Merriam-Webster's Daily Buzzword http://www.wordcentral.com Free daily dose of word power from Merriam-Webster's Word Central experts Copyright 2006 en-us Sun, 08 Nov 2009 01:20:01 EST 60 Merriam-Webster's RSS Feed Generator, version 1.0 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://www.merriam-webster.com/images/mw_online_search.gif Merriam-Webster Online http://www.merriam-webster.com/ Dictionaries <![CDATA[eclipse]]> http://www.wordcentral.com/buzzword/buzzword.php?month=11&day=08&year=2009 Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

The Buzzword of the Day for 11/08/2009 is:

eclipse (verb)

\ih-KLIPS\

What does it mean?

1 : to cause the total or partial hiding of one heavenly body by another
2 a : to reduce in importance b : to do or be much better than : outshine

How do you use it?

Genevieve's watercolor eclipsed the other entries in the art show and easily won first prize.

Are you a word wiz?

Today's Buzzword features "eclipse" the verb, but "eclipse" can also function as another part of speech. Which one is it?

A. pronoun
B. adjective
C. preposition
D. noun
Check your answer on Word Central.
]]> <![CDATA[maestro]]> http://www.wordcentral.com/buzzword/buzzword.php?month=11&day=07&year=2009 Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

The Buzzword of the Day for 11/07/2009 is:

maestro (noun)

\MYE-stroh\

What does it mean?

: a master of an art and especially of music

How do you use it?

The maestro, known to be one of the best violinists in the world, bowed to the cheering audience following the performance.

Are you a word wiz?

From what language do you think English borrowed the word "maestro"?

A. Italian
B. Japanese
C. Arabic
D. Swahili
Check your answer on Word Central.
]]> <![CDATA[commiserate]]> http://www.wordcentral.com/buzzword/buzzword.php?month=11&day=06&year=2009 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

The Buzzword of the Day for 11/06/2009 is:

commiserate (verb)

\kuh-MIZ-uh-rayt\

What does it mean?

: to feel or express sorrow or sympathy : sympathize

How do you use it?

Isabel called Sarah after the math test to commiserate with her about how poorly they both did.

Are you a word wiz?

"Commiserate" traces back to two Latin roots, "com-" and "miserari." "Com-" is a prefix that means "with" and "miserari" is a verb. Based on what "commiserate" means now, what do you think "miserari" meant?

A. to be greedy
B. to pity
C. to act silly
D. to fail
Check your answer on Word Central.
]]> <![CDATA[disturb]]> http://www.wordcentral.com/buzzword/buzzword.php?month=11&day=05&year=2009 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

The Buzzword of the Day for 11/05/2009 is:

disturb (verb)

\dis-TERB\

What does it mean?

1 a : to interfere with : interrupt b : to change the position, arrangement, or stability of
2 a : to trouble the mind of : make uneasy b : to throw into confusion or disorder c : to cause bother to

How do you use it?

He said some things that really disturbed me.

Are you a word wiz?

Which word do you think is a synonym of "disturb"?

A. surprise
B. pacify
C. fluster
D. inhibit
Check your answer on Word Central.
]]> <![CDATA[kinetic]]> http://www.wordcentral.com/buzzword/buzzword.php?month=11&day=04&year=2009 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

The Buzzword of the Day for 11/04/2009 is:

kinetic (adjective)

\kuh-NET-ik\

What does it mean?

: of or relating to the motions of material bodies and the forces and energy associated with them

How do you use it?

In science, we learned that a moving object has kinetic energy.

Are you a word wiz?

"Kinetic" comes to us from the Greek word which means "to move." Which of these words do you think came from the same Greek root?

A. bicycle
B. kite
C. nine
D. cinema
Check your answer on Word Central.
]]> <![CDATA[jambalaya]]> http://www.wordcentral.com/buzzword/buzzword.php?month=11&day=03&year=2009 Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

The Buzzword of the Day for 11/03/2009 is:

jambalaya (noun)

\jum-buh-LYE-uh\

What does it mean?

