inspired by Merriam-Webster's "Word of the Day"

July 30

inchoate • \in-KOH-ut\ • adjective

: being only partly in existence or operation; especially : imperfectly formed or formulated

inspired by Merriam-Webster's "Word of the Day"

July 29

adjure • \uh-JOOR\ • verb

1 : to command solemnly under or as if under oath or penalty of a curse

*2 : to urge or advice earnestly

inspired by Merriam-Webster's "Word of the Day"

July 28

friable •\frye-uh-bul\ • adjective

: easily crumbled or pulverized

inspired by Merriam-Webster's "Word of the Day"

July 27

Hobson's choice • \HAHB-sunz-choyss\ • noun

*1 : an apparently free choice when there is no real alternative

2 : the necessity of accepting one of two or more equally objectionable alternatives

inspired by Merriam-Webster's "Word of the Day"

July 26

parlay • \PAHR-lay\ • verb

1 : to bet in a parlay

2a : to exploit successfully *b : to increase or otherwise transform into something of much greater value

inspired by Merriam-Webster's "Word of the Day"

July 25

poetaster • \POH-uh-tass-ter\ • noun

: an inferior poet

inspired by Merriam-Webster's "Word of the Day"

July 24

tactile • \TAK-tul\ • adjective

1 : perceptible by touch

*2 : of, relating to, or being the sense of touch

inspired by Merriam-Webster's "Word of the Day"

July 23

garner • \GAHR-ner\ • verb

1 a : to gather into storage b : to deposit as if in a granary

2 *a: to acquire by effort : earn b : accumulate, collect

inspired by Merriam-Webster's "Word of the Day"

July 22

inenarrable • \in-ih-NAIR-uh-bul\ • adjective

: incapable of being narrated : indescribable

inspired by Merriam-Webster's "Word of the Day"

July 21

declivity • \di-KLIV-uh-tee\ • noun

1 : downward inclination

*2 : a descending slope

inspired by Merriam-Webster's "Word of the Day"

July 20

conn • \KAHN\ • verb

: to conduct or direct the steering of (as a ship)

inspired by Merriam-Webster's "Word of the Day"

July 19

Barmecidal • \bahr-muh-SYE-dul\ • adjective

: providing only the illusion of abundance

inspired by Merriam-Webster's "Word of the Day"

July 18

agita • \AJ-uh-tuh\ • noun

: a feeling of agitation or anxiety

inspired by Merriam-Webster's "Word of the Day"

July 17

burgle • \BER-gul\ • verb

*1 : to break into and steal from

2 : to commit burglary against

inspired by Merriam-Webster's "Word of the Day"

July 16

bandbox • \BAND-bahks\ • noun

1 : a usually cylindrical box of cardboard or thin wood for holding light articles of attire

*2 : a structure (as a baseball park) having relatively small interior dimensions

inspired by Merriam-Webster's "Word of the Day"

July 15

ab initio • \ab-ih-NISH-ee-oh\ • adverb

: from the beginning

inspired by Merriam-Webster's "Word of the Day"

July 14

prolegomenon • \pro-lih-GAH-muh-nahn\ • noun

: prefatory remarks ; specifically : a formal essay or critical discussion serving to introduce or represent an extended work

inspired by Merriam-Webster's "Word of the Day"

July 13

autochthonous • \aw-TAHK-thuh-nus\ • adjective

1 : indigenous, native

*2 : formed or originating in the place where found

inspired by Merriam-Webster's "Word of the Day"

July 12

stand pat • \STAND-PAT\ • verb

1 : to play one's hand as dealt in draw poker without drawing

*2 : to oppose or resist change

inspired by Merriam-Webster's "Word of the Day"

July 11

perfidious • \per-FID-ee-us\ • adjective

: of, relating to, or characterized by faithlessness or disloyalty : treacherous

inspired by Merriam-Webster's "Word of the Day"

July 10

sinew • \SIN-yoo\ • noun

1 : tendon, especially : one dressed for use as a cord or thread

2a : solid resilient strength : power *b : the chief supporting force, mainstay—usually used in plural

inspired by Merriam-Webster's "Word of the Day"

July 9

struthious • \STROO-thee-us\ • adjective

: of or relating to the ostriches and related birds

inspired by Merriam-Webster's "Word of the Day"

July 8

congeries • \KAHN-juh-reez\ • noun

: aggregation, collection

inspired by Merriam-Webster's "Word of the Day"

July 7

infra dig • \IN-fruh-DIG\ • adjective

: being beneath one's dignity : undignified

inspired by Merriam-Webster's "Word of the Day"

July 6

peloton • \pel-uh-TAHN\ • noun

: the main body of riders in a bicycle race

inspired by Merriam-Webster's "Word of the Day"

July 5

ponderous • \PAHN-duh-rus\ • adjective

1 : of very great weight

*2 : unwieldy or clumsy because of weight and size

3 : oppressively or unpleasantly dull : lifeless

inspired by Merriam-Webster's "Word of the Day"

July 4

cadence • \kay-dunss\ • noun

*1 : a rhythmic sequence or flow of sounds (as in language)

2 : a musical chord sequence moving to a harmonic close or point of rest

3 : the modulated and rhythmic recurrence of a sound especially in nature

inspired by Merriam-Webster's "Word of the Day"

July 3

Antaean • \an-TEE-un\ • adjective

1 : mammoth

*2 : having superhuman strength

inspired by Merriam-Webster's "Word of the Day"

July 2

nescience • \NESH-ee-unss\ • noun

: lack of knowledge or awareness : ignorance

inspired by Merriam-Webster's "Word of the Day"

July 1

advert • \ad-VERT\ • verb

1 : to turn the mind or attention

*2 : to call attention in the course of speaking or writing : make reference