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ex·ac·er·bate /ɪgˈzæsərˌbeɪt, ɛkˈsæs-/ [ig-zas-er-beyt, ek-sas-]
–verb (used with object), -bat·ed, -bat·ing.
1. to increase the severity, bitterness, or violence of (disease, ill feeling, etc.); aggravate.
2. to embitter the feelings of (a person); irritate; exasperate

 [Origin: 1650–60; < L exacerbātus (ptp. of exacerbāre to exasperate, provoke), equiv. to ex- ex-¹ + acerbātus acerbate]

—Related forms
ex·ac·er·bat·ing·ly, adverb
ex·ac·er·ba·tion, noun

—Synonyms 1. intensify, inflame, worsen.
—Antonyms 1. relieve, soothe, alleviate.

ne·far·i·ous /nɪˈfɛərəs/ ni-fair-ee-uhs
–adjective
extremely wicked or villainous; iniquitous: a nefarious plot.

[Origin: 1595–1605; < L nefārius wicked, vile, equiv. to nefās offense against divine or moral law (ne- negative prefix + fās law, right) + -ius-ious, with intervocalic s > r ]

—Related forms
ne·far·i·ous·ly, adverb
ne·far·i·ous·ness, noun

—Synonyms flagitious, heinous, infamous; vile, atrocious, execrable.
—Antonyms good, honest.

cas·cade /kæsˈkeɪd/ [kas-keyd] noun, verb, -cad·ed, -cad·ing.
–noun
1. a waterfall descending over a steep, rocky surface.
2. a series of shallow or steplike waterfalls, either natural or artificial.
3. anything that resembles a waterfall, esp. in seeming to flow or fall in abundance: a cascade of roses covering the wall.
4. (in a drain or sewer) a chain of steps for dissipating the momentum of falling water in a steep place in order to maintain a steady rate of flow.
5. an arrangement of a lightweight fabric in folds falling one over another in random or zigzag fashion.
6. a type of firework resembling a waterfall in effect.
7. Chemistry. a series of vessels, from each of which a fluid successively overflows to the next, thus presenting a large absorbing surface, as to a gas.
8. Electricity. an arrangement of component devices, as electrolytic cells, each of which feeds into the next in succession.
9. Biochemistry. a series of reactions catalyzed by enzymes that are activated sequentially by successive products of the reactions, resulting in an amplification of the initial response.
–verb (used without object)
10. to fall in or like a cascade.
–verb (used with object)
11. to cause to fall in a cascade.
12. Electricity. to arrange (components) in a cascade.

[Origin: 1635–45; < F < It cascata, equiv. to casc(are) to fall (< VL *cāsicāre, equiv. to cās(us) fallen (ptp. of cadere) + -icā- formative v. suffix + -re inf. ending) + -ata -ade1]

—Related forms
cas·cad·er, noun

e·rad·i·cate /ɪˈrædɪˌkeɪt/ [i-rad-i-keyt]
–verb (used with object), -cat·ed, -cat·ing.
1. to remove or destroy utterly; extirpate: to eradicate smallpox throughout the world.
2. to erase by rubbing or by means of a chemical solvent: to eradicate a spot.
3. to pull up by the roots: to eradicate weeds.

[Origin: 1555–65; < L érādīcātus rooted out (ptp. of érādīcāre), equiv. to é- e- + rādīc- (s. of rādīx) root1 + -ātus -ate1]

—Related forms
e·rad·i·cant /ɪˈrædɪkənt/ [i-rad-i-kuhnt], adjective, noun
e·rad·i·ca·tion, noun
e·rad·i·ca·tive, adjective
e·rad·i·ca·tor, noun

—Synonyms 1. obliterate, uproot, exterminate, annihilate. See abolish.

per·snick·et·y /pərˈsnɪkɪti/ [per-snik-i-tee]
–adjective Informal.
1. overparticular; fussy.
2. snobbish or having the aloof attitude of a snob.
3. requiring painstaking care.

Also, pernickety.

