Greek, 16th century
The use of more words than are necessary to convey meaning, either as a fault of style or for emphasis.
Example: My tendency towards pleonasm always arises when I talk about my writing projects.
Filed under News
Word of the Week – March 13, 2021
Ethos
Noun
Latin, 19th century
The characteristic spirit of a culture, era, or community as manifested in its beliefs and aspirations.
Example: I sense the ethos fomenting in America right now is as progressive and as it is hopeful.
Filed under News
Word of the Week – March 6, 2021
Epexegesis
Noun
Greek, 16th century
The addition of words to clarify meaning. Words added for the purpose of clarifying meaning.
Example: In speaking to hard-right conservatives, I often have to engage in epexegesis to get my point across.
Filed under News
Word of the Week – February 27, 2021
Charivari
Noun
French, 17th century
A noisy mock serenade performed by a group of people to celebrate a marriage or mock an unpopular person. A series of discordant noises.
Example: Watching the charivari of conservatives in Orlando reminds me of the Saturday morning cartoons of my childhood.
Filed under News
Word of the Week – February 20, 2021
Stochastic
Adjective
Greek, 17th century
Randomly determined; having a random probability distribution or pattern that may be analyzed statistically but may not be predicted precisely.
Example: State officials’ response to the ice storm proved they only have stochastic viewpoints.
Filed under News
Word of the Week – February 13, 2021
Lagom
Noun
Swedish, early 19th century
The principle of living a balanced, moderately paced, low-fuss life.
Example: My personal lagom includes reading, writing, eating healthy and not spending too much time on social media.
Filed under News
Chief Writing Wolf 