cotton • / KAH-tun / • verb
The verb cotton is used with on or on to to mean “to begin to understand something; to catch on.” Cotton used with to alone means “to begin to like someone or something.”
• It took a while, but they are finally starting to cotton on.
• She quickly cottoned on to why her friend was nudging her, and stopped talking just before their teacher entered the room.
• We cottoned to our new neighbors right away.
The verb cotton is used with on or on to to mean “to begin to understand something; to catch on.” Cotton used with to alone means “to begin to like someone or something.”
• It took a while, but they are finally starting to cotton on.
• She quickly cottoned on to why her friend was nudging her, and stopped talking just before their teacher entered the room.
• We cottoned to our new neighbors right away.
glaucous • / GLAW-kus / • adjective
Glaucous as a color word can describe things of two rather different shades: a light bluish-gray or bluish-white color, or a pale yellow-green. It can also mean "having a powdery or waxy coating that gives a frosted appearance and tends to rub off."
• His glaucous eyes grew wide with curiosity.
• The tree's glaucous leaves help prevent sun damage.
Glaucous as a color word can describe things of two rather different shades: a light bluish-gray or bluish-white color, or a pale yellow-green. It can also mean "having a powdery or waxy coating that gives a frosted appearance and tends to rub off."
• His glaucous eyes grew wide with curiosity.
• The tree's glaucous leaves help prevent sun damage.
enjoin • / in-JOIN / • verb
Enjoining is about requiring or prohibiting. To enjoin a person is to direct or order them to do something. To enjoin an act or practice is to prohibit it; in legal contexts, that prohibition is by way of a judicial order.
• Our guide enjoined us to take great care as we began our journey.
• The court has enjoined the ban.
• We were enjoined from speaking on the tour.
Enjoining is about requiring or prohibiting. To enjoin a person is to direct or order them to do something. To enjoin an act or practice is to prohibit it; in legal contexts, that prohibition is by way of a judicial order.
• Our guide enjoined us to take great care as we began our journey.
• The court has enjoined the ban.
• We were enjoined from speaking on the tour.
brazen • / BRAY-zun / • adjective
Brazen describes someone who is acting, or something that is done, in a very open and shocking way without shame or embarrassment.
• The opposition party’s campaign has not been shy in assailing the brazen corruption of the incumbent for funneling public funds into private coffers.
Brazen describes someone who is acting, or something that is done, in a very open and shocking way without shame or embarrassment.
• The opposition party’s campaign has not been shy in assailing the brazen corruption of the incumbent for funneling public funds into private coffers.
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flamboyant • / flam-BOY-ant / • adjective
Someone or something described as flamboyant has a very noticeable quality that attracts a lot of attention. Such a person or thing is often strikingly elaborate or colorful in their behavior or display.
• Reality television attracts millions of viewers for its depictions of flamboyant, larger-than-life personalities living equally flamboyant lifestyles.
Someone or something described as flamboyant has a very noticeable quality that attracts a lot of attention. Such a person or thing is often strikingly elaborate or colorful in their behavior or display.
• Reality television attracts millions of viewers for its depictions of flamboyant, larger-than-life personalities living equally flamboyant lifestyles.
dudgeon • / DUJ-un / • noun
Dudgeon is typically used in the phrase “in high dudgeon” to describe someone who is angry and offended by something they perceive to be unfair or wrong.
• The customer stormed out of the store in high dudgeon after the manager refused to give them a refund for their purchase.
Dudgeon is typically used in the phrase “in high dudgeon” to describe someone who is angry and offended by something they perceive to be unfair or wrong.
• The customer stormed out of the store in high dudgeon after the manager refused to give them a refund for their purchase.
kiki • / KEE-kee / • noun
Kiki is a slang term used for an informal gathering among close friends, especially to share lively gossip or frank conversation. It can also refer more broadly to gossipy conversation. Kiki is especially used in and associated with LGBTQ+ and Black communities.
• The performers had a kiki backstage before the show.
Kiki is a slang term used for an informal gathering among close friends, especially to share lively gossip or frank conversation. It can also refer more broadly to gossipy conversation. Kiki is especially used in and associated with LGBTQ+ and Black communities.
• The performers had a kiki backstage before the show.
affable • / AF-uh-bul / • adjective
Affable describes someone who is friendly and easy to talk to. It can also describe something, such as someone’s personality, that is characterized by ease and friendliness.
• The restaurant’s affable owner can be seen most nights welcoming his guests and making light conversation.
• In the hallways, the principal has an affable demeanor; however, when called to her office, students know she is all about business.
Affable describes someone who is friendly and easy to talk to. It can also describe something, such as someone’s personality, that is characterized by ease and friendliness.
• The restaurant’s affable owner can be seen most nights welcoming his guests and making light conversation.
• In the hallways, the principal has an affable demeanor; however, when called to her office, students know she is all about business.
Gordian knot • / GOR-dee-un-NAHT / • noun
Gordian knot refers to a complicated and difficult problem. It is often used in the phrase cut the Gordian knot, which means “to solve a difficult problem in a very direct way by doing something forceful or extreme.”
• The organization’s change in leadership is being widely applauded as a step toward stability, but many are less than optimistic about the new director’s ability to cut the Gordian knot at the center of its troubles.
Gordian knot refers to a complicated and difficult problem. It is often used in the phrase cut the Gordian knot, which means “to solve a difficult problem in a very direct way by doing something forceful or extreme.”
• The organization’s change in leadership is being widely applauded as a step toward stability, but many are less than optimistic about the new director’s ability to cut the Gordian knot at the center of its troubles.
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cohort • / KOH-hort / • noun
Cohort refers to a group or band of individuals, as in “a cohort of supporters.” It can also be used for a group of individuals who have a statistical factor (such as age) in common in a demographic study, as in “a cohort of people born in the 1980s.” Cohort can be used for individuals too, as for a friend, companion, or colleague, but it is almost always used in its plural form.
• I wouldn’t have made it through graduate school without the help of my supportive cohort.
Cohort refers to a group or band of individuals, as in “a cohort of supporters.” It can also be used for a group of individuals who have a statistical factor (such as age) in common in a demographic study, as in “a cohort of people born in the 1980s.” Cohort can be used for individuals too, as for a friend, companion, or colleague, but it is almost always used in its plural form.
• I wouldn’t have made it through graduate school without the help of my supportive cohort.
permutation • / per-myoo-TAY-shun / • noun
Permutation is a formal word for any one of the many different ways or forms in which something exists or can be arranged. It can also refer to a major or fundamental change in something based primarily on rearrangement of its existing elements. Permutation is usually used in its plural form.
• Early permutations of the design look nothing like the final result.
• The system has gone through several permutations.
Permutation is a formal word for any one of the many different ways or forms in which something exists or can be arranged. It can also refer to a major or fundamental change in something based primarily on rearrangement of its existing elements. Permutation is usually used in its plural form.
• Early permutations of the design look nothing like the final result.
• The system has gone through several permutations.