doyenne doy-enne / doi-ĕn, dwä-yĕn   noun 1. a woman who is the senior member of a group As Countess Karolyi doesn’t come, I am the Doyenne, and shall have to go in first, led by Sir Francis Seymour. From “Letters of a Diplomat’s Wife 1883 – 1900” by Mary Alsop King Waddington, 1833 – 1923   etymology The feminine form of the French masculine noun doyen (a... Read More

syncretism syn-cre-tism /  sĭng-krĭ-tĭz-əm, sĭn-krĭ-tĭz-əm noun 1. the attempted reconciliation or fusion of differing or opposing principles or beliefs in philosophy or religion Instances of religious syncretism—as, for example, Gnosticism (a religious dualistic system that incorporated elements from the Oriental mystery religions), Judaism, Christianity, and Greek religious philosophical concepts—were particularly prevalent during the Hellenistic period (c. 300 bce–c. 300 ce). Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “religious... Read More

repartee rep-ar-tee / rĕp-ər-tē, rĕp-ər-tā, rĕp-är-tē, rĕp-är-tā noun 1. a quick, clever reply Repartee is something we think of twenty-four hours too late.  Mark Twain, 1835 – 1910 2. conversation filled with quick, clever remarks Thus, with laugh and jest, and good-natured repartee, did these men bear the pangs of hunger for many days. From “The Red Eric” by R.M. Ballantyne, 1825 – 1894 3. skill in coming up... Read More

obviate ob-vi-ate / ŏb-vē-āt verb 1. to prevent from happening; to make unnecessary The precept, “Know yourself,” was not solely intended to obviate the pride of mankind; but likewise that we might understand our own worth. Marcus Tullius Cicero, 106 BC – 43 BC etymology From the Latin verb obvio, obviare, obviavi, obviatum (stand in the way of, go against, oppose) formed from the Latin adjective obvius, obvia, obvium (standing in... Read More

enunciate e-nun-ci-ate / əˈnənsēˌāt verb 1.  to pronounce words carefully and distinctly You can’t properly enunciate the phrase Yes! Without showing a smile! “The Simplest Ways to Happiness – Say Yes!”, www.mychallengetribe.com/Challenge-839341-the-simplest-ways-to-happiness-say-yes“, accessed April 1, 2022 2. to announce publicly It may seem a strange principle to enunciate as the very first requirement in a hospital that it should do the sick no harm. Florence Nightingale,... Read More

harridan har-ri-dan / hăr-ĭ-dn   noun 1. an ill-tempered, nagging woman; a hag The old harridan means to fleece you. From “Madame Flirt” by Charles Edward Pearce, 1843 – 1924   etymology Apparently from the French noun haridelle (nag, jade, scrawny slattern) of unknown origin. Thank you to Allen Ward for this etymology.

temerity te-mer-i-ty / tə-mĕr-ĭ-tē noun 1. extreme boldness ; recklessness ; audacity Age looks with anger on the temerity of youth, and youth with contempt on the scrupulosity of age. Samuel Johnson, 1709 – 1784 etymology Through the Middle English noun temeryte from the Latin feminine noun temeritas, temeritatis (blind chance, accident, rashness, foolhardiness, recklessness), which was combined from the Latin adverb temere (blindly, thoughtlessly, rashly, by chance, randomly) and the feminine-abstract-noun-forming suffix -tas, -tatis. Thank... Read More

rigger rig-ger / rĭg-ər noun 1. one who equips with necessary supporting materials, such as a vessel with sails, etc. There has been a time when a ship’s chief mate, pocket-book in hand and pencil behind his ear, kept one eye aloft upon his riggers and the other down the hatchway on the stevedores, and watched the disposition of his ship’s cargo, knowing that even before she... Read More

flaccid flac-cid / flăs-ĭd, flăk-sĭd adjective 1. flabby; hanging loosely; not firm The nerve of the savage had gone, and his muscle had become a flaccid thing. From “A Millionaire of Yesterday” by E. Phillips Oppenheim, 1866 – 1946 2. weak; lacking force, vigor or endurance But the Roman Empire, in its feeble and flaccid old age, seemed to have lost all capacity for making war.  From... Read More

cynosure cy-no-sure /  sī-nə-sho͝or, sĭn-ə-sho͝or   noun 1. something or someone that draws attention and admiration He felt uncomfortable, for he was a modest young man and did not like to be the cynosure of all eyes. From “The Blue Tower” by Evelyn E. Smith, 1922 – 2000   2. something that serves as a guide The 1897 Cape Palliser Lighthouse, resplendent in its wide red bands,... Read More