Obsequious

Obsequious
 
<ahb-seek-qwee-us>
 
servile; subservient; slavish;
 
being submissive and groveling.
 
She is not obsequious. She gives her opinion and stands up for herself.
 
Memory trick:
obsequious reminds of obsessed.
we flatter and fawn when we are obsessed.
 
At work:
I don't want obsequious employees. I want people who are willing to speak up.
 

(c) 2016 E. Carruthers
 

Knotty

Knotty

<not-tee>

complicated; tricky; puzzling;

something difficult to understand.

The math question was a knotty problem. I could not figure it out.

Memory trick:
You have to solve a knot to untie it.

At work:
The bugs in the computer program was a knotty problem. We rebuilt it instead of fixing it.


(c) 2016 E. Carruthers
 

Seminal

Seminal

<sem-in-nahl>

major; influential; formative;

something important that leads to later events.

The invention of the wheel was a seminal development. It changed the world.

Memory trick:
seminal reminds of minimal.
we grow from a minimal point.

At work:
The discovery was a seminal moment. It led to products that made us a fortune.


(c) 2016 E. Carruthers
 

Opprobrious

Opprobrious

<ah-pro-bre-us>

abusive; hurting; humiliating;

showing hate or scorn.

The boy gave the vegetables an opprobrious look. He smiled when butter was added.

Memory trick:
opprobrious reminds of oppose.

At work:
He decided not to send the opprobrious email. He wanted to think of something positive to write.


(c) 2016 E. Carruthers

Apocryphal

Apocryphal

<ah-pok-ruh-fil>

untrue; mythical; false;

a false story or idea widely believed to be true.

The earth is flat was an apocryphal belief. Everyone thought it was true.

Memory trick:
apo - CRY - phal
remember the boy who cried wolf - a story about a lying.

At work:
We had an apocryphal faith in the product. We had to rebuild it because the quality was not good.


(c) 2016 E. Carruthers

Ossify

Ossify

<oss-sih-feye>

rigid; harden; stiffen;

to become hard due to time.

You must finish before the paint can ossify. It is hard to paint when the canvas gets stiff.

Memory trick:
ossify reminds of "iffy".
it becomes "iffy" to change it when it gets hard.


At work:
A bad computer program will ossify and become impossible to fix. Program it correctly from the start.


(c) 2016 E. Carruthers
 

Prevaricate

Prevaricate

<preh-vair-rah-kayte>

fib; distort; con;

to lie by exaggerating the truth.

It's easier to tell the truth. You have to remember your lies when you prevaricate.

Memory trick:
prevaricate reminds of fabricate.
fabricate means to create something.

At work:
The secret to marketing is to prevaricate. The secret to making a customer happy is to deliver more than you promised.


(c) 2016 E. Carruthers
 

Iconoclast

Iconoclast

<eye-kahn-nah-klast>

heretic; rebel; cynic;

someone who is a critic of an established institution.

He is an iconoclast and never celebrates birthdays. He does not believe in the tradition.

Memory trick:
iconoclast reminds of "icon blast".
we blast old icons.

At work:
He disagrees with the classical methods of design. He thinks they are ineffective.


(c) 2015 E. Carruthers

Feint

Feint

<faynt>

hoax; trick; bluff;

to deceive someone by pretending to do something.

The player did a feint to the left and ran to the right. He made his opponent trip.

Memory trick:
feint reminds of faint or to become dizzy.
we faint when we are tricked.

At work:
The realtor fell for the feint that we did not want the office. We pretended to not want it so we could get a better price.

(c) 2016 E. Carruthers
 

Apathetic

Apathetic

<ah-pah-thed-tik>

indifferent; uninterested; unmoved;

being in an uncaring state.

The apathetic dog ignored the annoying cat and stayed asleep.

Memory trick:
Apathetic reminds of apathy.

At work:
Be less apathetic when you greet customers. Greet them with a smile.


(c) 2016 E. Carruthers
 

Parity

Parity

<pah-rit-tee>

unity; balance; uniformity;

being equal in amount or quantity.

The artist gave me a valuable painting. It was in parity to the money I would have received.

Memory trick:
parity reminds of pair.
two alike things are a pair.

At work:
The parity of the deal was good. We get new clients and they get our technology. It was an equal exchange.


(c) 2016 E. Carruthers 
 

Condone

Condone

<kond-own>

accept; ignore; excuse;

to allow someone to do something.

I don't condone loud music at night. I like it nice and quiet.

Memory trick:
condone reminds of con.
we are con when we oppose something.

At work:
We condone staying late to work because the quiet is productive.


(c) 2016 E. Carruthers
 

Willful

Willful

<wil-full>

headstrong; uncooperative; adamant;

being stubborn and unwilling to cooperate.

The willful boy refused to share his toys with the other children.

Memory trick:
willful reminds of "will full".
we don't cooperate when we are filled with will.

At work:
You must be patient with a willful customer. Solve their problem and win a customer for life.


(c) 2016 E. Carruthers
 

Cardinal

Cardinal

<kard-en-nul>

primary; pivotal; essential;

the most important element or key thing.

The cardinal rule for running is to lift your knees and pump your elbows.

Memory trick:
cardinal reminds of card.
we have an instruction card for what is important.

At work:
The cardinal requirement of a salesperson is to greet with a smile.


(c) 2016 E. Carruthers

Foment

Foment

<foh-meant>

instigate; incite; whip up;

to provoke someone into doing something.

I don't want to foment trouble between us. I will share my cookies with you.

Memory trick:
foment reminds of foam.
we get foam when we stir something.

At work:
He was trouble and would foment discontent in his fellow employees. Things are peaceful now since he left.


