HOVERED
hov·er\ˈhə-vər, ˈhä-\
: to float in the air without moving in any direction
: to stay very close to a person or place
: to stay near a specified point or level
Examples
claimed that the UFO hovered a moment, then spun off into space at incredible speed
Origin: Middle English hoveren, frequentative of hoven to hover.
First use: 15th century
DILUTED
di·lute\dī-ˈlüt, də-\
: to make (a liquid) thinner or less strong by adding water or another liquid
: to lessen the strength of (something)
Examples
a dilute solution of acid
Origin: Latin dilutus, past participle of diluere to wash away, dilute, from di- + lavere to wash — more at
lye.
First use: circa 1555
GULPED
gulp\ˈgəlp\
: to eat or swallow (something) quickly or in large amounts
: to take (air) into your lungs quickly
: to swallow because of strong emotion (such as fear or shock)
Examples
She told him not to gulp his food.
Don't gulp down your dinner like that.
They gulped down a couple of beers and left.
Origin: Middle English, from a Middle Dutch or Middle Low German word akin to Dutch & Frisian gulpen
to bubble forth, drink deep; akin to Old English gielpan to boast — more at yelp.
First use: 14th century
CLUTCHED
clutch\ˈkləch\
: to hold onto (someone or something) tightly with your hand
: to try to hold onto someone or something by reaching with your hand
Examples
I had to clutch the counter to keep from falling.
The child clutched her mother's hand firmly.
He had a book clutched in his hand.
Origin: Middle English clucchen, from Old English clyccan.
First use: before 12th century
GRATUITOUSLY
gra·tu·itous\grə-ˈtü-ə-təs, -ˈtyü-\
adjective
: not necessary or appropriate
Examples
they will throw in a gratuitous box of chocolates when you spend $30 or more in their shop
that violent scene was completely gratuitous and didn't need to be in the movie at all
Origin: Latin gratuitus, from gratus.
First use: 1656
MOROSE
mo·rose\mə-ˈrōs, mȯ-\
adjective
of a person : very serious, unhappy, and quiet
: very sad or unhappy
Examples
those morose job seekers who have grown accustomed to rejection
Origin: Latin morosus, literally, capricious, from mor-, mos will.
First use: 1565
CONTAGIOUS
con·ta·gious\-jəs\
adjective
: able to be passed from one person or animal to another by touching
: having a sickness that can be passed to someone else by touching
: capable of being easily spread to others : causing other people to feel or act a similar way
Examples
chicken pox, measles, German measles, and other contagious diseases
the enthusiasm of the new club members was contagious
First use: 14th century
SPRAWLED
sprawl\ˈsprȯl\
: to lie or sit with your arms and legs spread wide apart
: to spread or develop in an uneven or uncontrolled way
Examples
The kids sprawled on the floor to watch TV.
He sprawled (out) on the couch.
One punch sent him sprawling to the floor.
Origin: Middle English, from Old English sprēawlian.
First use: before 12th century
HUMOROUSLY
hu·mor·ous\ˈhyüm-rəs, ˈyüm-, ˈhyü-mə-, ˈyü-\
adjective
: causing laughter
Examples
the humorous moments in an otherwise somber affair
“most humorous costume” went to the girl dressed as Little Bo Peep
the movie's a humorous look at love and marriage
First use: 15th century
MIRTH
mirth\ˈmərth\
noun
: happiness and laughter
Examples
Her clumsy attempt to cut the cake was the cause of much mirth.
He was in a mirthful mood.
Origin: Middle English, from Old English myrgth, from myrge merry — more at merry.
First use: before 12th century
DARTED
dart\ˈdärt\
noun
: a small object that has a sharp point at one end and that is thrown in the game of darts or used as a
weapon
: a game in which darts are thrown at a board that is marked with circles
: a quick movement
Examples
throwing darts
He was hit with a poisoned dart.
She frequently uses her editorials to hurl/throw darts at the White House.
Origin: Middle English, from Anglo-French, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German tart dart, Old
English daroth.
