gamut gam-ut / găm-ət noun 1. the entire range, scale or extent Music contains a whole gamut of experience, from sensuous elements to ultimate intellectual harmonies. George Santayana, 1863 – 1952   2. the entire scale of musical notes; the complete range of a voice or instrument When Passepartout heard what this last voyage was going to cost, he uttered a prolonged “Oh!” which extended throughout his... Read More

peckish peck-ish / pĕk-ĭsh adjective 1. easily irritated or annoyed; cranky She ate a television journalist for breakfast and, feeling peckish, bit off some reporters’ heads at a press conference. Trevor Fishlock, 1941 – 2. (chiefly British) somewhat hungry Feeling rather peckish, Pooh wondered when the last time was when he ate. From “Winnie the Pooh” by A. A. Milne, 1882 – 1956

delude de-lude / dĭ-lo͞od verb 1. to deceive, to fool, to mislead …whoever is guided solely by his own judgment and decision will never climb up to the summit of perfection and will not fail to be the victim of the devil’s ruinous power to delude. John Cassian, 360 – 435 2. (obsolete) to evade; to elude Please help us find an appropriate sample sentence for this... Read More

apogee ap-o-gee /  ăp-ə-jē noun 1. the point when a body orbiting Earth is farthest away from the Earth During every 27-day orbit around Earth, the Moon reaches both its perigee, about 226,000 miles (363,300 km) from Earth, and its farthest point, or apogee, about 251,000 miles (405,500 km) from Earth. “Moon in Motion”, ‘NASA’, https://moon.nasa.gov/moon-in-motion/supermoons, accessed June 20, 2022 2. the highest point or the farthest point;... Read More

perfunctory per-func-to-ry / pər-fŭngk-tə-rē adjective 1. done routinely, merely as a duty, without care or interest; mechanical Promises to get beyond partisanship are the most perfunctory sort of campaign rhetoric, almost as empty as the partisanship itself. Thomas Frank, 1965 – 2. without interest, care or eagerness; indifferent If she is clever, and if her husband has the time and the resources, she will insist on being... Read More

clarinet clar-i-net /  klăr-ə-nĕt noun 1. a woodwind musical instrument with a single-reed mouthpiece that is played by using finger holes and keys Beauty and fullness of tone can be achieved by having the whole orchestra play with high clarinets and a carefully selected number of piccolos.  Gustav Mahler, 1860 – 1911

vexation vex-a-tion / vĕk-sā-shən   noun 1. irritation; the state of being annoyed or irritated A state of affairs which leads to daily vexation is not the right state. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749 – 1832   2. a cause of trouble or disquiet; a nuisance Vexations, duly borne, Are but as trials, which heaven’s love to man Sends for his good.  Italian Proverb

effusive ef-fu-sive / ĭ-fyo͞o-sĭv adjective 1. displaying sentiment or admiration excessively Presently, with an odour of cooking, the Frau Professor came in, a short, very stout woman with tightly dressed hair and a red face; she had little eyes, sparkling like beads, and an effusive manner. From “Of Human Bondage” by W. Somerset Maugham, 1874 – 1965 2. overly abundant; overflowing; pouring out There was an entire absence... Read More

garb garb / gärb noun 1. clothing, particularly of a distinctive style, often associated with an occupation Virtue, though clothed in a beggar’s garb, commands respect. Friedrich Schiller. 1759 – 1805 2. outward appearance Pride works frequently under a dense mask, and will often assume the garb of humility. Adam Clarke, 1762 – 1832 verb 1. to put clothes on; to attire The women were garbed in ample pleated... Read More

demure de-mure / dĭ-myo͝or adjective 1. quietly modest, reserved She must be a woman of complicated character, and there was something dramatic in the contrast of that with her demure appearance. From “Moon and Sixpence” by W. Somerset Maugham, 1874 – 1965 2. suggestive of modesty or reserve to impress others; coy The little black dress must be luxurious, rich, sensual, diaphanous, exotic, severe, lush, demure, demanding, frivolous,... Read More