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

February 28

cuspidor • \KUSS-puh-dor\• noun

: a receptacle for spit : spittoon

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

February 27

circuitous • \ser-KYOO-uh-tus\• adjective

1 : having a circular or winding course

2 : not being forthright or direct in language or action

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

February 26

gormandize • \GOR-mun-dyze\• verb

: to eat gluttonously or ravenously

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

February 25

apposite • \AP-uh-zit\• adjective

: highly pertinent or appropriate : apt

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

February 24

snaffle • \SNAFF-ul\• verb

: to obtain especially be devious or irregular means

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

February 23

edacious • \ih-DAY-shus\• adjective

1 : having a huge appetite : ravenous

2 : excessively eager : insatiable

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

February 22

congenial • \kun-JEEN-yul\• adjective

1 : having the same nature, disposition, or tastes : kindred

2 a : exisiting together harmoniously

b : suited to one's nature, tastes or outlook

c : sociable, genial

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

February 21

fraternize • \FRAT-er-nyzer\• verb

1 : to associate or mingle as brothers or on fraternal terms

2 a : to associate on close terms with members of a hostile group especially when contrary to military orders

b : to be friendly or amiable

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

February 20

cartographer • \kahr-TAH-gruh-fer\• noun

: one that makes maps

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

February 19

cabbage • \KAB-ij\ • verb

1 : steal, filch

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

February 18

mayhem • \MAY-hem\ • noun

1 : willful and permanent crippling, mutilation, or disfigurement of any part of the body and especially deprivation of a bodily member

2 : needless or willful damage or violence

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

February 17

flounce • \FLOUNSS\ • verb

1 a : to move with exaggerated jerky or bouncy motions

b : to go with sudden determination

2 : flounder, struggle

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

February 16

chameleon • \kuh-MEEL-yun\ • noun

1 : a small lizard whose skin changes color especially according to its surroundings

2 a : a person given to often expedient or facile change in ideas or character

b : one that is subject to quick or frequent change especially in appearance

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

February 15

brummagem • \BRUM-ih-jum\ • adjective

: not genuine : spurious; also : cheaply showy : tawdry

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

February 14

canoodle• \kuh-NOO-dul\ • verb

: to engage in amorous embracing, caressing and kissing

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

February 13

harbinger • \HAHR-bun-jer\ • noun

1 : one that pioneers in or initiates a major change : precursor

2 : one that presages or foreshadows what is to come

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

February 12

emprise • \em-PRYZE\ • noun

1 : an adventurous, daring or chivalric enterprise

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

February 11

unctuous • \UNK-chuh-wus\ • adjective

1 a : fatty, oily

b : smooth and greasy in texture of appearance

2 : insincerely smooth in speech and manner

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

February 10

torpedo • \tor-PEE-doh\ • noun

1 : a weapon for destroying ships by rupturing their hulls below the waterline: as

b : a submarine mine

c : a thin cylindicral self-propelled underwater projectile

2 : a large sandwich on a long split roll with any of a variety of fillings : submarine

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

February 9

vicissitude • \vuh-SISS-uh-tood\ • noun

1 : the quality or state of being changeable : mutability

2 a : an unexpected change or fluctuation

b : a difficulty or hardship usually beyond one's control

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

February 8

plaguey • \PLAY-ghee\ • adjective

: causing irritation or annoyance : troublesome

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

February 7

interminable • \in-TER-muh-nuh-bul\ • adjective

: having or seeming to have no end; especially : wearisomely protracted

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

February 6

tutelage • \TOO-tuh-lij\ • noun

1 : an act of guarding or protecting

2 : the state of being under guidance or tutor

3 a : instruction especially of an individual

b : a guiding influence

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

February 5

earwig • \EER-wig\ • verb

: to annoy or attempt to influence by private talks

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

February 4

salvo • \SAL-voh\ • noun

1 : a simultaneous discharge of guns or bombs

2 a : a sudden burst

b : a spirited attack

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

February 3

ragtag • \RAG-tag\ • adjective

1 : ragged, unkempt

2 : composed of diverse often incongruous elements : motley

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

February 2

linchpin • \LINCH-pin\ • noun

1 : a locking pin inserted (as through the end of an axle or shaft)

2 : one that serves to hold together parts or elements that exist or function as a unit

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

February 1

lucid • \LOO-sid\ • adjective

1 a : suffused with light : luminous

b : translucent

2 : having full use of one's faculties : sane

3 : clear to the understanding : intelligible

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

January 31

hoodlum • \HOOD-lum\ • noun

1 : thug; especially : a violent criminal

2 : a young ruffian