Definition: (adjective) Ill-tempered and quarrelsome; disagreeable.
Synonyms: bloody-minded.
Usage: I am an extremely considerate neighbor, yet the cantankerous old lady next door is constantly lodging complaints about me with our landlord.
Discuss
Month: August 2021
soldier
bombardier – First denoted a soldier in charge of a bombard, an early form of cannon. More…
functional shift – The process by which words change parts of speech without the addition of a prefix or suffix, as in soldier on, the verb, being created from soldier, the noun. More…
guerrilla, gorilla – Guerrilla is from a Spanish diminutive of guerra, “war,” and refers to a soldier of an independent armed resistance force; gorilla is the ape. More…
lower the bar
To lower the standards of quality that are expected of or required for something. Watch the video
Lake Vostok
Hundreds of subglacial lakes are hidden under the surface of Antarctica, and Lake Vostok is the largest. Located beneath some 13,000 ft (4,000 m) of ice, Lake Vostok’s pristine waters have been sealed off for perhaps more than a million years and may be home to life forms unknown to science. Researchers have spent years trying to drill through the ice to retrieve water samples despite concerns they might contaminate the lake in the process. In May 2005, what was found in the center of the lake? Discuss
panegyric
host
host – One of its early senses was “army.” More…
harbinger – Originally, one who provided lodging or acted as a host. More…
table d’ hote, prix fixe – Table d’ hote, literally “table of the host,” is a complete meal with specified courses for a set price—and means the same as prix fixe. More…
French leave – Comes from the French custom of leaving a ball or dinner without saying goodbye to the host or hostess. More…
Eisteddfod
The Royal National Eisteddfod of Wales dates back to the 12th century. Its purpose is to encourage the preservation of Welsh music and literature, and only those who sing or write in Welsh may enter. The annual event opens with the blowing of trumpets, followed by all kinds of musical and literary contests—harp playing, solo and choral singing, dramatic presentations, and poetic composition. The National Eisteddfod is held in northern Wales one year and southern Wales the next. Other Eisteddfodau are held in Welsh communities elsewhere from May to November. Discuss
the low road
Any method, practice, or course of action that is unethical, unscrupulous, underhanded, or otherwise base or vile. (Most often used in the phrase “take the low road.”) Watch the video
Northwest Angle
If you are visiting Minnesota’s Northwest Angle, you have reached a part of the US that is beyond the Canadian border. Separated from the US by the Lake of the Woods, “the Angle” is north of the 49th parallel, the northern boundary of the contiguous 48 states. The anomaly resulted from early mapmakers’ imprecision about the source of the Mississippi River. When their error was corrected, the Angle was left beyond the international border. What are you required to do upon arrival at the Angle? Discuss
irascible
Definition: (adjective) Prone to outbursts of temper; easily angered.
Synonyms: hotheaded, quick-tempered, choleric, short.
Usage: He was a singularly irascible man; any little thing would disturb his temper.
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