Word of the day May 20
 

The Word of the Day for May 20 is:

qua • \KWAH\ • (preposition) in the capacity or character of; as

A little more information about today’s word:
Which way? Who? No, we’re not paraphrasing lines from the old Abbott and Costello routine "Who’s on First"; we’re referring to the etymology of "qua," a term that comes to us from Latin. It can be translated as "which way" or "as" and it is a derivative of the Latin "qui," meaning "who." "Qua" has been serving English in the capacity of a preposition since the 17th century. It’s a learned but handy little word that led one 20th-century usage writer to comment: "Qua is sometimes thought affected or pretentious, but it does convey meaning economically."

My sentence:
My physician qua friend suggested that a sabbatical would be good for both my mental and physical health.

Based on Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 10th Edition.

Next sentence?

My coworkers qua councilors often give supportive and useful advice.

His wife qua boss often informed him of the best decisions to make.

I felt betrayed and qua surprised to discover that she knew our dark secret.

Jane was upset that she was being underpaid while working qua three separate jobs.

Word of the day May 21
 

The Word of the Day for May 21 is:

tempestuous • \tem-PESS-chuh-wus\ • (adjective) of, relating to, or resembling a tempest; turbulent, stormy

A little more information about today’s word:
Time is sometimes marked in seasons, and seasons are associated with the weather. This explains how "tempus," the Latin word for "time" could have given rise to an English adjective for things turbulent and stormy. "Tempus" is the root behind the Old Latin "tempestus," meaning "season," and the Late Latin "tempestuosus," the direct ancestor of "tempestuous." As you might expect, "tempus" is also the root of the noun "tempest"; it probably played a role in the history of "temper" as well, but that connection isn't as definite.

My sentence:
Howard and Donna have always had a tempestuous relationship—one minute fast friends, the next snarling and at each other's throats.

Based on Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 10th Edition.

Next sentence?

The boss was well known for his tempestous management style and had a hard time keeping employees.

If we can’t eradicate tempestuous and everybody else are going to be totally run over by them.

To say this week was tempestuous would be an understatement.

Word of the day May 22
 

The Word of the Day for May 22 is:

meritorious • \meh-ruh-TOR-ee-us\ • (adjective) worthy of reward, gratitude, honor, or esteem

A little more information about today’s word:
People who demonstrate meritorious behavior certainly "earn" our respect, and you can use that fact to remember that "meritorious" ultimately traces to the Latin verb "merere," which means "to earn." Nowadays, the rewards earned for meritorious acts are likely to be of an immaterial nature: gratitude, admiration, praise, etc. But that wasn't always so. The history of "meritorious" recalls a reward more concrete in nature: money. The Latin word "meritorius," an ancestor of the English "meritorious," literally means "bringing in money."

My sentence:
Each year, the city presents a Citizen of the Year award to the person who local officials feel has done the most meritorious work on behalf of the community.

Based on Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 10th Edition.

Next sentence?

Why she was wearing them nobody knows, but while scrambling over the fence meritorious pants beyond repair.

Teenagers are often disparaged but many display behavior that is meritorious.

After finishing first in his class, John was meritorious of being the valedictorian.

I suggested a lite dinner and a movie and she considered those ideas meritorious.

Word of the day May 23
 

The Word of the Day for May 23 is:

variegated • \VAIR-ee-uh-gay-tid\ • (adjective) 1. having discrete markings of different colors; 2. varied

A little more information about today’s word:
"Variegated" has been adding color to our language since the mid-17th century. It has been used in botany to describe the presence of two or more colors in the leaves, petals, or other parts of plants, and it also appears in the names of some animals ("variegated cutworm"). It can be used by the general speaker to refer to anything marked with different colors ("a variegated silk robe") or to things that are simply various and diverse ("a variegated collection"). "Variegated" has a variety of relatives in English—it's ultimately derived from the Latin root "varius," meaning "varied," which also gave us "vary," "various," and "variety."

My sentence (using definition #1):
The variegated flower petals glistened in the puddle—brilliant splotches and splashes of color shining on the dark, wet sidewalk.

Based on Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 10th Edition.

Next sentence?

Little Johhny's Skin was extremely variegated one hour after he lost the fight.

As i looked down at my variegated penis, I postulated that i really should've said yes to that condom when i railed that stripper...

One time I gave my friend Varieg an apple, but then variegated it.

The cats fur was of variegated colors from plain gray to a tawney gold.

