métier mé-tier / mĕ-tyā, mā-tyā noun 1. an occupation; a field of business or trade, particularly one that is well suited for a person Monsieur, I begged my aunt to have me taught lace-mending soon after we came to Brussels, because I knew it was a METIER, a trade which was easily learnt, and by which I could earn some money very soon. From “The Professor” by... Read More

veritable ver-i-ta-ble / vĕr-ĭ-tə-bəl adjective 1. genuine; real, often used to emphasize the appropriateness of a metaphor The extermination of the buffalo has been a veritable tragedy of the animal world. Theodore Roosevelt, 1858 – 1919

obtuse ob-tuse / ŏb-to͞os, ŏb-tyo͞os, əb-to͞os, əb-tyo͞os   adjective 1. of an angle, greater than 90 degrees but less than 180 degrees I saw that two of its iron angles were now acute — two, consequently, obtuse. From “The Pit and the Pendulum” by Edgar Allen Poe, 1809 – 1849   2. not mentally quick or perceptive One of the most obtuse superstitions is the superstition of... Read More

waver wa-ver / wā-vər noun 1. the act of vacillating back and forth The walls were covered with thick, dark curtains that in the waver of the flashlight’s beam appeared almost, but not quite, black. From “Windeye: Stories” by Brian Evenson, 1966 – 2. someone or something that waves or creates waves Le Mans winner Robin Frijns was the one who came closest to hitting the flag waver,... Read More

waiver waiv-er / wā-vər noun 1. a written statement relinquishing a right or claim The constant need for special waivers is symptomatic of poorly written public policy. John Sununu, 1964 – 2. voluntary relinquishment of a right or claim Only a waiver of counsel, understandingly made, justifies trial without counsel. “The Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation” 3. an action by a professional athletic club... Read More

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