51吃瓜 of the Day
More about verecund
The uncommon adjective verecund, 鈥渂ashful, modest,鈥� comes straight from Latin 惫别谤脓肠耻苍诲耻蝉 鈥渞estrained by or sensitive to scruples or feelings of modesty, shame, or self-respect.鈥� 痴别谤脓肠耻苍诲耻蝉 is a compound of the verb 惫别谤脓谤墨 鈥渢o fear, show reverence for, be in awe of鈥� and the adjective suffix –cundus, which indicates inclination or capacity. 痴别谤脓谤墨 is the root in the very common verb revere (and its derivatives reverent, reverend, and reverence). Verecund entered English in the second half of the 16th century.
how is verecund used?
Our politics is speckled with men who are so diffident and verecund they never say a word about themselves or their achievements.
If there is any perceptible shift between early and later Dickens, then that transition seems to be one where the verecund persona gives way to a performance imbued with Pancksian relish in the double face of wonder and monstrosity.
verecund
scattergood
noun
a person who spends possessions or money extravagantly or wastefully; spendthrift.
More about scattergood
The rare noun scattergood is a compound of the verb scatter and the noun good in the sense 鈥減ossessions, personal property鈥� (the plural form goods is the usual, modern form). An early, pungent citation of scattergood appears in the works of a 17th-century Anglican priest, William Brough, 鈥淚f the first heir be not a Scattergood, the third is commonly a Lose-all鈥� (spelling slightly modernized). Scattergood entered English in the second half of the 16th century.
how is scattergood used?
they are a pleasant couple, but it would be folly to bequeath the whole of my estate to a pair of such scattergoods.
And now, my lords, there is that young scattergood the Laird of Bucklaw’s fine to be disposed upon. I suppose it goes to my Lord Treasurer?
scattergood
anfractuous
adjective
characterized by windings and turnings; sinuous; circuitous: an anfractuous path.
More about anfractuous
Anfractuous ultimately comes from the Late Latin adjective 腻苍蹿谤腻肠迟耻艒蝉耻蝉, a term in rhetoric meaning 鈥渞oundabout, prolix,鈥� and first used by St. Augustine of Hippo in one of his sermons. 膧苍蹿谤腻肠迟耻艒蝉耻蝉 is a derivative of the noun 腻苍蹿谤腻肠迟耻蝉 (also 腻尘蹿谤腻肠迟耻蝉) 鈥渁 bend, curve, circular motion, digression, recurrence,鈥� formed by the prefix am-, an-, a rare variant of ambi– 鈥渂oth, around, about,鈥� and a derivative of the verb frangere 鈥渢o break, shatter, smash.鈥� Anfractuous entered English in the early 15th century.
how is anfractuous used?
Then, as the road resumed its anfractuous course, clinging to the extreme margin of this tumbled and chaotic coast, the fun began.
Chavis endured a bumpy, anfractuous trip …. He started with a turbulent flight from Syracuse, where the Pawtucket Red Sox were stationed, to Detroit. Then another flight from Detroit to Tampa.
anfractuous