Dilemma | A word a day
Dilemma Dilemma comes from the Greek phrase di (two) + lemma (a premise / proposition) Dilemma means difficult choice, problem, predicament, quandary etc. The doctor’s dilemma was whether he should tell the patient the...
Category: A word a day
Discriminate | A word a day
To discriminate is to demonstrate bias or show disfavor toward somebody. The company was accused of discriminating against female employees. (= The company was accused of demonstrating bias against female employees.) Discriminate can also...
Hindrance | A word a day
Hinder (verb) To hinder is to delay, slow down, hamper or retard. Heavy snow hindered the progress of vehicles. You must develop good eating habits if you do not want health problems to hinder...
Hesitate | A word a day
Hesitate (verb) To hesitate is to stop or pause briefly. The driver hesitated for a moment at the intersection and then turned right. People hesitate to do something when they are unsure of the...
Abysmal
Abysmal (uh BIZ mul) (Adjective) An abyss is a bottomless pit. Abysmal means hopeless or wretched. Abysmal despair is despair so deep that no hope seems possible. The company’s financial problem is abysmal; they...
Abstract and abstruse
Abstract (AB strakt) (Adjective) Abstract means theoretical or impersonal. When you like something in the abstract, you like the idea of it. I liked oysters in the abstract, but when I actually ate one,...
Abstinent
Abstinent (AB stuh nunt) When you are abstinent, you stop doing something voluntarily. This could be a harmful habit like smoking. A smoker enjoys smoking, but it is bad for him so his doctor...