Derrick's Spot

Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day for February 22, 2012 is:

abjure • \ab-JOOR\  • verb
1 a : to renounce upon oath b : to reject solemnly 2 : to abstain from : avoid

Examples:
The expatriate solemnly abjured his allegiance to his native land.

"Gingrich delivered a lengthy speech to a Jewish Republican organization during which he abjured even the mention of Romney’s name." — From an article by Niall Stanage at thehill.com, January 30, 2011

Did you know?
Just as a jury swears to produce an unbiased verdict, and a witness swears to tell the truth on pain of perjury, those who abjure their former ways "swear them away." "Abjure" (as well as "jury" and "perjury") comes from Latin "jurare," which means "to swear" (and which in turn is based on the root "jus," meaning "law"), plus the prefix "ab-," meaning "away." These days, we can casually abjure (that is, abstain from) vices such as smoking or overeating, but in the 15th and 16th centuries to abjure was a matter of renouncing something under oath–and sometimes a matter of life and death. For example, during the Spanish Inquisition, individuals were given the choice between abjuring unacceptable beliefs and being burned at the stake.

Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day for February 21, 2012 is:

copious • \KOH-pee-us\  • adjective
1 a : yielding something abundantly b : plentiful in number 2 : full of thought, information, or matter 3 : lavish, abundant

Examples:
After a copious harvest, the tribe holds a lavish feast accompanied by lively dancing and rituals honoring the gods.

"In addition to beer and popcorn, football fans who crowded into the Super Bowl stadium in Indianapolis over the weekend were consuming copious amounts of data from wireless networks." — From a post by Brian X. Chen on the New York Times’ Bits blog, February 7, 2012

Did you know?
"Copious" derives from Latin "copia" ("abundance"), which in turn combines the prefix "co-" and "ops" ("wealth" or "power"). "Copious" and "opulent" (also from "ops"), along with "ample," "plentiful," and "abundant," all mean "more than sufficient." "Ample" implies a generous sufficiency to satisfy a particular requirement ("ample proof"). "Copious" puts emphasis upon largeness of supply more than on fullness or richness ("copious toasts to the bride and groom"). "Plentiful" implies a rich, and usually more than sufficient, supply ("a plentiful supply of textbooks"). "Abundant" suggests a greater or richer supply than "plentiful" does ("moved by the abundant offers to help"). But use "opulent" when the supply is both abundant and infused with a richness that allows an extra measure of gratification ("the opulent blossoms of the cherry trees").

Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day for February 20, 2012 is:

duende • \doo-EN-day\  • noun
: the power to attract through personal magnetism and charm

Examples:
The magician was not only a talented illusionist; he also had the duende that kept the audience rapt throughout the entire show.

"It took all my nerve to dance in front of people who have been steeped in this tradition their whole lives. It was over in a flash, and in that moment tears filled my eyes. Maybe what I felt wasn’t duende — nobody ripped a shirt or slapped his face — but it was close enough for me." — From an article by Toni Messina on NPR.org, August 10, 2011

Did you know?
The word "duende" refers to a spirit in Spanish, Portuguese, and Filipino folklore and literally means "ghost" or "goblin" in Spanish. It is believed to derive from the phrase "dueño de casa," which means "owner of a house." The term is traditionally used in flamenco music or other art forms to refer to the mystical or powerful force given off by a performer to draw in the audience. The Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca wrote in his essay "Teoria y Juego del Duende" ("Play and Theory of the Duende") that duende "is a power and not a behavior . . . a struggle and not a concept." Nowadays the term appears in a broader range of contexts to refer to one’s unspoken charm or allure.

Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day for February 19, 2012 is:

extemporaneous • \ek-stem-puh-RAY-nee-us\  • adjective
1 : composed, performed, or uttered on the spur of the moment : impromptu 2 : provided, made, or put to use as an expedient : makeshift

Examples:
A group of revelers at the pub launched into an extemporaneous rendition of "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling."

"Members give prepared speeches at their own pace and receive constructive, supportive feedback from assigned evaluators. There also is an extemporaneous speaking session at each meeting to give members an opportunity to practice speaking without preparation." — From the Club News feature in Times-Picayune (New Orleans), January 19, 2012

Did you know?
"Extemporaneous," which comes from Latin "ex tempore" ("out of the time"), joined the English language sometime in the mid-17th century. The word "impromptu" was improvised soon after that. In general usage, "extemporaneous" and "impromptu" are used interchangeably to describe off-the-cuff remarks or speeches, but this is not the case when they are used in reference to the learned art of public speaking. Teachers of speech will tell you that an extemporaneous speech is one that has been thoroughly prepared and planned but not memorized, whereas an impromptu speech is one for which absolutely no preparations have been made.

Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day for February 18, 2012 is:

critique • \kruh-TEEK\  • noun
: an act of criticizing; especially : a critical estimate or discussion

Examples:
All Sherry wanted to do was offer critiques of other people’s plans; she never had any suggestions of her own.

"In their first critique of the Banning Ranch development plans, California Coastal Commission staff members found that the proposed project would be unlikely to meet state standards." — From an article by Mike Reicher in the Daily Pilot (California), January 19, 2012

Did you know?
"Critique" is an alteration of an archaic word that referred generally to criticism. "Critique" itself dates to the early 18th century and originally referred to a piece of writing that criticized a literary or artistic work. The words "criticism," "critique," and "review" overlap in meaning. "Criticism" usually means "the act of criticizing" or a "remark or comment that expresses disapproval," but it can also refer to the activity of making judgments about the qualities of books, movies, etc. (as in "literary criticism")."Critique" is a somewhat formal word that typically refers to a careful judgment in which someone gives an opinion about something. "Review" can refer to an essay analyzing a literary or artistic work, but can also sometimes imply a more casual or personal opinion.