prodigious

1
prodigious
adj. Causing wonder or amazement of great size,
extent or amount.
Etymology Latin prodigium (extraordinary thing)
-ous (of the nature of) Related
Form prodigy Synonyms colossal, extraordinary
Herbert Spencers prodigious whiskers.
Romeo and Juliet, I,v Prodigious birth of love
it is to me,/ That I must love a loathed
enemy. The New York Times, 1/8/2008 A white
marble bust, complete with prodigious whiskers
(this was an age of big facial hair), stares at
us. Its Herbert Spencer, autodidact
2
discourse
n. Verbal expression or exchange. v. To
communicate thoughts orally.
Etymology Latin dis- (division in two)
currere (to run) Related Formdiscursive Synonyms
discussion, dialogue
Romeo and Juliet, II,ii Her eye discourses I
will answer it. The New York Times, 11/21/2007
childishness infects a lot of political
discourse.
3
enmity
n. Feelings characteristic of an enemy.
Etymology French enemestie (like an
enemy) Synonyms hatred, rancor
Romeo and Juliet, II,ii Look thou but sweet /
And I am proof against their enmity. The New
York Times, 11/27/2007 As they expand their
facilities, he explained, many wealthy people
with friends on both sides of the rivalry, even
enmity, have had difficulty choosing where to
donate.
4
chide

• v. To scold, rebuke, or find
• fault with to express disapproval of.

Etymology Anglo-Saxon cíd-an (to
chide) Synonyms reprove, rebuke, blame
Romeo and Juliet, II,iii I pray thee chide me
not. The New York Times, 5/25/2008 Some of my
blogs readers were my friends in real life, and
even the ones who werent acted like friends when
they posted comments or sent me e-mail. They
criticized me sometimes, but kindly, the way you
chide someone you know well.
5
rancor
n. Inveterate and bitter ill-feeling.
Etymology Latin rancorum (rancidity) Related
Form rancorous Synonyms animosity, spite
Romeo and Juliet, II,iii this alliance may so
happy prove, / To turn your households' rancor to
pure love. The New York Times, 2/7/2008 By a
single vote, Senate Republicans on Wednesday
blocked a bill championed by Democrats, as
partisan rancor engulfed the effort to inject a
quick burst of spending into the slowing economy.
6
feign
v. To make a show of put on an appearance of.
Etymology Latin fingere (to form or
mold) Synonyms pretend, simulate
Romeo and Juliet, II,v But old folks, many
feign as they were dead / Unwieldy, slow, heavy
and pale as lead. The New York Times,
7/23/2006 While it may be tempting to feign
illness for a day at the beach, lying isnt a
skill you should practice at work.
7
unwieldy
adj. Difficult to control, guide, move,
manipulate, etc., by virtue of size, shape, or
weight clumsily massive, awkwardly large
unmanageable.
Etymology Anglo-Saxon un- (not) weldan (to
rule or prevail) Synonyms awkward, cumbersome
Romeo and Juliet, II,v But old folks, many
feign as they were dead / Unwieldy, slow, heavy
and pale as lead. The New York Times,
7/29/2007 In much the same way, the robots
being built today, still unwieldy and
temperamental even in the most capable hands,
probably offer only hints of the way we might be
using robots in another 30 years.
8
dexterity
n. Skill in using the hands, body or mind.
Etymology Latin dexter (right-handed) Related
Form dexterous Synonyms agility, cunning,
deftness
Romeo and Juliet, III,i Mercutio with one
hand beats / Cold death aside, and with the other
sends / It back to Tybalt, whose dexterity, /
Retorts it The New York Times, 7/19/2008
Performed by João P. Pereira Dos Santos, an
acrobat and Chinese-pole master, the solo
showcased his astounding Spider-Man dexterity.
9
amorous

• adj. Of persons inclined to love.Of action
  showing love or fondness.

Etymology Latin amor (love) -ous (full
of) Related Form enamored (of) Synonyms affectio
nate, loving, fond
Romeo and Juliet, III,ii Lovers can see to do
their amorous rites / By their own beauties.
V,iii Shall I believe / That unsubstantial
Death is amorous The New York Times, 4/6/2004
The plot is a classic tangle of amorous
attachments. King Xerxes and his brother,
Arsamene, love the same woman, Romilda.
10
garish
adj. Obtrusively or vulgarly bright in color.
Etymology Middle English gaure (to stare)
-ish Related Form garishness Synonyms gaudy,
showy
Romeo and Juliet, III,ii he will make the face
of heaven so fine / That all the world will be in
love with night / And pay no worship to the
garish sun. The New York Times, 2/3/2008 The
carnations and zinnias were mismatched and
garish, the cheapest arrangements on the market
in a budget-cutting age.