Militate is a verb that means to have a significant and influential part or effect. The verb is usually used with the word against and is therefore negative most of the time. Militate against is used to speak of halting or preventing things. It should be noted that militate does not have an object and is …
An imbroglio is a big mess of people or ideas, a complicated fight, or detailed scandal. It can sometimes be used to describe something particularly embarrassing as well. The plural is made by adding an s, imbroglios. It comes from the Italian word imbrogliare, which means to entangle or confuse. In the English …
Ibid is an abbreviation of ibidem, a Latin word that means, literally, in the same place. Ibid is used mainly in footnotes or references to note a source that was previously mentioned, saving time and space by not repeating the same thing over and over again. Note here that it is the exact …
Deleterious is an adjective used to describe something or someone as dangerous or causing injury, usually in an unobtrusive or surprising manner. The adverb form is deleteriously, and the noun form is deleteriousness. Detrimental is also an adjective used to describe something or someone as dangerous or causing injury, usually in an obvious or …
An estimation is the act of estimating, or guessing, about the quantity, quality, or other aspect of an object or person. An approximation can be an object or person that is almost exactly like something else, but not quite, either by defect or design. If by design, it is not meant to be exact. …
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Promulgate is a verb that means to declare something widely and officially. It can be one person spreading his or her belief of something or a government announcing a new policy. It has two noun forms, promulgation and promulgator. There are many differing ways to pronounce the vowel sounds in promulgate, and all are accepted …
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Legitimate is an adjective describing something or someone being genuine or of real value, permitted by a set of rules or laws. In one case, it is used to describe a child as being born of parents who were married, though this use is a little out-dated. This can also be …
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Legal is an adjective that describes something or someone as having to do with or being permitted by the law or system of laws in a country or organization. It may also be used as a noun for items that follow the law. The adverb form is legally. Legit is slang for legitimate, …
Proximal is an adjective that describes something or someone as near something else, or nearest a central point. In this sense it is a synonym of proximate. However, both words have other definitions that make them distinct. Proximal is often used in medical and dental fields. If something is proximal it is near the center …
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Pusillanimous is an adjective that describes something or someone as afraid or weak, consistently without bravery or courage, timid. In pronunciation, the first vowel makes a long u sound while the second vowel is a short i (pew sill an ee muss). The adverb form is pusillanimously. The noun form is pusillanimity or pusillanimousness, with the former being the more …