: rice cooked with ham, sausage, chicken, shrimps, or oysters and seasoned with herbs

How do you use it?

Danielle's father makes jambalaya using a recipe that he learned from his great-grandmother.

Are you a word wiz?

"Jambalaya" has another meaning we haven't told you about yet. Which of the following do you think it is?

A. a state of confusion
B. an area or region with a distinguishing character
C. a mixture of diverse elements
D. an informal sale of miscellaneous goods
Check your answer on Word Central.
]]> <![CDATA[assert]]> http://www.wordcentral.com/buzzword/buzzword.php?month=11&day=02&year=2009 Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

The Buzzword of the Day for 11/02/2009 is:

assert (verb)

\uh-SERT\

What does it mean?

1 : to state clearly and strongly
2 : to make others aware of

How do you use it?

"The time has come to assert my feelings," Judy said as her father served dinner, "and let you know, without a doubt, I hate meatloaf."

Are you a word wiz?

Tell us clearly and strongly which of the words below is a synonym of "assert"?

A. allow
B. avow
C. dispute
D. dilute
Check your answer on Word Central.
]]> <![CDATA[filbert]]> http://www.wordcentral.com/buzzword/buzzword.php?month=11&day=01&year=2009 Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

The Buzzword of the Day for 11/01/2009 is:

filbert (noun)

\FILL-bert\

What does it mean?

1 : either of two European hazels; also : the sweet thick-shelled nut of a filbert
2 : hazelnut

How do you use it?

Frederick and Kendra walked through the woods, picking fat, ripe filberts from the hazel bushes as they went.

Are you a word wiz?

It wasn't just somebody's nutty idea to call nuts "filberts." How do you think "filberts" got their name?

A. They got that name because the nuts are picked around St. Philibert's Day.
B. They got that name because they are very filling.
C. They got that name because the Latin name for the nut is "filibertus."
D. They got that name because they were first marketed by men named Phil and Bert.
Check your answer on Word Central.
]]> <![CDATA[phantasm]]> http://www.wordcentral.com/buzzword/buzzword.php?month=10&day=31&year=2009 Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EST

The Buzzword of the Day for 10/31/2009 is:

phantasm (noun)

\FAN-taz-um\

What does it mean?

1 : a misleading image or appearance : illusion
2 : ghost : specter
3 : a product of the imagination : fantasy

How do you use it?

After it got dark, Trina's imagination filled the spooky old house with phantasms.

Are you a word wiz?

"Phantasm" goes back to the Greek word "phantazein," which means "to present to the mind." Read the definition we've given you again, and tell us which one of the following adjectives should NOT be used to describe a phantasm?

A. dreamlike
B. fanciful
C. shadowy
D. physical
Check your answer on Word Central.
]]> <![CDATA[procrastinate]]> http://www.wordcentral.com/buzzword/buzzword.php?month=10&day=30&year=2009 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EST

The Buzzword of the Day for 10/30/2009 is:

procrastinate (verb)

\pruh-KRAS-tuh-nayt\

What does it mean?

: to keep putting off something supposed to be done

How do you use it?

Every month Vanessa procrastinates about writing her book report, and before she knows it the report is due!

Are you a word wiz?

At the root of "procrastinate" is the Latin word "cras." What do you think "cras" means?

A. crude
B. tomorrow
C. early
D. month
Check your answer on Word Central.
]]> <![CDATA[rival]]> http://www.wordcentral.com/buzzword/buzzword.php?month=10&day=29&year=2009 Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EST

The Buzzword of the Day for 10/29/2009 is:

rival (noun)

\RYE-vul\

What does it mean?

1 a : one of two or more trying to get what only one can have b : competition
2 : one that equals another : peer

How do you use it?

Edythe was dismayed to learn that her best friend was her chief rival for the position of club president.

Are you a word wiz?

The origin of the word "rival" takes us into the natural world. What natural feature do you think plays a part in the story of "rival"?

A. a stream
B. a mountain
C. a desert
D. a forest
Check your answer on Word Central.
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