(c) 2016 E. Carruthers
 

Fly-by-night

Fly-by-night

<fleye-bye-nite>

dishonest; deceitful; crooked;

being unreliable and untrustworthy.

My friend is not a fly-by-night person. I know I can trust him.

Memory trick:
a dishonest person flees in the cover of darkness.

At work.
We did not sign the contract with that fly-by-night company. They were stealing from clients.


(c) 2016 E. Carruthers

Truncate

Truncate

<trun-kayte>

abbreviate; condense; abridge;

to shorten something by cutting things out.

You have to truncate a message when you send it on twitter. Long sentences are not allowed.

Memory trick:
truncate reminds of trunk.
we put things in a trunk and have less.

At work:
You need to truncate your advertisement. You only have a few seconds to grab their attention.


(c) 2016 E. Carruthers

Encomium

Encomium

<en-kome-me-um>

eulogy; accolade; compliment;

something written praising someone.

The critic showered an encomium on the author. It was a great tribute.

Memory trick:
encomium reminds of economy or money.
we make a good economy for someone we praise.

At work:
We composed an encomium for his retirement party. He will be missed.


(c) 2016 E. Carruthers

Mutinous

Mutinous

<mute-tin-nus>

rebel; defiant; riotous;

someone rebelling against authority.

The mutinous dog chased the stick and refused to bring it back.

Memory trick:
mutinous reminds of staying mute or refusing to talk.
we are mute when we refuse to answer.

At work:
The  mutinous employee did not show up because he did not like his assignment.


(c) 2016 E. Carruthers 

Gratis

Gratis

<grat-tis>

free; gift; complimentary;

something given without charging money.

Our rooms were provided gratis. We did not pay a dime.

Memory trick:
gratis reminds of grateful.
we are grateful for a free gift.

At work:
We will give the computers gratis to the school. It's a way to give back to the community.


(c) 2016 E. Carruthers
 

Diverge

Diverge

<deye-verj>

split; deviate; separate;

to go off a path in a different direction.

We decided to diverge onto the exit and and leave the main road.

Memory trick:
di reminds of two.
verge means to approach.
we approach the second way.

At work:
Our concepts are starting to diverge. We need a meeting to get on the same page.


(c) 2015 E. Carruthers 

Malingerer

Malingerer

<mah-ling-ger-ruh>

loafer; dodger; shirker;

someone who slacks off from work - often by lying about being sick.

The man is a malingerer. He is out sick but I saw him at the gym.

Memory trick:
malingerer reminds of malign or lie.
linger reminds of something constant and lasting.
a lie that lasts.

At work:
I think she is a malingerer. We need to ask for a note from the doctor.


(c) 2015 E. Carruthers

Proponent

Proponent

<proh-poan-nent>

advocate; backer; patron;

a person who supports a cause.

I am a proponent of eating vegetables because they are good for you.

Memory trick:
proponent reminds of pro.

At work:
He is a proponent of good testing. He never releases bad programs.


(c) 2016 E. Carruthers

Complaisant

Complaisant

<Kum-play-sant>

compliant; docile; accommodating;

being agreeable and wanting to please.

The complaisant dog waited for her command. It was friendly and obedient.

Memory trick:
complaisant reminds of "come pleasant".

At work:
Your complaisant and happy. It is a pleasure to work with you.


(c) 2015 E. Carruthers

Censorious

Censorious

<sen-soar-ree-us>

disapproving; condemning; denouncing;

being extremely critical;

The first review was censorious but great reviews followed. The play was a success.

Memory trick:
censorious reminds of censor.
censor means to block out something.
we censor the unlikable.

At work:
The censorious complaints are well deserved. We need to do a better job.


(c) 2015 E. Carruthers

Ratify

Ratify

<rat-tuh-feye>

affirm; okay; endorse;

to authorize something with approval.

The town did ratify the new parking rules. You can park there all day.

Memory trick:
we rate it when we agree with it.

At work:
We decided to ratify the terms of the contract. We can now sign it.


(c) 2015 E. Carruthers
 

Nettle

Nettle

<net-tul>

annoy; provoke; harass;

to do something to upset someone.

The cat liked to nettle the dog. He liked to be chased.

Memory trick:
think of the nettles on a rose.
they are meant to bother you.

The product problems will nettle the customers. We must delay the launch.


(c) 2015 E. Carruthers
 

Inundate

Inundate

<in-nen-dayte>

flood; overrun; swamp;

to overload or overwhelm beyond capacity.

The rain would soon inundate my garden with water. I could not see the vegetables.

Memory trick:
inundate reminds of "in under".

At work:
We should not inundate them with too much work. We need to manage their projects.


(c) 2015 E. Carruthers 

Goad

Goad

<gode>

incite; prod; provoke;

to urge someone until they do something.

I used a treat to goad the dog into my car. We became friends forever.

Memory trick:
goad reminds of go.
we make them go.

At work:
A demonstration will goad the customer into buying. You always get a sale.


(c) 2016 E. Carruthers

Imperturbable

Imperturbable

iym-per-terb-bab-bul

composed; cool; sedate;

being calm and assured.

The imperturbable actress carried on after she forgot her lines. No one knew it.

Memory trick:
imperturbable reminds of impervious.
impervious means to not let anything pass through.

At work:
He was imperturbable and continued the presentation after the prototype fell apart.


(c) 2016 E. Carruthers

Ostracize

Ostracize

<oss-tra-size>

shun; reject; exile;

to snub someone and to ignore them.

Memory trick:
ostracize reminds of ostrich.
an ostrich is a solitary bird and keeps to itself.

At work:
We can't ostracize the project manager. We all need to work together.


(c) 2015 E. Carruthers