Word of the Day - November

This is the list of definitions for the month. Our next quiz will be Friday, November 14th.

Pique (v) stimulate (interest or curiosity) : you have piqued my curiosity about the man.

Dread (v) anticipate with great apprehension or fear : Jane was dreading the party | [with infinitive ] I dread to think what Russell will say.

Obligingly (adj.) willing to do a service or kindness; helpful.

Heed (v) pay attention to; take notice of : he should have heeded the warnings.

Aversion (n) a strong dislike or disinclination : he had a deep-seated aversion to most forms of exercise.



Looted (v) steal goods from (a place), typically during a war or riot : police confronted the rioters who were looting shops.
• steal (goods) in such circumstances : tons of food aid awaiting distribution had been looted.

Dispel (v)make (a doubt, feeling, or belief) disappear : the brightness of the day did nothing to dispel Elaine's dejection.
• drive (something) away; scatter : sprinkle catnip tea to dispel beetles from garden plants.




Bland (adj.)lacking strong features or characteristics and therefore uninteresting : rebelling against the bland uniformity.
• (of food or drink) mild or insipid : bland and unadventurous vegetarian dish | bland beers of mediocre quality.
• (of a person or behavior) showing no strong emotion; dull and unremarkable : offering bland reassurance | his expression was bland and unreadable.

Foible (n) a minor weakness or eccentricity in someone's character : they have to tolerate each other's little foibles.

Doted (v) ( dote on/upon) be extremely and uncritically fond of : she doted on her two young children | [as adj. ] ( doting) she was spoiled outrageously by her doting father.

Inflict (v) cause (something unpleasant or painful) to be suffered by someone or something : they inflicted serious injuries on three other men.
• ( inflict something on) impose something unwelcome on : she is wrong to inflict her beliefs on everyone else.

Concede (v) surrender or yield (something that one possesses) : to concede all the territory he'd won.
• grant (a right, privilege, or demand) : their rights to redress of grievances were conceded once more.
• (in sports) fail to prevent the scoring of (a goal or point) by an opponent : the coach conceded three safeties rather than kick into the wind.
• allow (a lead or advantage) to slip : he took an early lead that he never conceded.

Succulent (adj.) (of food) tender, juicy, and tasty.
• Botany (of a plant, esp. a xerophyte) having thick fleshy leaves or stems adapted to storing water.

Diversion (n) an instance of turning something aside from its course : a diversion of resources from defense to civil research.

Acquisition (n) an asset or object bought or obtained, typically by a library or museum.
• buying or obtaining an asset or object : Western culture places a high value on material acquisition.

Serene (adj) calm, peaceful, and untroubled; tranquil : her eyes were closed and she looked very serene | serene certainty. See note at calm .

Imposition (n) the action or process of imposing something or of being imposed : the imposition of martial law.