First use: 14th century
DROWSILY
drowsy\ˈdrau̇ -zē\
adjective
: tired and ready to fall asleep
: causing you to feel relaxed and ready to sleep
Examples
I started feeling drowsy and decided to take a nap.
We spent a drowsy afternoon by the pool.
These medications may cause drowsiness.
First use: 1530
BRUTE
brute\ˈbrüt\
adjective
: very strong or forceful
: very harsh
Examples
Let go of me, you brute!
it is a fundamental sense of right and wrong that separates us from the brutes
Origin: Middle English, from Middle French brut rough, from Latin brutus brutish, literally, heavy; akin to
Latin gravis heavy — more at grieve.
First use: 15th century
UPROARIOUSLY
up·roar·i·ous\ˌəp-ˈrȯr-ē-əs\
adjective
: very noisy
: extremely funny
Examples
the movie follows the comic duo through a series of outrageous and uproarious escapades
visited the site where the action movie was being filmed only to find a chaotic, uproarious set
First use: 1800
SOGGY
sog·gy\ˈsä-gē, ˈsȯ-\
adjective
: heavy with water or moisture : completely wet and usually soft
Examples
spread the soggy papers out to dry
Origin: English dialect sog to soak.
First use: 1599
VIRILE
vir·ile\ˈvir-əl, ˈvir-ˌī(-ə)l, British also ˈvī(-ə)r-ˌī(-ə)l\
adjective
: having or suggesting qualities (such as strength and sexual energy) that are associated with men and
that are usually considered attractive in men
Examples
men were once expected to be interested only in such virile activities as hunting
Origin: Middle French or Latin; Middle French viril, from Latin virilis, from vir man, male; akin to Old
English & Old High German wer man, Sanskrit vīra.
First use: 15th century
HORDE
horde\ˈhȯrd\
noun
: a large group of people
Examples
A horde of tourists entered the museum.
Hordes of reporters were shouting questions.
Origin: Middle French, German, & Polish; Middle French & German, from Polish horda, from Ukrainian
dialect gorda, alteration of Ukrainian orda, from Old Russian, from Turkic orda, ordu khan's residence.
First use: 1555
PEEVISHLY
pee·vish\ˈpē-vish\
adjective
: feeling or showing irritation
Examples
I would rather figure things out on my own than ask that peevish librarian for help
Origin: Middle English pevish spiteful.
First use: 15th century
CLUMPS
clump\ˈkləmp\
noun
: a small ball or mass of something
: a group of things or people that are close together
: a loud, heavy sound made by footsteps
Examples
a clump of roots/grass/mud
There is a clump of bushes/trees at the edge of the field.
a clump of spectators
Origin: probably from Low German klump.
First use: circa 1586
JERKILY
jerky\ˈjər-kē\
adjective
: marked by quick rough motions or sudden starts and stops
: foolish, stupid, or rude
Examples
He made jerky movements.
The movie was jerky and hard to watch.
jerky behavior
Origin: Spanish charqui, from Quechua ch'arki.
First use: 1850
FURROWS
fur·row\ˈfər-(ˌ)ō, ˈfə-(ˌ)rō\
noun
: a long and narrow cut in the ground
: a narrow line or wrinkle in the skin of a person's face
Origin: Middle English furgh, forow, from Old English furh; akin to Old High German furuh furrow, Latin
porca.
First use: before 12th century
Examples
plows furrowing the fields
He furrowed his brow.
His forehead furrows when he frowns.
INSOLENT
in·so·lent\ˈin(t)-s(ə-)lənt\
adjective
: rude or impolite : having or showing a lack of respect for other people
Examples
an appallingly insolent reply to a reasonable request
Origin: Middle English, from Latin insolent-, insolens unaccustomed, overbearing, from in- + solens,
present participle of solēre to be accustomed; perhaps akin to Latin sodalis comrade — more at sib.
First use: 14th century
PRODDED
prod\ˈpräd\
: to push someone or something with your finger or a pointed object
: to persuade or try to persuade (someone) to do something
Examples
She prodded him in the ribs to get his attention.
He prodded at the snake with a stick.
His parents kept prodding him to go back to school.
Origin: origin unknown.
