to appease or pacify, especially by concessions or conciliatory gestures: to placate an outraged citizenry.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
AW Word of the Day #4: Placate
placate (verb)
to appease or pacify, especially by concessions or conciliatory gestures: to placate an outraged citizenry.
to appease or pacify, especially by concessions or conciliatory gestures: to placate an outraged citizenry.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
AW Word of the Day #3: Brouhaha
brou·ha·ha
1. excited public interest, discussion, or the like, as the clamor attending some sensational
event; hullabaloo: The brouhaha followed disclosures of graft at City Hall.
1. excited public interest, discussion, or the like, as the clamor attending some sensational
event; hullabaloo: The brouhaha followed disclosures of graft at City Hall.
Saturday, September 15, 2012
AW Word of the Day #2: Impudent/Impertinent
impudent adj
1.of, pertaining to, or characterized by impertinence or effrontery:
2. Obsolete . shameless or brazenly immodest.
Synonyms: insulting, rude; saucy, pert; presumptuous, fresh, brazen.
impertinent adj
1. intrusive or presumptuous, as persons or their actions;insolently rude; uncivil: a brash, impertinent youth.
2. not pertinent or relevant; irrelevant: an impertinent detail.
3. Archaic . inappropriate, incongruous, or absurd.
4. Obsolete . (of persons) trivial, silly, or absurd.
Synonyms: fresh, bold, insulting, officious, saucy, pert, brazen.

Impertinent, impudent, insolent refer to bold, rude, and arrogant behavior. Impertinent, from its primary meaning of not pertinent and hence inappropriate or out of place, has come to imply often an unseemly intrusion into what does not concern one, or a presumptuous rudeness toward one entitled to deference or respect: an impertinent interruption, question, manner toward a teacher. Impudent suggests a bold and shameless impertinence: an impudent speech, young rascal. Insolent suggests insulting or arrogantly contemptuous behavior: unbearably insolent toward those in authority.
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