The lunar moth has variegated wings, but don't let this fool you; not all moths are variegated.

If you’re so overly concerned about security, why not just move into a variegated community?

The variegated sunset we watched from our deck put romance in the air with all of its warm tones.

People often have passionate and variegated views regarding theology.

The painting used a variegated palette.

Man, a lot of people are using variegated sentences just to prove they can use the word "variegated"...

sadness*grin*

Word of the day May 26
 

The Word of the Day for May 26 is:

bravado • \bruh-VAH-doh\ • (noun) 1a. blustering swaggering conduct; b. a pretense of bravery; 2. the quality or state of being foolhardy

A little more information about today’s word:
"Bravado" ultimately traces to the Old Italian adjective "bravo," meaning "courageous" or "wild." Nowadays, the wildness once associated with "bravado" has been tamed to an overbearing boldness that comes from arrogance or a position of power. Celebrities, political or corporate giants, and the schoolyard bully may all show "bravado" (though they often turn out to be not so tough after all). "Bravado" is also used for show-offish, daring acts that seem reckless and inconsistent with good sense, but might, nonetheless, be applauded with shouts of "Bravo!" when successful. The spectacular feats of stuntmen come to mind, for example.

My sentence (using definition #2):
The student’s bravado in playing an April Fools’ joke on the teacher caused an outburst of laughter, but it also landed the prankster in detention.

Based on Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 10th Edition.

Next sentence?

Since I have not slept, there shall be no acts of bravado coming from me, unless it is amazing to sleep for multiple hours in a single sitting.

The general's bravado was enough to inspire the rest of his troops.

Bully's have a great deal of bravado until someone actually stands up to them.

Word of the day May 27
 

The Word of the Day for May 27 is:

vinaceous • \vye-NAY-shuss\ • (adjective) of the color wine; dark red

A little more information about today’s word:
The first recorded evidence of "vinaceous" in English dates from 1688, about the time of the accession of Mary II. If ever the queen used "vinaceous," she was probably in the confines of her landscaped garden, admiring the vinaceous shades of petals or looking indifferently at the vinaceous cap of a mushroom; since its beginning, "vinaceous" has flourished in the earthy lexicon of horticulture and mycology. It has also taken flight in the ornithological world as a descriptive word for the unique dark-red coloring of some birds, like the vinaceous amazon or vinaceous rosefinch. You probably won’t encounter these exotic birds while enjoying the spring weather in your neighborhood, but you might see someone tossing a vinaceous Frisbee or jogging by in a vinaceous T-shirt.

My sentence:
At the art museum, we saw a portrait of Mary II wearing a magnificent vinaceous dress befitting her royal splendor.

Based on Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 10th Edition.

Next sentence?

Think you about covered it all Jazi.. Well maybe except for that vinaceous shirt your voluptuous avatar is wearing :)


*edit: added a word*

I vant to know vinaceous like Israel and Palestine can’t settle their differences peacefully.

After stomping grapes all afternoon Shelly's feet were vinaceous.

My car is a vinaceous Jeep.

Word of the day May 28
 

The Word of the Day for May 28 is:

nonplus • \nahn-PLUSS\ • (verb) to cause to be at a loss as to what to say, think, or do; perplex

A little more information about today’s word:
Does "nonplus" perplex you? You aren't alone. Some people believe the "non" in "nonplus" means "not" and assume that to be "nonplussed" is to be calm and poised when just the opposite is true. If you are among the baffled, the word's history may clarify things. In Latin, "non plus" means "no more." When "nonplus" debuted in English in the 16th century, it was used as a noun synonymous with "quandary." Someone brought to a nonplus had reached an impasse in an argument and could say no more. Within 10 years of the first known use of the noun, people began using "nonplus" as a verb, and today it is often used in participial form (as in "Joellen's nasty remark left us utterly nonplussed").

My sentence:
It was unusual for anything to nonplus Phil, but Paulette's question caught him so completely by surprise that it left him utterly speechless.

Based on Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 10th Edition.

Next sentence?

The politicians convoluted explanation for his seemingly hypocritical position of being a peon of virtue and losing millions gambling left me nonplussed.

Non was proud of her performance in math class. Nonplussed three and three and got six!

In blackjack, twelve is a bad hand, but if you take a hit and get a nonplus that lousy twelve, you are usually a winner.

I was completely nonplussed when I saw Mr. Halx's work thread in exhibition.

John's foolish actions nonplussed Nancy.