Word of the day

07/29/2020

Word for today: critical

crit·i·cal
pronounced: /ˈkridək(ə)l/

adjective

1. expressing adverse or disapproving comments or judgments.
Example of usage: “he was critical of many unscientific opinions on medical issues”
Similar: censorious, condemnatory, condemning, castigatory, reproving, denunciatory, deprecatory, disparaging, disapproving, scathing, criticizing, fault-finding, judgmental, negative, unfavorable, unsympathetic, hypercritical, ultra-critical, overcritical, pedantic, pettifogging, cavilling, carping, quibbling, niggling, pass-remarkable, nitpicking, hairsplitting, pernickety, picky, griping, bitching, bellyaching, whingeing, reprobatory, reprobative

2a. expressing or involving an analysis of the merits and faults of a work of literature, music, or art.
Example of usage: “she never won the critical acclaim she sought”
Similar: evaluative, analytic, analytical, interpretative, expository, commentative, explanatory, explicative, elucidative
2b. incorporating a detailed and scholarly analysis and commentary.
Example of usage: “a critical edition of a Bach sonata”
2c. involving the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgement.
Example of usage: “professors often find it difficult to encourage critical thinking in their students”

3a. (of a situation or problem) having the potential to become disastrous; at a point of crisis.
Example of usage: “the flood waters had not receded, and the situation was still critical”
Similar: grave, serious, dangerous, risky, perilous, hazardous, precarious, touch-and-go, in the balance, uncertain, desperate, dire, acute, very bad, life-and-death, life-threatening, chancy, dicey, hairy, iffy, dodgy, parlous, peracute, profound, egregious
3b. (of a person) extremely ill and at risk of death.
Example of usage: “he had been in critical condition since undergoing surgery”
3c. having a decisive or crucial importance in the success, failure, or existence of something.
Example of usage: “temperature is a critical factor in successful fruit storage”
Similar: crucial, vital, essential, of the essence, all-important, important, of the utmost importance, of great consequence, high-priority, paramount, preeminent, fundamental, key, pivotal, deciding, decisive, climacteric, momentous, serious, urgent, pressing, compelling, exigent

4. MATHEMATICS•PHYSICS
relating to or denoting a point of transition from one state to another.

5. (of a nuclear reactor or fuel) maintaining a self-sustaining chain reaction.
Example of usage: “the reactor is due to go critical in October”

07/27/2020

Today’s word is communion
com·mun·ion
Pronounced: /kəˈmyo͞onyən/
noun
1a. the sharing or exchanging of intimate thoughts and feelings, especially when the exchange is on a mental or spiritual level.
Example of usage: “in this churchyard communion with the dead was almost palpable"
1b. common participation in a mental or emotional experience.
Example of usage: “popular festivals where all take part in joyous communion"
Similar: affinity, fellowship, kinship, friendship, fellow feeling, community, togetherness, closeness, sharing, harmony, understanding, rapport, connection, communication, association, empathy, sympathy, agreement, accord, concord, unity
2. the service of Christian worship at which bread and wine are consecrated and shared.
Example of usage: "the priests gave him Holy Communion"
Similar: Eucharist, Holy Communion, Lord's Supper, Mass

3. the consecrated bread and wine so administered and received.
Example of usage: “he accepted the communion from the priest and experienced peace”

4. a relationship of recognition and acceptance between Christian churches or denominations, or between individual Christians or Christian communities and a church (signified by a willingness to give or receive the Eucharist).
"the Eastern Churches are not in communion with Rome"
a group of Christian communities or Churches which recognize one another's ministries or that of a central authority.

11/15/2018

alacrity (noun)

alac·​ri·​ty *ə-ˈla-krə-tē*

Definition: promptness in response; cheerful readiness

Example Sentence: Frances McDormand‎ accepted her Oscar with alacrity at the 2018 Academy Awards for her performance in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.

Frances McDormand wins the Oscar for Lead Actress 2018 [HD]

09/30/2016

deplorable */dəˈplôrəb(ə)l/* (adjective) 1. deserving strong condemnation; causing or being a subject for censure, reproach or disapproval; wretched; bad 2. shockingly bad in quality 3. causing or being a subject for grief or regret; lamentable
Example Sentence: Upon hearing a woman spout racial epithets, I explained to my children that her behavior was deplorable and that was not how kind people should behave.

10/30/2010

brilliant *\ˈbril-yənt\* (adjective) 1. full of light; shining intensely; very bright; glittering 2. having striking color 3. clear and sharp and ringing 4. having or marked by unusual and impressive intelligence 5. of surpassing excellence

10/19/2010

I will be on vacation in Ireland and Amsterdam for the next 10 days. Feel free to post any word ideas on the wall.

10/17/2010

tome *\ˈtōm\* (noun) 1. a volume forming part of a larger work; as many writings as are bound in a volume, forming part of a larger work; a book; -- usually applied to a ponderous volume 2. book; especially: a large or scholarly book. Example Sentence: I will never forget the musty smell of the old library, especially in the back rooms where they kept hundreds of ancient reference tomes.

10/16/2010

effulgence \i-ˈfu̇l-jən(t)s or e-ˈfu̇l-jən(t)s or e-ˈfəl-jən(t)s\ (noun) 1. the quality of being bright and sending out rays of light; the state of being effulgent; extreme brilliancy; a flood of light; great luster or brightness; radiant splendor. Example Sentence: The exceptional effulgence of the harvest moon is always a striking sight.

10/15/2010

lambaste or lambast *\lam-ˈbāst or lam-ˈbast\* (verb) 1. to assault violently; beat, whip; beat with a cane 2. to attack verbally; censure severely or angrily . Example Sentence: I would prefer if candidates running for political office spoke about their personal beliefs, intentions and commitments as opposed to hearing them lambasting other candidates.