A Word to the Wise
354 articles filed under A Word to the Wise.
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A Word to the Wise
breviloquent (adjective)
Breviloquent (breh-VIL-uh-kwuhnt) describes speaking, writing, or thinking that is concise and eloquent. Example: “Good writing is breviloquent.”
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A Word to the Wise
respite (noun)
Respite (RES-pit) is an interval of relief; a delay or cessation for a time, especially of anything distressing or trying. As I used it today: “Even if you do catch up, you’ll have, at best, a day’s respite…
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A Word to the Wise
dilettante (noun)
A dilettante (dil-uh-TAHNT) is a person who cultivates an area of interest without any real commitment or knowledge. As I used it today: “Some people think of art collecting as a snooty hobby practiced by…
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A Word to the Wise
wistful (adjective)
Wistful (WIST-fuhl) refers to a feeling of vague regret or longing. As used by Dennis Tanner: “That vision of a common culture is now simply a remote wistfulness.”
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A Word to the Wise
egalitarian (adjective)
Someone who is egalitarian (ih-gal-uh-TARE-ee-un) believes in the equal status of all people, especially with respect to social, political, and economic affairs. As I used it today: “I began to change my…
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A Word to the Wise
specious (adjective)
Something that’s specious (SPEE-shus) is superficially plausible but actually wrong. As I used it today: “Working harder on ‘a great idea’ is usually a sign that it is incomplete, fragmentary, or even specious…
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A Word to the Wise
carnage (noun)
Carnage (KAHR-nij) is the slaughter of a great number of people, especially in war. As I used it today: “The atomic bomb deprived that machine [the military-industrial complex that Eisenhower warned us…
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A Word to the Wise
deus ex machina (noun)
Literally, “god from the machine,” deus ex machina (day-us eks MAH-kee-nah) is an unexpected power or event that saves a seemingly hopeless situation, especially as a contrived device in a play or novel. As I…
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A Word to the Wise
solvency (noun)
Solvency (SAHL-vun-see), in finance or business, is having assets in excess of liabilities; the ability of an individual or entity to meet its debt obligations. As I used it today: “[Spending borrowed dollars…
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A Word to the Wise
hyperbole (noun)
Hyperbole (hie-PUR-buh-lee) refers to exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally. As I used it today: “’Opening up’ is bit of hyperbole. Our economy was never truly shut down. It was…
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A Word to the Wise
perfervid (adjective)
Something that’s perfervid (per-FUR-vid) is intense and impassioned; marked by overwrought or exaggerated emotion. As I used it today: “After a good five minutes of perfervid shouting, it turned into an…
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A Word to the Wise
peremptory (adjective)
Something that’s peremptory (puh-REMP-tuh-ree) insists on immediate attention or obedience, especially in a brusquely imperious way. As used by George Eliot: “There is something sustaining in the very…
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A Word to the Wise
verbing (noun)
I’d like to interrupt all this Corona Crisis coverage to raise an objection to something bothersome that has been accelerating during this time of stress. I’m talking about the soon-to-become ubiquitous…
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A Word to the Wise
furlough (noun)
A furlough (FUR-low) is a leave of absence. It usually refers to a leave granted to a member of the armed services, but lately we’ve been hearing it in a different context – employees being furloughed instead…
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A Word to the Wise
morbidity vs. mortality
According to Dictionary.com, “These two nouns are similar in the sense that they are dark and often deal with sickness or death. However, they have distinct meanings within this heavier topic, and they can’t…
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A Word to the Wise
Words in the News From Dictionary.com
* Sedentation (seh-den-TAY-shun) – defined as “the adoption of a sedentary mode of life” – has been in use since the first half of the 20thcentury… but never the way we’re using it today. * Supplicant…
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A Word to the Wise
Antibiotic” vs. “Antibody” vs. “Antigen”: What’s the difference?
