Language: Page 19

Today's word is "hyperbole". This is a noun which means an exaggerated statement.For example, you can say, "Jane said to her sister, 'Your butt is as big as the State of Wisconsin.' She used hyperbole to emphasize her point that her sister is overweight."

Today's word is "paucity". This is a noun which means scarcity or a lack of something.For example, you can say, "There is a paucity of computer savvy teachers in our school. We should offer computer training for the teachers."

Today's word is "facetious". This is an adjective which means kidding or being playful.For example, you can say, "Some people, like my boss, are not good at telling jokes; it's sometimes hard to tell whether he is serious or being facetious."

Today's word is "chicanery". This is a noun which means trickery or the act of deceiving someone.For example, you can say, "The new governor was accused of chicanery after raising sales tax despite his campaign promise of tax cuts."

Today's word is "vertigo". This is a noun which means dizziness.For example, you can say, "When I woke up this morning, I felt vertigo; I had the sensation of spinning out of control."

Today's word is "precipitate". This is a verb which means to cause some event to happen suddenly.For example, you can say, "The war in Iraq precipitated a flood of refugees into neighboring countries."

Today's word is "abhorrent". This is an adjective which means detestable or loathsome.For example, you can say, "The abhorrent behavior of the man caused him to get arrested."

Today's word is "bourgeois". This is both a noun and an adjective. As an adjective, it means characteristic of the middle class, or materialistic.For example, you can say, "Bourgeois beliefs generally do not benefit the lower and working classes."

Today's word is "capricious". This is an adjective which means variable or erratic.For example, you can say, "Making plans with Tom is tough; he's so capricious that he often doesn't show up when he's supposed to be somewhere."

Today's word is "benevolent". This is an adjective which means wanting to help others, or an expression of goodwill.For example, you can say, "Marcia's $100 donation to the children's charity was very benevolent of her."

Today's word is "aesthetic". This is both a noun and an adjective. As an adjective, it means relating to a sense of beauty.For example, you can say, "Aesthetic salons are my mother's favorite place to be; she loves getting facial treatments and massages in beautiful salons."

Today's word is "voracious". This is an adjective which means wanting to eat or consume large amounts of food or things.For example, you can say, "My sister is a voracious reader of trashy novels."

Today's word is "pertinent". This is an adjective which means relevant or appropriate.For example, you can say, "As a sales representative, you must know all the pertinent information about your products such as price, inventory, available colors, and lead time."

Today's word is "bestow". This is a verb which means to provide or give something as a gift.For example, you can say, "The surgeon bestowed eyesight to my blind son."

Today's word is "gratuitous". This is an adjective which means free or complimentary. It can sometimes mean unnecessary as well.For example, you can say, "Anybody can use positive feedback from their boss on job performance; however, I don't appreciate the constant gratuitous criticism I receive from my boss."

This video is about the word "zealous". This is an adjective which means being enthusiastic or passionate.For example, you can say, "Mrs. Jones has been a zealous supporter of our charity. She donates a significant amount of her income and time to this charitable organization."

Today's word is "reminisce". This is a verb which means to go over past experiences in one's mind, or to remember.For example, you can say, "I was just reminiscing about my high school years. I wish I could go back to that carefree period of my life."

Today's word is "nonentity". This is a noun which means a person who is thought as being unimportant or insignificant.For example, you can say, "As a new immigrant to America, Mario felt he was a nonentity because he had no money or connection."

Today's word is "jeopardize". This is a verb which means to expose to danger.For example, you can say, "I wouldn't jeopardize my career by dating my co-worker when my boss thinks it's highly unprofessional."

Today's word is "honorable". This is an adjective which means being morally correct, distinguished, or respectable.For example, you can say, "My father was an honorable man. He would never tell a lie or treat others unfairly."

Today's word is "zany". This is both an adjective and a noun. As an adjective it means being comical like a clown.For example, you can say, "The actor has such a zany personality that he can't sit still without cracking jokes."

Today's word is "visceral". This is an adjective which means being from base emotions or instinctive.For example, you can say, "The opera made me cry although I don't understand a word of Italian. I felt that the opera appealed to my senses on a visceral level."

Today's word is "rendezvous". This is a noun and a verb. As a verb, it means to come together or meet by arrangement.For example, you can say, "Let's rendezvous at 6 o'clock at Jake's bar."

Today's word is "procrastinate". This is a verb which means to put off doing something, often out of laziness.For example, you can say, "I keep procrastinating doing my homework."

Today's word is "minuscule". This is an adjective which means very small and tiny.For example, you can say, "I just quit my job yesterday. I got tired of working 12 hours a day for such a minuscule salary."

Today's word is "lyrics". This is a noun in its plural form which means words to a song.For example, you can say, "My dad is a huge fan of the Beatles. He knows the lyrics to all of their songs."

Today's word is "incognito". This is a noun, adjective and adverb. As an adverb it means without revealing one's identity.For example, you can say, "The movie star traveled incognito in Europe on her honeymoon."

Today's word is "guffaw". This is both a noun and a verb. As a noun, it means a big burst of laughter. As a verb, it means to laugh loudly.For example, you can say, "When my teacher, Mr. Jones bent over to pick up his pen, the back of his pants split open. Everyone in the class guffawed."

Today's word is "fathomable". This is an adjective which means knowable or comprehensible.For example, you can say, "Thirty years ago, not many people would have thought that they could buy a personal computer. Such an idea was not fathomable by ordinary people back then."

Today's word is "extraordinary". This is an adjective which means exceptional and beyond what is ordinary or mediocre.For example, you can say, "Gandhi was an extraordinary individual who led India's independence movement."

Today's word is "dwindle". This is a verb which means to become gradually less and less.For example, you can say, "Her savings have dwindled to little over $500 after she lost her job."

Today's word is "amicable". This is an adjective which means friendly or peaceful.For example, you can say, "Fortunately, my client and I have reached an amicable agreement after our big argument."

Today's word is "zenith". This is a noun which means the highest point above the observer's horizon attained by a celestial body, or the peak.For example, you can say, "After becoming the chairman of the board, Michael felt he reached the zenith of his business career."

Today's word is "meander". This is a verb which means to take a winding course or behave aimlessly. Can you guess what the word is?For example, you can say, "The river meanders through the jungle like a giant snake."

Today's word is "quirky". Can you guess what the word is? This is an adjective which means peculiar or unconventional. For example, you can say, "My sister has a quirky habit of eating ice cream with chopsticks ."

Today's word is "vehement". This is an adjective which means being intense in one's conviction or decision about something. For example, you can say, "My brother and his wife are vehement about adopting a baby from Iraq."

Learn the various ways to say "I'm sorry" in Chinese.

How to say, "Excuse me!" when you are trying to move through a crowded street in Beijing.

Words you need to know when getting a massage in China.

A lot of people already know "xiexie", the Chinese phrase for thank you, but in this lesson, we take "xiexie" a step further. We teach you how to respond and say thank you when you are very thankful.