Category: Word of the Day

Definition: (verb) Plausible glib talk (especially useful to a salesperson).

Synonyms: line of gab, spiel.

Usage: The automobile salesman spoke about the old car so approvingly and at such length that the customers soon began to grow tired of his patter.

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Definition: (noun) A communication that indicates lack of respect by patronizing the recipient.

Synonyms: disdain, patronage.

Usage: Natasha did not like the visitor’s tone of condescension to childish things.

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Definition: (verb) Remove the inner part or the core of.

Synonyms: dig, hollow.

Usage: The mining company wants to excavate the hillside and build a tunnel.

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Definition: (verb) Repeat after memorization.

Synonyms: reproduce.

Usage: In order to score well on the exam, you must be able to regurgitate the information.

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Definition: (noun) Insistent solicitation and entreaty.

Synonyms: urgency, urging.

Usage: And to the importunity of their persisted questionings he had finally given in; and so it came to pass that every one now knew the shameful story of his wretched fate.

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Definition: (adjective) Characterized by or resulting from despair; hopeless.

Synonyms: desperate.

Usage: The set-back to their hopes made them despairing and desperate.

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Definition: (adjective) Free from undue bias or preconceived opinions.

Synonyms: impartial.

Usage: I claim to be an absolutely unprejudiced witness.

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Definition: (noun) An abnormal enlargement of the heart.

Synonyms: enlarged heart, megacardia, megalocardia.

Usage: The chest x-ray indicated that the patient’s symptoms were the result of cardiomegaly and congestive heart failure.

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Definition: (adjective) Of, relating to, or characterized by fever.

Synonyms: feverish.

Usage: The mother took her febrile and sweating child to the pediatrician.

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Definition: (adjective) Foul and run-down and repulsive.

Synonyms: sordid, squalid.

Usage: The gang met at a flyblown, grimy little bar on the edge of town to plan its next heist.

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