[Origin: 1885–90; orig. Scots, var. of pernickety]

—Related forms
per·snick·et·i·ness, noun

—Synonyms 1. nitpicking, finicky.

per·func·to·ry /pərˈfʌŋktəri/ [per-fuhngk-tuh-ree]
–adjective
1. performed merely as a routine duty; hasty and superficial: perfunctory courtesy.
2. lacking interest, care, or enthusiasm; indifferent or apathetic: In his lectures he reveals himself to be merely a perfunctory speaker.

[Origin: 1575–85; < LL perfūnctōrius negligent, superficial, deriv. of perfungī to do one's job, be done, equiv. to per- + fung-, base of fungī to perform, function + -tōrius -tory1]

—Related forms
per·func·to·ri·ly, adverb
per·func·to·ri·ness, noun

—Synonyms 1, 2. negligent, heedless, thoughtless, uninterested.
—Antonyms 1, 2. careful, diligent.

di·lap·i·date /dɪˈlæpɪˌdeɪt/ [di-lap-i-deyt] verb -dat·ed, -dat·ing.
–verb (used with object)
1. to cause or allow (a building, automobile, etc.) to fall into a state of disrepair, as by misuse or neglect (often used passively): The house had been dilapidated by neglect.
2. Archaic. to squander; waste.
–verb (used without object)
3. to fall into ruin or decay.

[Origin: 1560–70; < ML dīlapidātus, ptp. of dīlapidāre to squander (cf. dīlapidātiō disrepair), L: to pelt with stones; see di-2, lapidate]

—Related forms
di·lap·i·da·tion, noun
di·lap·i·da·tor, noun

niche /nɪtʃ/ [nich] noun, adjective, verb, niched, nich·ing.
–noun
1. an ornamental recess in a wall or the like, usually semicircular in plan and arched, as for a statue or other decorative object.
2. a place or position suitable or appropriate for a person or thing: to find one's niche in the business world.
3. a distinct segment of a market.
4. Ecology. the position or function of an organism in a community of plants and animals.
–adjective
5. pertaining to or intended for a market niche; having specific appeal: niche advertising.
–verb (used with object)
6. to place (something) in a niche.

[Origin: 1605–15; < F, MF, back formation from nicher to make a nest < VL *nīdiculāre, deriv. of L nīdus nest]

—Synonyms 2. calling, vocation, slot, berth.

fool /ful/ [fool]
–noun
1. a silly or stupid person; a person who lacks judgment or sense.
2. a professional jester, formerly kept by a person of royal or noble rank for amusement: the court fool.
3. a person who has been tricked or deceived into appearing or acting silly or stupid: to make a fool of someone.
4. an ardent enthusiast who cannot resist an opportunity to indulge an enthusiasm (usually prec. by a present participle): He's just a dancing fool.
5. a weak-minded or idiotic person.
–verb (used with object)
6. to trick, deceive, or impose on: They tried to fool him.
–verb (used without object)
7. to act like a fool; joke; play.
8. to jest; pretend; make believe: I was only fooling.
—Verb phrases
9. fool around,
a. to putter aimlessly; waste time: She fooled around all through school.
b. to philander or flirt.
c. to be sexually promiscuous, esp. to engage in adultery.
10. fool away, to spend foolishly, as time or money; squander: to fool away the entire afternoon.
11. fool with, to handle or play with idly or carelessly: to be hurt while fooling with a loaded gun; to fool with someone's affections.
—Idiom
12. be nobody's fool, to be wise or shrewd.

[Origin: 1225–75; ME fol, fool < OF fol < L follis bellows, bag; cf. follis]

—Synonyms 1. simpleton, dolt, dunce, blockhead, numskull, ignoramus, dunderhead, ninny, nincompoop, booby, saphead, sap. 2. zany, clown. 5. moron, imbecile, idiot. 6. delude, hoodwink, cheat, gull, hoax, cozen, dupe, gudgeon.
—Antonyms 1. genius.

More definitions and information here.



Yeah, I'm starting a new tag. Each word will be chosen more or less at random, possibly influenced by my mood at the time. As of tomorrow morning, there will be another new tag: goals for the day. More about that when I make the first post.