First use: 1535
SMUDGED
smudge\ˈsməj\
: to make a dirty mark, spot, streak, etc., on (something)
: to become blurry and unclear by being touched or rubbed
: to make (something) blurry or unclear by touching or rubbing it
Examples
His hand left a grimy smudge on the wall.
the president's spouse must not have the slightest smudge of scandal
Origin: Middle English smogen.
First use: 15th century
OBLIQUELY
oblique\ō-ˈblēk, ə-, -ˈblīk; military usually ī\
adjective
: not direct : not stated directly
of a line : having a slanting direction or position : neither perpendicular nor parallel
Examples
She made only oblique references to the scandal in her speech.
The short lines of the letter “k” are oblique lines.
She referred to the scandal obliquely in her speech.
Origin: Middle English oblike, from Latin obliquus.
First use: 15th century
TREMULOUS
trem·u·lous\-ləs\
adjective
: shaking slightly especially because of nervousness, weakness, or illness
: feeling or showing a lack of confidence or courage
Examples
a tremulous girl somehow mustered up the courage to ask a question of the governor
the frail woman extended a tremulous hand in welcome
Origin: Latin tremulus — more at tremble.
First use: 1611
MONGREL
mon·grel\ˈmäŋ-grəl, ˈməŋ-\
noun
: a dog with parents of different breeds
Examples
mongrels often suffer fewer health problems than purebreds
Origin: Middle English, probably from mong mixture, short for ymong, from Old English gemong crowd
— more at among.
First use: 15th century
SLITHERED
slith·er\ˈsli-thər\
: to move by sliding your entire body back and forth
: to move smoothly, quietly, or secretly like a snake
Examples
a snake slithering through the garden
Origin: Middle English slideren, from Old English slidrian, frequentative of slīdan to slide.
First use: before 12th century
SQUIRMED
squirm\ˈskwərm\
intransitive verb
: to make a lot of twisting movements because you are nervous, uncomfortable, bored, etc.
Examples
The baby squirmed a lot when I tried to hold him.
She squirmed under her father's angry stare.
The children squirmed with delight.
Origin: origin unknown.
First use: circa 1691
DISDAINFULLY
dis·dain·ful\-fəl\
adjective
: felling strong dislike or disapproval for something or someone you think does not deserve respect :
feeling or showing disdain
Examples
a disdainful attitude toward people who work as waiters and waitresses
disdainful of manual labor of any kind
disdainful remarks regarding the cheap clothes that the local people were wearing
First use: circa 1542
PENNANT
pen·nant\ˈpe-nənt\
noun
: a long, thin, pointed flag
baseball : the prize that is awarded to the champions of the American League and the National League
each year
Examples
the stadium was festooned with pennants from past championships
Origin: alteration of pendant.
First use: 1698
VAGUENESS
vague\ˈvāg\
adjective
: not clear in meaning : stated in a way that is general and not specific
: not thinking or expressing your thoughts clearly or precisely
: not completely formed or developed
Examples
The instructions she left were vague and difficult to follow.
He gave only a vague answer.
The judges determined that the law was too vague to be fairly enforced.
Origin: Middle French, from Latin vagus, literally, wandering.
First use: 1548
ACCENTUATED
ac·cen·tu·ate\ik-ˈsen(t)-shə-ˌwāt, ak-\
: to make (something) more noticeable
Examples
let's accentuate the saxophones during this piece by having the sax players stand up
the foul weather merely accentuated my feelings of depression
unfortunately, the new bedspread just accentuates the dinginess of the curtains behind the bed
Origin: Medieval Latin accentuatus, past participle of accentuare, from Latin accentus.
First use: circa 1731
STOOPED
stoop\ˈstüp\
: to bend down or over
: to walk or stand with your head and shoulders bent forward
: to do something that is not honest, fair, etc.
Examples
She stooped down to hug the child.
He had to stoop to pick it up.
He tends to stoop as he walks.
Origin: Middle English stoupen, from Old English stūpian; akin to Swedish stupa to fall, plunge, Old
English stēap steep, deep.
