Random House of Words

profanity

pro·fan·i·ty [ prō fánnətee, prə fánnətee ] (plural pro·fan·i·ties)

noun

1. profane language or behavior: language or behavior that shows disrespect for God, any deity, or religion

2. profane word or phrase: a word or phrase that shows disrespect for God, any deity, or religion

neath

neath [ neeth ] or ’neath [ neeth ]

preposition

beneath: beneath ( literary )

[Late 18th century. Shortening of beneath.]

twitter

twit·ter [ twíttər ]

verb (past twit·tered, past participle twit·tered, present participle twit·ter·ing, 3rd person present singular twit·ters)

1. intransitive verb chirp: to sing in a succession of light high-pitched chirping sounds ( refers to birds )

2. intransitive verb chatter: to chatter or giggle in an overexcited or nervous way

3. transitive and intransitive verb use small high voice: to sing or say something in a light shaky high-pitched voice

4. intransitive verb tremble: to quiver or move about nervously and quickly

noun (plural twit·ters)

1. repetitive high-pitched song: a continuous light string of high sounds made by a small bird or other small animal

2. excitement: a state of great agitation or excitement

• all of a twitter

[14th century. Originally an imitation of birds chirping.]

• twit·ter·er noun
• twit·ter·y adjective

quip

quip [ kwip ]

noun (plural quips)

1. witticism: a witty remark, especially one made on the spur of the moment

2. petty distinction: a small and unimportant distinction ( archaic )

3. something strange: something odd or strange ( archaic )

transitive and intransitive verb (past quipped, past participle quipped, present participle quip·ping, 3rd person present singular quips)

say something wittily: to make a witty remark

[Mid-16th century. Origin uncertain: perhaps from Latin quippe “indeed, really” (used sarcastically), from quid “something, what.”]

verdant

ver·dant [ vúrd´nt ]

adjective

1. with lush green growth: green with vegetation or foliage

2. colors green: green in color

3. naive: lacking experience or sophistication ( literary )

[Late 16th century. Via Old French verdeant , literally “becoming green,” from, ultimately, Latin viridis “green” (source of English vireo).]

• ver·dan·cy noun
• ver·dant·ly adverb

truism

tru·ism [ tr ìzzəm ] (plural tru·isms)

noun

obvious statement: a statement that is so obviously true and so often repeated that people find it trite or meaningless

tru·is·tic [ troo ístik ] adjective

levity

lev·i·ty [ lévvətee ]

noun

1. flippancy: remarks or behavior intended to be amusing, especially when they are out of keeping with a serious occasion

2. buoyancy: lightness in weight ( archaic )

[Mid-16th century. From Latin levitas, from levis “light.”]

ignoramus

ig·no·ra·mus [ ìgnə ráyməss ] (plural ig·no·ra·mus·es)

noun

an offensive term that deliberately insults somebody's level of intelligence or education ( insult )

[Late 16th century. Via modern Latin, “we ignore,” from Latin, a form of ignorare (see ignore).]

artist

art·ist [ áartist ] (plural art·ists)

noun

1. creator of art: somebody who creates art, especially paintings, drawings, or sculptures

2. skilled person: somebody who does something with great skill and creativity

• an artist with a basketball

3. cunning person: somebody who is very good at doing something, especially something involving cunning or deceit

( slang )

• a ripoff artist

[Late 16th century. Via French artiste from Italian artista , from arte “art” (see art¹).]