Word of the Day

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Brainiac

Pronunciation:
BRAY-nee-ak

Meaning:
a very intelligent person

Example Sentence:

The company employs an army of geeky brainiacs who are devoted to providing the best in computer game graphics and technology

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Nidifugous

Pronunciation:
nye-DIF-yuh-gus


Meaning:
leaving the nest soon after hatching

Example Sentence:

"Little is known about the mortality of nidifugous shorebird chicks."

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Apotheosis

Pronunciation:
uh-pah-thee-OH-sis

Meaning:
elevation to divine status : deification
the perfect example : quintessence


Example Sentence:

"Long before celebrity reached its apotheosis, the great gossip columnist and radio broadcaster Walter Winchell … understood that celebrity was a basis for an ongoing, daily national conversation

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Gretna Green

Type:
Noun

Pronunciation:
gret-nuh-GREEN

Meaning:
a place where many eloping couples are married

Example Sentence:

"During the 1920s through the '40s, Greenwich had a world-reputation as the 'Gretna Green' of the nation, the magnet for couples in a hurry to get married."

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Ferret

Type:
Verb

Pronunciation:
FAIR-up

Meaning:
to hunt game with ferrets
to drive out of a hiding place
to find and bring to light by searching -- usually used with out


Example Sentence

The program was intended to ferret out inefficiency in the state's pension programs

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Olla podrida

Type:
Noun

Pronunciation:
ah-luh-puh-DREE-duh

Meaning:
1 : a rich seasoned stew of slowly simmered meat and vegetables that is a traditional Spanish and Latin-American dish
2 : hodgepodge


Example Sentence:

Ask around for ideas on how to stop hiccups and you’ll get an olla podrida of bizarre remedies

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Balletomane

Type:
Noune

Pronunciation:
Ba-LET-uh-mayn

Meaning:
a devotee of ballet


Example Sentence:

Balletomanes across the country eagerly bought tickets to the famous ballerina's final performance

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Obstreperous

Type:
Adjective

Pronunciation:
ub-STREP-uh-rus

Meaning:
1 : marked by unruly or aggressive noisiness : clamorous
2 : stubbornly resistant to control : unruly


Example Sentence:

On her first day of substitute teaching, Joanna expected to encounter a classroom of obstreperous teenagers, but the students were mostly well behaved

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Delegate

Type:
Verb

Pronunciation:
DEL-uh-gayt

Meaning:
1 : to entrust to another
2 : to appoint as one's representative
3 : to assign responsibility or authority


Example Sentence:

In order to get everything done on time, the committee leader chose to delegate some of the minor tasks to junior members

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Advert

Type:
Verb

Pronunciation:
ad-VERT

Meaning:
1 : to turn the mind or attention
2 : to call attention in the course of speaking or writing : make reference

Example Sentence:

"Adverted to in the very first 'Star Wars' film, the Clone Wars take place in the narrative gap between 'Attack of the Clones' and 'Revenge of the Sith,' when Anakin Skywalker is still on the not-dark side of the force