First use: before 12th century
TIMIDLY
tim·id\ˈti-məd\
adjective
: feeling or showing a lack of courage or confidence
Examples
a timid rabbit hopped cautiously out of the hedge
Origin: Latin timidus, from timēre to fear.
First use: 1549
VAGUELY
vague\ˈvāg\
adjective
: not clear in meaning : stated in a way that is general and not specific
: not thinking or expressing your thoughts clearly or precisely
: not completely formed or developed
Examples
The instructions she left were vague and difficult to follow.
He gave only a vague answer.
The judges determined that the law was too vague to be fairly enforced.
Origin: Middle French, from Latin vagus, literally, wandering.
First use: 1548
TEDIOUS
te·dious\ˈtē-dē-əs, ˈtē-jəs\
adjective
: boring and too slow or long
Examples
a long and tedious staff meeting
Origin: Middle English, from Late Latin taediosus, from Latin taedium (see tedium ).
First use: 15th century
PONDEROUS
pon·der·ous\ˈpän-d(ə-)rəs\
adjective
: very boring or dull
: slow or awkward because of weight and size
Examples
fell asleep during the ponderous speech
those ponderous pachyderms more commonly known as elephants
lugged a ponderous movie camera all over China
Origin: Middle English, from Anglo-French ponderus, from Latin ponderosus, from ponder-, pondus
weight.
First use: 15th century
AUSTERE
aus·tere\ȯ-ˈstir also -ˈster\
adjective
: simple or plain : not fancy
of a person : having a serious and unfriendly quality
: having few pleasures : simple and harsh
Examples
an austere conductor who is as tough on himself as he is on the orchestra
an austere fortress at the top of some formidable cliffs
for the private office of the CEO of the large corporation, the room is unexpectedly austere
Origin: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin austerus, from Greek austēros harsh, severe; akin
to Greek hauos dry — more at sere.
First use: 14th century
BEWILDERINGLY
be·wil·der\bi-ˈwil-dər, bē-\
: to confuse (someone) very much
Examples
the change in policy seems to have bewildered many of our customers
First use: 1684
VINDICTIVE
vin·dic·tive\vin-ˈdik-tiv\
adjective
: having or showing a desire to hurt someone who has hurt or caused problems for you
Examples
be careful not to annoy the vindictive old woman who lives down the street
Origin: Latin vindicta revenge, vindication, from vindicare.
First use: 15th century
DISCONSOLATE
dis·con·so·late\dis-ˈkän(t)-sə-lət\
adjective
: very unhappy or sad
Examples
spent her last years in the disconsolate environs of a cheap boarding house
she was utterly disconsolate when her best friend moved away
Origin: Middle English, from Medieval Latin disconsolatus, from Latin dis- + consolatus, past participle of
consolari to console.
First use: 14th century
AUDACITY
au·dac·i·ty\ȯ-ˈda-sə-tē\
noun
: a confident and daring quality that is often seen as shocking or rude : an audacious quality
Examples
I can't believe she had the audacity to tell me to shut up!
Origin: Middle English audacite, from Latin audac-, audax.
First use: 15th century
PROWLED
prowl\ˈprau̇ (-ə)l\
of an animal : to move quietly through an area while hunting
: to move through a place or area especially while searching for something often in a quiet or secret way
Examples
a tiger prowling in the jungle
wolves prowling in packs
He moved like a tiger prowling the jungle.
Origin: Middle English prollen.
First use: 14th century
INCANTATION
in·can·ta·tion\ˌin-ˌkan-ˈtā-shən\
noun
: a series of words used to make something magic happen
Examples
hovering over the sick child, the witch doctor muttered mysterious incantations
Origin: Middle English incantacioun, from Middle French incantation, from Late Latin incantation-,
incantatio, from Latin incantare to enchant — more at enchant.
First use: 14th century
COBBLES
cob·ble\ˈkä-bəl\
: to make (something) by putting together different parts in a quick way
: to make or repair (shoes)
Origin: Middle English coblen, perhaps back-formation from cobelere cobbler.
