by Dwane | Nov 4, 2022 | Vocabulary
Criterion: a standard of judging or making a decision; any established law, rule, principle or fact by which correct judgment may be formed. A model or test. We also speak of meeting the criterion, as in “She met the criterion for the position and we hired her.” If,...
by Dwane | Oct 20, 2022 | Vocabulary
Bode: to portend; to foreshadow; to forecast; to indicate the future by signs When something bodes ill, watch out. Trouble is on the way. But, bode isn’t always negative. If something bodes well, then future events will be good. Anglo Saxon beer commercials...
by Dwane | Oct 18, 2022 | Vocabulary
Inexorable: Relentless; unalterable. Not persuaded or moved by entreaty or prayer; too firm and determined in purpose to yield; will not bend. Inexorable comes from the Latin prefix ‘in’ meaning ‘not’ and ‘exorabilis’ meaning ‘easily entreated, or influenced by...
by Dwane | Oct 8, 2022 | Vocabulary
Nebulous: Vague, cloudy, hazy. Lacking definition, form or limits. Nebulous comes from the Latin word nebula meaning “mist, or cloud”. We can use nebulous to mean cloudy, or hazy. When driving to work during a dense fog, the roads may have a nebulous look. But, we...
by Dwane | Oct 7, 2022 | Vocabulary
Spurious: Not genuine. Counterfeit. Believable, but false. This word started out in Latin as spurius, meaning “illegitimate.” It was even sometimes used as a first name among the Romans for a child born out of wedlock. These days, we still use the word to...
by Dwane | Oct 5, 2022 | Vocabulary
Whizbang This word has multiple meanings. A whizbang is someone (or something) extraordinarily successful or effect. It can be someone or something flashy or impressive, recognized by its noise, excellence, or startling effect. A whizbang is also another term for a...