An antibioticis a medicine used to fight bacterial infections. It does not work against viruses. Antibodies are special proteins that the immune system produces in response to antigens. And antigens are…
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A Word to the Wise
protean (adjective)
Protean (PROH-dee-un) refers to the ability to change frequently or easily. As used by Paul Johnson: “Indeed it is the protean ability of Western civilization to be self-critical and self-correcting – not only…
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A Word to the Wise
quarantine (verb, noun)
To quarantine (KWOR-un-teen) is to place people or animals in isolation to prevent the spread of disease or pests. The term comes from medieval efforts to fight the black death. Read about it here.
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A Word to the Wise
moratorium (noun)
A moratorium (mor-uh-TOR-ee-um) is a temporary suspension of an activity or obligation. As I used it today: “We also have to prepare for the possibility of a rent moratorium. That would be zero income coming…
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A Word to the Wise
epidemiology (noun)
Epidemiology (ep-ih-dee-mee-AHL-uh-jee) is the branch of medicine that deals with the incidence, distribution, and possible control of diseases and other factors relating to health.
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A Word to the Wise
anomaly (noun)
An anomaly (un-NOM-uh-lee) is a deviation from the common rule, type, arrangement, or form. As I used it today: “[If, as Tom Dyson hypothesizes,] ‘it’s the supply and demand in the notional gold market that…
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A Word to the Wise
Black Swan event (noun)
A Black Swan is an unpredictable event that is beyond what is normally expected of a situation and has potentially severe consequences. Black Swan events are characterized by their extreme rarity, their severe…
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A Word to the Wise
Ronald Reagan On Government's Fundamental Flaws
“Government is like a baby. An alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other.” – Ronald Reagan
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A Word to the Wise
promulgate (verb)
To promulgate (PRAH-mul-gate) is to formally proclaim or put into action. As used by Karen Armstrong: “The first person to promulgate the Golden Rule… was Confucius 500 years before Christ.”
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A Word to the Wise
lugubrious (adjective)
Lugubrious (loo-GOO-bree-us) means sad, dismal, gloomy. As used by Victor Hugo in The Man Who Laughs: “After the disappearance of day into the vast of silent obscurity, he became in lugubrious accord with all…
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A Word to the Wise
instigate (verb)
To instigate (IN-stih-gate) is to bring about or initiate an action or event. As I used it today: “Like every crash I’ve mentioned, [the “Great Recession” crash of 2008/2009] followed a long-term bull market…
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A Word to the Wise
equanimity (noun)
Equanimity (ee-kwuh-NIM-ih-tee) is calmness; mental or emotional stability or composure, especially under tension or strain. As I used it today: “For insight into why I was getting so upset and a clue about…
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A Word to the Wise
demur (verb)
To demur (dih-MUR) is to raise doubts or objections or show reluctance. As I used it today: “Still, I couldn’t say no to Dr. Al again. He is a good friend and an important client. And I’d been demurring on all…
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A Word to the Wise
perpetuity (noun)
Perpetuity (pur-pih-TOO-ih-tee) – often preceded by “in” – is the state or character of being perpetual. It is used for something that is of endless or indefinitely long duration or existence. As I used it…
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A Word to the Wise
disingenuous (adjective)
Disingenuous (dis-in-JEN-yoo-us) means lacking on frankness, candor, or sincerity. As I used it today: “I could have told him what I just told you, but I was afraid he would see that as disingenuous.”