First use: 15th century
NOTORIETY
no·to·ri·e·ty\ˌnō-tə-ˈrī-ə-tē\
noun
: the condition of being famous or well-known especially for something bad : the state of being
notorious
Examples
a television show featuring a rogues' gallery of notorieties from 20 years of overhyped scandals
a lawyer of notoriety for the huge awards he's won in medical malpractice cases
Origin: Middle French or Medieval Latin; Middle French notorieté, from Medieval Latin notorietat-,
notorietas, from notorius.
First use: circa 1650
EERILY
ee·rie
adjective
: strange and mysterious
ee·ri·ness \ˈir-ē-nəs\ noun
Examples
eerie noises would occasionally come from locked rooms in the castle
Origin: Middle English (northern dialect) eri.
First use: 14th century
VENGEANCE
ven·geance\ˈven-jən(t)s\
noun
: the act of doing something to hurt someone because that person did something that hurt you or
someone else
Examples
sought vengeance after his sister was murdered
Origin: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from venger to avenge, from Latin vindicare to lay claim to,
avenge — more at vindicate.
First use: 14th century
GNARLED
gnarled\ˈnär(-ə)ld\
adjective
of wood : having many twists and hard bumps or knots
: bumpy or twisted
Examples
gnarled branches
an ancient gnarled tree
the old man's gnarled fingers/hands
Origin: probably alteration of knurled.
First use: 1603
MUFFLED
muf·fle\ˈmə-fəl\
: to make (a sound) quieter : to decrease the noise made by (something)
: to wrap or cover (someone or something) in clothing or cloth for warmth or protection
Examples
the walls muffled their conversation so that only a low murmur was heard
the airport had been muffled in fog all morning long
Origin: Middle English muflen.
First use: 15th century
HUDDLED
hud·dle\ˈhə-dəl\
: to come close together in a group
: to sit or lie in a curled or bent position
: to come together to talk about something privately
Origin: probably from or akin to Middle English hoderen to huddle.
First use: 1579
SULLENNESS
sul·len\ˈsə-lən\
adjective
—used to describe an angry or unhappy person who does not want to talk, smile, etc.
: gray and dark
Examples
sullen skies that matched our mood on the day of the funeral
sullen and bored at his in-laws' house, he couldn't wait for the holidays to end
Origin: Middle English solein solitary, from Anglo-French sulein, solain, perhaps from sol, soul single, sole
+ -ain after Old French soltain solitary, private, from Late Latin solitaneus, ultimately from Latin solus
alone.
First use: 14th century
SONOROUS
so·no·rous\sə-ˈnȯr-əs, ˈsä-nə-rəs\
adjective
: having a sound that is deep, loud, and pleasant
Examples
a sonorous waterfall that can be heard from a considerable distance
a baritone with a particularly sonorous voice
Origin: Latin sonorus; akin to Latin sonus sound.
First use: 1611
SPARSELY
sparse\ˈspärs\
adjective
: present only in small amounts : less than necessary or normal ; especially : thinly covering an area : not
thick or full
Examples
Reliable data is sparse.
sparse vegetation
a sparse beard
Origin: Latin sparsus spread out, from past participle of spargere to scatter — more at spark.
First use: 1753
SLUMBEROUS
slum·ber·ous
adjective
1 : heavy with sleep : sleepy
2 : inducing slumber : soporific
3 : marked by or suggestive of a state of sleep or lethargy <a slumberous state of peace>
Examples
parents putting their slumberous children to bed
the slumberous murmer of the wind in the trees
Variants: or slum·brous \ˈsləm-b(ə-)rəs\
First use: 15th century
PARCHED
parched\ˈpärcht\
adjective
: very dry especially because of hot weather and no rain
: very thirsty
Examples
parched land
Could I have some water? I'm parched.
First use: circa 1552
STAGGERED
stag·ger\ˈsta-gər\
: to move or cause (someone) to move unsteadily from side to side
: to shock or surprise (someone) very much
: to arrange (things) in a series of different positions or times
Examples
He walked with a slight stagger.
First use: 1577
BRIMFUL
brim·ful\ˈbrim-ˈfu̇ l, -ˌfu̇ l\
adjective
: full to the brim : ready to overflow
Examples
a book brimful of stories about people who overcome childhood adversities to achieve great things
First use: circa 1530