Word of the Day

[MissBubu]

Pecksniffian

[pek-snif-ee-uhn] –adjective
Hypocritically and unctuously affecting benevolence or high moral principles. 

Also, Peck·sniff·ish.


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[Origin: 1850–55; named after Seth Pecksniff, character in Martin Chuzzlewit, a novel (1843) by Dickens; see -ian]

—Related forms
Peck·sniff·er·y, Peck·sniff·i·an·ism, Peck·sniff·ism, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

The pecksniffian financial advisor fawned over his clients, telling them what to invest in and when to sell, but put his own money in a sock under his mattress.

[MissBubu]

Pelf

[pelf] –noun
money or wealth, esp. when regarded with contempt or acquired by reprehensible means. 


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[Origin: 1300–50; ME < OF pelfre booty]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Sir Walter Scott's Lay of the Last Minstrel:

Despite those titles, power, and pelf,
The wretch, concentred all in self,
Living, shall forfeit fair renown,
And, doubly dying, shall go down
To the vile dust from whence he sprung,
Unwept, unhonour'd, and unsung.

[MissBubu]

Petard

[pi-tahrd] –noun
1. an explosive device formerly used in warfare to blow in a door or gate, form a breach in a wall, etc. 
2. a kind of firecracker. 
3. (initial capital letter) Also called Flying Dustbin. a British spigot mortar of World War II that fired a 40-pound (18 kg) finned bomb, designed to destroy pillboxes and other concrete obstacles. 
—Idiom
4. hoist by or with one's own petard, hurt, ruined, or destroyed by the very device or plot one had intended for another. 


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[Origin: 1590–1600; < MF, equiv. to pet(er) to break wind (deriv. of pet < L péditum a breaking wind, orig. neut. of ptp. of pédere to break wind) + -ard -ard]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

[MissBubu]

Pilgarlic

[pil-gahr-lik] –noun

1. a person regarded with mild or pretended contempt or pity.
2. Obsolete. a baldheaded man.

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Origin:
1520–30; earlier pyllyd garleke lit., peeled garlic, orig. metaphor for a bald man, whose head is compared to a peeled garlic bulb. See pill 2 , garlic
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Gargantua and Pantagruel, by Rabelais: "After this, we e'en jogged to bed for that night; but the devil a bit poor pilgarlic could sleep one wink — the everlasting jingle-jangle of the bells kept me awake whether I would or no".

[MissBubu]

Pinchbeck

[pinch-bek]   
–noun
1. an alloy of copper and zinc, used in imitation of gold.
2. something sham, spurious, or counterfeit.
–adjective
3. made of pinchbeck.
4. sham, spurious, or counterfeit: pinchbeck heroism. 


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Origin:
1725–35; named after Christopher Pinchbeck (d. 1732), English watchmaker and its inventor
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) Cite This Source
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

The unscrupulous cad sold the lady a pinchbeck pendant, letting her think it was real gold.

[MissBubu]

Plenilune

Plen"i*lune\, n. [L. plenilunium; plenus full + luna the moon.] The full moon. [Obs.] --B. Jonson.


Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.

James Joyce's Chamber Music: "What counsel has the hooded moon / Put in thy heart, my shyly sweet, / Of love in ancient plenilune, / Glory and stars beneath his feet".

[MissBubu]

Portolano

[pawr-tl-ah-noh, pohr-] –noun, plural -nos, -ni ?/-ni/

a descriptive atlas of the Middle Ages, giving sailing directions and providing charts showing rhumb lines and the location of ports and various coastal features.

Also called rutter.


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Origin:
1855–60; < It: shipmaster's guidebook; earlier, harbor master < ML portul?nus. See port 1 , -ule, -an
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Sailors would be utterly lost in the British Isles with out a good portolano.

[MissBubu]

Pridian

Prid"i*an\, a. [L. pridianus.]

Of or pertaining to the day before, or yesterday. [R.] --Thackeray.


Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.

William Makepeace Thackeray, A Shabby Genteel Story: "Thrice a-week, at least, does Gann breakfast in bed — sure sign of pridian intoxication".

[MissBubu]

Pulchritudinous

[puhl-kri-tood-n-uhs, -tyood-] –adjective

physically beautiful; comely.

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Origin:
1910–15, Americanism; < L pulchrit?din- (s. of pulchrit?d?) + -ous
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Minneapolis Star Tribune newspaper article described Eartha Kitt as a septuagenarian sex kitten and pulchritudinous purrer.

Cardinal Wolsey, in a speech to Henry VIII in which he described the king as "Your noble persone, so formed and figured in shape and stature with force and pulchritude."

[MissBubu]

pusillanimous

[pyoo-suh-lan-uh-muhs] –adjective

1. lacking courage or resolution; cowardly; faint-hearted; timid.
2. proceeding from or indicating a cowardly spirit.


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Origin:
1580–90; < LL pusillanimis petty-spirited, equiv. to L pusill(us) very small, petty + -anim(is) -spirited, -minded (anim(us) spirit + -is adj. suffix); see -ous
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

In the comic strip, Wizard of Id, the pusillanimous knight, Sir Rodney, is often seen running away from battle.

[MissBubu]

Quidnunc

[kwid-nuhngk] –noun

a person who is eager to know the latest news and gossip; a gossip or busybody.

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Origin:
1700–10; < L quid nunc what now?
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Nathaniel Hawthorne, The House of the Seven Gables: "What a treasure-trove to these venerable quidnuncs, could they have guessed the secret which Hepzibah and Clifford were carrying along with them!".

[MissBubu]

Quillon

[kee-yawn] –noun,

either of two transverse projecting members forming the cross guard of a sword.

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Origin:
< F, deriv. of quille pin, club < MHG kegel club
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Oathbreakers by Mercedes Lackey: "The sheath looked as if it had once had metal fittings; there were gaping sockets in the pommel and at the ends of the quillions of the sword that had undoubtedly once held gemstones."

[MissBubu]

Rantipole

Rant"i*pole\, n.

A wild, romping young person.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.

Washington Irving, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow: "This rantipole hero had for some time singled out the blooming Katrina for the object of his uncouth gallantries, and though his amorous toyings were something like the gentle caresses and endearments of a bear, yet it was whispered that she did not altogether discourage his hopes."

[MissBubu]

Rodomontade

[rod-uh-mon-teyd, -tahd, -muhn-, roh-duh-] noun, adjective, verb, -tad?ed, -tad?ing.
–noun
1. vainglorious boasting or bragging; pretentious, blustering talk.
–adjective
2. bragging. 
–verb (used without object)
3. to boast; brag; talk big.

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Origin:
1605–15; < MF < It Rodomonte, the boastful king of Algiers in Orlando Innamorato and Orlando Furioso + MF -ade -ade 1
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, by Anne Brontë: "She knows what she's about; but he, poor fool, deludes himself with the notion that she'll make him a good wife, and because she has amused him with some rodomontade about despising rank and wealth in matters of love and marriage, he flatters himself that she's devotedly attached to him."

[MissBubu]

Sciolism

[sahy-uh-liz-uhm] –noun

Superficial knowledge.


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Origin:
1810–20; < LL sciol(us) one who knows little (dim. of scius knowing; see conscious, -ole 1 ) + -ism
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Thomas Henry Huxley in the Fortnightly Review in 1878: "Judged strictly by the standard of his own time, Bacon's ignorance of the progress which science had up to that time made is only to be equalled by his insolence toward men in comparison with whom he was the merest sciolist".