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A Word to the Wise
bravado (noun)
Bravado (bruh-VAH-doh) is a bold manner or show of boldness intended to impress or intimidate. As I used it today: “I was charmed by his total lack of bravado (which I would have expected from a man of his…
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A Word to the Wise
indefatigable (adjective)
Indefatigable (in-dih-FAT-ih-guh-buhl) means determined and energetic in trying to achieve something; never willing to admit defeat. As I used it today: “I learned that I could sometimes accomplish goals and…
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A Word to the Wise
Corona Crash! (noun)
A term coined by yours truly to describe what’s been going on in the world’s markets. I’ve been using it in my communications with other writers, so I’m sure they’re going to pick up on it. But remember… you…
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A Word to the Wise
wokeness (noun)
Wokeness (WOHK-ness) is the quality or state of being woke – of being aware of social injustice. As I used it today: “LA, in its evolved wokeness, provides sanctuaries for illegal immigrants and humiliation…
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A Word to the Wise
litmus test
Chemically, the litmus (LIT-mus) test is used to determine whether a substance is acidic or alkaline. The test is performed by placing a small sample onto red or blue litmus paper. Red paper turns blue when…
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A Word to the Wise
viridity (noun)
Viridity (vuh-RID-ih-tee) refers to youth, innocence, inexperience. Example from Theodore Edward Hook: “What intellectual viridity that exemplary creature possesses!”
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A Word to the Wise
insidious (adjective)
Insidious (in-SID-ee-us) means stealthily treacherous or deceitful. As I used it today: “In a recent essay, Bill Bonner provided an excellent quick history lesson in the insidious and unintended effects [of…
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A Word to the Wise
pragmatism (noun)
Pragmatism (PRAG-muh-tizm) is a practical approach to thinking of or dealing with problems, rather than using theory or abstract principles. As I used it today: “I like to think of myself as an individualist…
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A Word to the Wise
supersede vs. supercede (verb)
To supersede (soo-per-SEED) is to take the place of a person or thing previously in authority or use. Supercede is a misspelling… and has been a common mistake for centuries. As I used it today: “[Direct…
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A Word to the Wise
coup de foudre (noun)
Coup de foudre (koo duh FOO-druh), a French expression, literally means thunderbolt. It is often used to describe a sudden unforeseen event – in particular, love at first sight. As used by Susan Choi in My…
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A Word to the Wise
axiomatic (adjective)
Axiomatic (ak-see-uh-MAT-ik) means self-evident, obvious. As used by Charles Theodore Murray in Mlle. Fouchette: “Like most generalizations, the statement that a woman cannot climb a tree is not an axiomatic…
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A Word to the Wise
ancillary (adjective)
Something that’s ancillary (AN-suh-lare-ee) provides necessary support to the primary activities or operation of an organization institution, industry, or system. As I used it today: “Understanding the…
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A Word to the Wise
tranche (noun)
A tranche (TRANTSH) is a portion of something, especially money. As I used it today: “Since I want [the investments I’m making in my family, friends, and various charities] to continue after K and I die, I’m…
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A Word to the Wise
circumvent (vert)
To circumvent (sur-kum-VENT) is to manage to get around an obstacle or difficulty; to avoid defeat, failure, unpleasantness, etc. by ingenuity or deception. As I used it today: “Recently, though, one of my…
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A Word to the Wise
demonization (noun)
Demonization (dee-muh-nuh-ZAY-shun) is the portrayal of something as wicked and threatening. As used by Alec Baldwin in today’s quote, above: “The demonization of wealth in this country is mind-blowing.”
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A Word to the Wise
prescriptive vs. descriptive (adjective)
In general, prescriptive (pruh-SKRIP-tiv) refers to an action or behavior based on the imposition or enforcement of a rule or method, and descriptive (duh-SKRIP-tiv) refers to an action or behavior based on a…
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A Word to the Wise
pseudonymous (adjective)
Pseudonymous (soo-DON-ih-mus) means having or using a fictitious name. As I used it today: “I have observed that there is another percentage that is equally reliable and yet rarely discussed: Ten percent of…
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A Word to the Wise
animadversion (noun)
Animadversion (an-uh-mad-VER-zhun) is an unfavorable or critical remark. Example from Pencil Sketches by Eliza Leslie: “Albina soon perceived herself to be an object of remark and animadversion, and she was…
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A Word to the Wise
conundrum (noun)
A conundrum (Kuh-NUN-drum) is a confusing and difficult problem or question. As I used it today (see “Worth Reading,” above): “Believing inequality… is a challenge. A challenge that leaves the believer with a…
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